she loved if she couldn’t stop it. “It felt too real, sort of like the dream I had where Daniel got shot.
I was her in the dream. And they were coming at me with weird knives. I felt drugged and when I tried to fight back they tied me down.” 85/375
Remembering the terror, Kylie felt her heart rate quicken. Panic once again started building in her chest.
Holiday reached over and touched Kylie’s hand. Her touch sent calming warmth up Kylie’s arm. The fear collecting in Kylie’s heart ran away like scared mice. And just like that, the panic faded into something less overwhelming.
Kylie looked up at the camp leader. “Thanks, but that’s not going to fix anything. It’s like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.”
“I know.” Holiday frowned. “But when all you have to offer someone is a comforting touch, you want to offer it.” Kylie released a deep breath. “What’s going to happen if I don’t figure this out?”
Holiday’s hand, resting on Kylie’s wrist, grew warmer as if she sensed Kylie would need another shot of calm. “You accept that you did everything you could in your power to try to stop it and move on.” The enormity of exactly what Holiday was saying, coupled with the responsibility that rested on Kylie’s shoulders, suddenly felt like too much.
Kylie jerked her hand from under Holiday’s palm. “No. I couldn’t … I couldn’t live with myself. I mean, if I understand this right, someone is going to die. Actually die and it’s not going to be an easy death, either.” All the problems in Kylie’s life started bouncing around her head like ping-pong balls. Tears filled her eyes. It still hurt to think about her grandmother’s funeral—she couldn’t lose someone else. “Failure isn’t an option.”
Kylie’s mind started racing, trying to figure out who she loved that could be in danger. Was it her mom? Was it someone from back home?
Someone here at camp? It could even be Holiday. Oh lord, what if it was Lucas or Derek? She glanced at the door and fought the overwhelming desire to leave.
86/375
Holiday cleared her throat. “As much as we don’t ever want to fail, our gift isn’t a guarantee that we can help everyone. Sometimes we have to accept that we can’t fix things.”
Kylie shook her head. “You might be able to accept that, but I can’t.” She bit down on her lip until it hurt. “I should have refused this gift. I can’t do it. I should have sent it back with a big note that said thanks, but hell no.” The knot grew larger in her throat, crowding out her tonsils. “Is it too late to refuse it now?”
“I’m afraid so,” Holiday answered. “You opened yourself up when—” Kylie jumped up so fast that the wooden chair shot out from beneath her and hit the floor, filling the small office with a loud crack.
“Kylie, wait.” Holiday’s voice chased Kylie as she hurried out the door, but she didn’t pay it any heed. Damn it. She had to figure out a way to decipher the ghost’s message. Had to, because if not, someone she loved would die and Kylie couldn’t live with herself if that happened.
* * *
With her throat still tight with emotion, Kylie moved up the steps of her cabin right about the time the sun finally crawled out of the corner of the eastern sky. The golden spray of light hit her back and cast her elongated shadow on the porch. As she took the next step, the sun must have risen higher because her shadow seemed to dance on the porch planks. Dancing shadows reminded her of … the falls.
Kylie’s breath caught. She needed to go to the falls. As crazy as it seemed, it was as if something was telling her that she’d find the answers there. She let the idea sink into her tired brain. And like the sun against her back, the first glimmer of hope started to grow.
Taking in a big gulp of air through her nose, she suddenly felt refreshed, energized.
87/375
She could do this. She just didn’t want to do it alone. Her gaze returned to the
I was her in the dream. And they were coming at me with weird knives. I felt drugged and when I tried to fight back they tied me down.” 85/375
Remembering the terror, Kylie felt her heart rate quicken. Panic once again started building in her chest.
Holiday reached over and touched Kylie’s hand. Her touch sent calming warmth up Kylie’s arm. The fear collecting in Kylie’s heart ran away like scared mice. And just like that, the panic faded into something less overwhelming.
Kylie looked up at the camp leader. “Thanks, but that’s not going to fix anything. It’s like a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.”
“I know.” Holiday frowned. “But when all you have to offer someone is a comforting touch, you want to offer it.” Kylie released a deep breath. “What’s going to happen if I don’t figure this out?”
Holiday’s hand, resting on Kylie’s wrist, grew warmer as if she sensed Kylie would need another shot of calm. “You accept that you did everything you could in your power to try to stop it and move on.” The enormity of exactly what Holiday was saying, coupled with the responsibility that rested on Kylie’s shoulders, suddenly felt like too much.
Kylie jerked her hand from under Holiday’s palm. “No. I couldn’t … I couldn’t live with myself. I mean, if I understand this right, someone is going to die. Actually die and it’s not going to be an easy death, either.” All the problems in Kylie’s life started bouncing around her head like ping-pong balls. Tears filled her eyes. It still hurt to think about her grandmother’s funeral—she couldn’t lose someone else. “Failure isn’t an option.”
Kylie’s mind started racing, trying to figure out who she loved that could be in danger. Was it her mom? Was it someone from back home?
Someone here at camp? It could even be Holiday. Oh lord, what if it was Lucas or Derek? She glanced at the door and fought the overwhelming desire to leave.
86/375
Holiday cleared her throat. “As much as we don’t ever want to fail, our gift isn’t a guarantee that we can help everyone. Sometimes we have to accept that we can’t fix things.”
Kylie shook her head. “You might be able to accept that, but I can’t.” She bit down on her lip until it hurt. “I should have refused this gift. I can’t do it. I should have sent it back with a big note that said thanks, but hell no.” The knot grew larger in her throat, crowding out her tonsils. “Is it too late to refuse it now?”
“I’m afraid so,” Holiday answered. “You opened yourself up when—” Kylie jumped up so fast that the wooden chair shot out from beneath her and hit the floor, filling the small office with a loud crack.
“Kylie, wait.” Holiday’s voice chased Kylie as she hurried out the door, but she didn’t pay it any heed. Damn it. She had to figure out a way to decipher the ghost’s message. Had to, because if not, someone she loved would die and Kylie couldn’t live with herself if that happened.
* * *
With her throat still tight with emotion, Kylie moved up the steps of her cabin right about the time the sun finally crawled out of the corner of the eastern sky. The golden spray of light hit her back and cast her elongated shadow on the porch. As she took the next step, the sun must have risen higher because her shadow seemed to dance on the porch planks. Dancing shadows reminded her of … the falls.
Kylie’s breath caught. She needed to go to the falls. As crazy as it seemed, it was as if something was telling her that she’d find the answers there. She let the idea sink into her tired brain. And like the sun against her back, the first glimmer of hope started to grow.
Taking in a big gulp of air through her nose, she suddenly felt refreshed, energized.
87/375
She could do this. She just didn’t want to do it alone. Her gaze returned to the
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