Chapter Six
I whirl around but the room empty, and when I turn back to the mirror, I see nothing except my reflection, the colour drained from my face, my hands visibly shaking.
She was here, I saw her. I wipe my sweating palms on my legs as darkness clouds my vision, the sound of my heart pounding in my ears. I lay down on the bed and curl into a ball until my heart rate begins to slow and disappointment sets in.
Later, when I call for Bria, I’m still shaken. In an effort to calm myself, I try to look forward to the party. I am dressed in my favourite, black skinny jeans, a berry coloured top and a leather jacket that once belonged to Lana. It’s the one she was wearing the night she fell; the police say she cast it aside before she went up to the cliffs. I think a part of me hopes that the jacket will convey some kind of clue about what happened that night.
It happens sometimes, with my gift, I can touch an object and feel what the owner was feeling the last time they touched it, like they left a fingerprint on it. But there’s nothing on Lana’s jacket except the faint scent of her perfume.
My hair hangs loose around my shoulders, framing the necklace that rests against my chest. I had thought about handing it straight to Ms Gould and reporting that someone had been in my room, but then I realised the only way to find out who left it for me was to wear it tonight, as instructed on the card.
Bria looks fantastic in a burgundy dress with a shaggy fur coat and tights. She links her arm through mine and chats energetically as we head to the stairs.
“Did you ditch lessons this afternoon?” She asks, wobbling a little on her clunky, high-heeled boots. “I haven’t seen you all day.”
“I wasn’t feeling too good earlier.”
Bria glance sideways at me and I see her frown a little. “Did you feel that earthquake earlier?”
“Yeah, everyone was pretty freaked out.”
“I’m kind of used to them now,” Bria shrugs. “You know, I read online that they might not be earthquakes after all, it could be a weapons testing programme that’s causing the tremors.”
I roll my eyes at her. “I’m pretty sure that’s not true, Bria.”
“You never know.” She starts carefully down the stairs, one hand on the bannister and the other gripping my arm.
“So, I found this in my room earlier.” I hold the necklace away from my chest so that Bria can see it better.
“That’s pretty,” she says admiringly, “What do you mean you found it?”
“It was on my bedside table; I have no idea who it’s from. There was a card, but all it said was wear tonight.”
“Maybe Ivy?”
“I don’t think so,” I say, shaking my head. “Ivy would’ve sent a letter or something.”
“Maybe a secret admirer, like Caleb! Maybe it’s his way of apologising for spilling coffee on you.”
“I doubt that,” I say, sceptically. “And I don’t like that someone was in my room.”
At the bottom of the stairs, Bria releases me. “I didn’t think of it like that.”
“That’s it, I’m taking it off.” Seeing the concern etched on her face, I reach around to unfasten the chain.
“No, leave it on,” she says. “If someone wants you to wear it tonight, they’ll probably be at the party. We might find out who gave it to you.”
“Fine, but if I don’t find out tonight, I’m handing it in to Ms Gould.” Even as I say the words, I know that I don’t really want to part with the strange, but beautiful necklace.
Outside, the night air is cold and the smell of charcoal drifts towards us as we follow the sound of music and voices. Patio heaters and fairy lights line the terrace and the blaze of the barbecue gives off a wave of heat as we pass. The patio is a perfect square, sectioned off from the rest of the school by high walls and tall conifers.
Nick pushes through the throng and wraps his bear-like arms around us both, pulling us into a double hug. I wrinkle my nose at the smell of alcohol that lingers on his breath. He releases me, but keeps hold of Bria and plants a kiss on her lips.
“Nick!” She shrieks, her cheeks flushed with delight.
“Can I get you girls a drink?” Nick grins impishly. “We’ve got a couple of bottles of vodka buried in the flower beds.”
I roll my eyes. “I think I’ll stick to soft drinks.”
“Here you go ladies.” Caleb is at my side, holding out two bottles of cola.
“Thank you.” I take the bottles and hand one to Bria, not taking my eyes off him.
His face is beautiful, captivating, and this time I let myself look. He wears a dark green coat that matches his eyes and his dark hair falls over his forehead in a casual, yet striking way. I stare at him for too long and he notices.
“I don’t think I introduced myself before, I’m Casey.”
He holds out a hand. “I know who you are. I’m Caleb by the way.”
