tares down at me like i

kind of cold from wind or weather but the kind that crawls under y

coming

ound and

like he's ready to

readable, a shado

atchin

wai

mumble, alread

ne," Eric says, voic

hing find me," I sna

ing town like I'm nothing but a ghost. Every porch light fee

ses harder with each step. Half-vamp

ll feel l

the scari

even know who

ver jus

ything

bridge. I stare into the dark water below. I d

ps behind me.

to turn to kn

alone right now,

answer.

uching. Just breathing with

voice rough. "When I shifted in fro

arder at

lmost

his for you. Any of it. I thought I

y best frie

till

are soft. Worried. Full of somet

I whisper. "Everything's changing.

s brushing mine before

a," he says. "Tha

f that's no

hen I'll remind you. Ev

ing my hair into my face. I c

ing in

zz

ll

ing

how to speak in a langu

't sl

ing, just a pale smear behind the hills. Greg's c

I expec

ouse and close th

ething'

ld. Heavy. Like the shadows ar

o my room. My h

n the

my windowsill lik

tart, my breath cat

to his lips. "I c

ow fast my heart is racing. "You

"They're watching

use o

what you mig

bed. "So what

To join them... o

"And what d

like he's searching for

nd something. You were born for more than this town. More than hiding. The

eps closer. I

angry. When you're scared. When you look at th

terrified of w

ric says, voice a whisper now. "More than a vam

me feel better?" I snap. "I

my eyes. "But you can

EXT D

eels lik

ing feels smaller. The locke

growing it a

very time someone gets too close, he stiffens

ainst the wall like some dark daydream, calm an

even look

y m

y ti

ed space. I need to breathe

yes follow

ead holding ever

hat might burn

e wors

re ri

torm inside

behind my eyes, in the s

ORMAL?!!". I scream th

gonna get

fire behind my ribs. The plastic cup in my hand

ross the room and someone y

i was gonna