I stare hesitantly at his outstretched fingers, then I shake his hand, bracing myself for the impact of his touch. But the tingle that travels up my arm is warm, pleasant even. It glows like a soft light. He likes me, I feel it, and a small, giddy laugh escapes my lips.
“Let’s get some food.” Bria looks at me curiously before manoeuvring through the crowd with Nick by her side, his arm snaked around her hip. I follow them with Caleb so close behind me that I can smell his clean scent.
“I thought this was just a gathering.” I call to Bria.
She grins over her shoulder and continues to squeeze through the crowd.
Jas and Orla meet us in the middle of the patio, they throw their arms around my neck, making me stumble as their jubilation courses through me. Caleb places a hand at the small of my back, steadying me, and when the girls release me, he keeps it there, his fingers reaching underneath my jacket, the heat from his skin burning through the thin fabric of my top. He smiles before shifting towards Bria and Nick, and I feel suddenly exposed, like his warm touch cast a protective bubble around me.
Jas nudges me playfully in the side. “I thought you didn’t like him.”
“I never said that.” I say, my cheeks warm.
Orla throws her arms around me again. “Oh, it’s so good to have you back, I’m really glad you came tonight.” I smell alcohol on her too and I gently push her away.
“She only came for the food.” Bria says, appearing beside me with a hotdog in each hand. She hands one to me and takes a huge bite of her own.
“We were just talking about Caleb.” Orla says, raising an eyebrow suggestively.
I look past her to where Caleb stands with Nick, watching me intently.
“Well he obviously likes you,” Jas says, flicking her straight black hair over her shoulders. “I think Molly was going to ask him to the ball.” She looks around as though Molly might appear at any moment.
“Well he likes Casey.” Bria says, with a mouth full of food.
“Say it, don’t spray it.” Orla laughs.
“Where is Molly, anyway?” I scan the patio, but there’s no sign of her.
Jas shrugs indifferently. “She’s around somewhere.”
“Molly is a pain, she’s so up herself lately.” Orla scowls and folds her arms across her chest.
“Why? What’s going on with her?”
Before Orla can answer, someone barges past me, digging their bony elbow into my side.
“Hey!” Orla glares furiously at the back of Molly’s head as she stomps through the crowd.
“Just leave it, she’s not w-”
Before I can stop her, Orla takes off after Molly, with Jas and Bria close behind. I am about to follow when Caleb appears at my shoulder. He laces his fingers through mine and I feel that warm, tingling sensation again. “Come with me.”
I look for Bria, but she’s already disappearing into the crowd, so I let Caleb lead me into the grounds. When we’re a little away from the patio, he sits down and pats the ground beside him. “Finally, I get you all to myself.” His voice is like velvet, his ac
cent making his tongue curl delicately around every word.
The ground is hard and I feel the coldness seep immediately through my jeans when I sit down beside him.
“I want to apologise,” he says. “For how I acted the other day. I shouldn’t have embarrassed you like that.”
I raise my eyebrows at him and he holds up his hands. “In my defence, I did check that you weren’t hurt before I laughed.”
“Oh yeah, I saw you having a good look.”
He tries to look bashful, but doesn’t quite pull it off. “Well, anyway, I’m sorry.”
“It’s…fine, it was an accident.”
He smiles and leans towards me. “You were really mad.”
I feel my cheeks flush. He shuffles closer to me until we’re just inches apart and I feel a sudden urge to touch his arm, to feel what he is feeling, but I keep my hands clasped firmly in my lap.
“So, Casey, tell me about yourself.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard so much about me already.”
He fixes me with an even stare. “Maybe, but I like to find things out for myself. What lessons are you taking? I know you’re taking Physics, but I haven’t seen you in any of my other classes.”
“I’m studying Art, Media, English and History too.”
Caleb whistles. “Five subjects, you must be really smart.”
I shake my head. “I don’t know; I try to be.”
“What’s your favourite subject?”
I think about this. Right now I don’t care much for any of them, but I don’t want to tell him that, so I pick one at random. “Art”
“Why?”
“Just because.” I smile.
Caleb’s gaze lingers on my mouth.
“Let me ask you something.” I say, desperate to deflect the attention away from me.
“OK.” He smiles at me expectantly.
“Why did you leave your last school?”
“A few reasons.” He says, looking down at the ground.
“Was having an affair with a teacher one of them?” I am so shocked by what I have just said that I clap a hand over my mouth before more words escape.
Caleb laughs. “You heard that rumour then?”
I nod, mortified. He leans in so that his mouth is close to my ear, I smell a mixture of soap and musky aftershave interlaced with the smoke from the barbecue. “I started that rumour.”
I gape at him. “Why?”
He smiles, cockily. “I like to be talked about.”
I pull a face and he laughs even harder.
“So it’s not true?”
“I never said that.” Caleb raises an eyebrow suggestively and my stomach flips.
“So, would you mind if I-” Caleb is suddenly interrupted by shouts and screams.
I stand up, dusting the grass from the backs of my legs. The music has stopped and the grounds are now crowded with people, I have to crane my neck to see what’s going on.
The trees are ablaze, violent flames flickering against the night sky and thick smoke clouds the air. I move around the crowd to get a better look.
“C’mon,” Caleb says, tugging on my hand. “We have to go.”
I look back at the blazing forest one more time before I am ushered away, but something catches my eye. At first, I think that it’s just the way the flames are casting light and shade, but then I see her, standing in the middle of the fire, her skin lit by the flames. I lurch forward, almost tripping over as she turns and steps further into the forest.
“Lana!” Her name tumbles from my mouth, half strangled by the sob rising in my throat. I take off in the direction of the trees, sprinting across the grass as fast as my legs will carry me. I hear pounding footsteps behind me, but I am so close now that I can feel the heat of the blaze.
The thick, dark smoke invades my lungs and irritates my eyes, my chest is tight, but I urge myself forward.
Something collides with me from behind and I am tackled to the ground, gasping for air. I clamber to my feet, but strong arms grab me around the waist.
“Casey! Casey, calm down!” Caleb pulls me towards him and I turn in his arms, pounding on his chest with my fists. “Let me go! I have to help her, let – me – GO!”
He doesn’t even flinch. “No, you’re going to get yourself killed! Are you crazy?”
I struggle against his grip. “I have to help her.”
“Help who?”
“L-” I look back at the forest, but there’s nothing but fire and smoke. Because she’s not there, she can’t be. I stop struggling and lean heavily against Caleb. He wraps his arms around me and I hear the rapid beat of his heart, I feel the panic, the adrenaline emanating from him. “Casey, what’s going on?”
I shake my head, unable to form words. He keeps an arm around my shoulder as he guides me back to the main building, his grip tight, as though he’s worried that I’ll try to run.
Bria rushes towards us, her hair as wild as the flames. “You idiot,” she scolds. “What were you thinking? Were you going to put the fire out by yourself?” Her voice is high, frightened, but all I can do is shrug lamely under her anxious stare.
Her concern rolls off her in waves and she continues to reprimand me all the way to the front door, her frantic whispering competing with the whine of sirens.
Ms Gould appears on the main steps wearing a coat over her pyjamas, her face set in horror. “Casey, why were you running towards the fire like that?”
“She thought she saw some younger students down there.” Bria says quickly.
I look sideways at her, surprised by how quickly she lied for me.
“Is that true, Casey? Did you see someone down there?” Ms Gould looks over my head towards the burning trees.
“I’m not sure. Might have just been…shadows.”
“Well, we’re making sure everyone is accounted for,” Ms Gould says, smoothing her blonde hair with her hands. “We’ll talk about this in the morning; right now I need to wait for the Fire Brigade.” Ms Gould nods towards the blue lights growing brighter as the fire engines peal up the county lane.
Inside, Caleb leaves us at the top of the stairs. His gaze lingers on me for a few moments, his brow furrowed, before he disappears through the doors to the boys’ dormitory.
The fire rages on a little longer and Bria and I watch from my bedroom window as the Fire Brigade tries to battle the blaze. When all that’s left is the smouldering remains of the trees, I feel my shoulders relax a little.
Bria links her arm through mine and rests her head on my shoulder. “I heard you shout her name.”
I feel my whole body tense up. Tears gather hot and heavy in my throat, threatening to choke me. Bria pulls me into a hug and I grit my teeth as her pity surges through me.
“I thought I saw her, but I know that’s not possible. I’m not crazy.”
“I know you’re not crazy,” Bria says. “It’s just the shock of the fire, that’s all.”
I nod and wipe my eyes.
“Come on,” Bria says. “Let’s get some sleep.”
She insists on staying in my room; making a bed of blankets and cushions on the floor, refusing to take the bed. I’m glad she’s there when I turn off the light. I try to slow the rapid thrum of my heart, but when I close my eyes, all I see is Lana walking towards a forest of fire.