Almost Dead (Dead, #1) (8 page)

Ignoring Sara’s sensitivity toward my
question, Flora asks, “How is it that we’re not see-through?”

“You will be invisible to humans once you are in the Shadowlands
. Here, you’re just as you were before,” says Sara.

Flora snorts. “That’s not backwards at all.”

“Not necessarily. Part of your energy lies here, so you appear as you did in human form, but when you enter the Shadowlands, you lose a portion of your energy.”

“I think my brain just rolled over and died
,” I say.

Flora
glares at me, as usual.

“
What?” I retort. “Don’t look at me like I’m stupid. You’re the one who can’t even walk through a wall as a ghost.”

Sara
looks a bit frustrated. I don’t want to piss off the only guide we have, so I raise my hands in surrender. She sighs, but it comes out as more of a warm breeze on a summer day. “I should stop our lesson for the night, but I’m afraid something will happen.”

“Like we’ll die.” Flora’s so uncaring. She probably
wants
to stay here.

“Yes. That’s totally it,” I say.

“What wrong, Laney? You afraid to die? Scared they won’t have pageants where you’re going?” Flora taunts, but I’m not falling for her stupid mind games.

“No,” I respond sweetly. “Just scared I’ll be stuck in the next world with you. That’s more frightening than any
nightmare.”

She grits her teeth. “Sometimes I think it’d do you
well to get punched in the face. You need some sense knocked into that nearly-nonexistent brain of yours.”

I laugh. “I’m sure you’d love to be the one to do it, too.”

Sara claps her hands together twice, the action reminding me of Oliver. “Let’s get through this lesson and we’ll call it a night.”

“
Wait… Do ghosts sleep?” I ask Sara. Flora looks like she might actually be serious about punching my face, so I add, “What? I mean, it’s not like our worlds are the same.”

Sara’s voi
ce carries a more soothing tone when she says, “We have the ability to sleep, but normally don’t use it. My time is spent helping those who need to move on but are stuck.”

Flora stands and walks over to the same wall I went through.

“You could pick another one,” I remind her. She’s such a copycat.

“Shut up.”

After several weak attempts, Flora manages to pass through. Sara is quiet but smiling.

“
Now
can I go to bed?” Ugh. Why did I have to put on lip gloss? Why didn’t I just wait until I reached Chase’s driveway? I could’ve avoided all of this.

“Yes, Laney. Tomorrow we’ll have a very busy day, so I suggest you spend the night resting,” says Sara.

Flora eyes Sara and asks, “What’s tomorrow?”

Wp>

“You’ll learn how to move objects.”

So, I’ll be able to throw stuff at my enemies? Wow. Being a ghost is sweeter than I thought.

T
here’s nothing like realizing you’re as good as dead. I bet my family thinks I’m either at Mia’s or on the streets somewhere. They have this preconceived idea imbedded in their brains that I’m some sort of drug addict. Actually, most people think I’m one. Truth is: I haven’t done drugs a day in my life—unless you count the time I had my wisdom teeth removed and I ate pain medication like it was candy.

“Flora?” Sara’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “Are you
awake?” She opens the bedroom door, a teacup in hand.

“Yeah
.”

“Did you sleep well?”

I sit up. I’ve been in the same position since last night—lying on my back, staring at the ceiling, thinking. “Not really, but I’ll make it.”

“I’ve made tea,” she says, raising her cup a little.

“I don’t drink tea.”

“
Oh,” she says. All emotion leaves her face, like I just killed her again. I guess I insulted her. “That’s a shame. Well, when you’re ready to begin today’s lesson, I’ll be in the living room.”

Living
room. How ironic.

As she closes the bedroom door behind her, my mind returns to memories of my family. Are they searching for me? Do they even wonder where I am, or do they think I’m with Mia?
By now, they should’ve known something was wrong, especially if they called Mia’s house. Mia would’ve told them I wasn’t there. Panic would’ve briefly flitted through their heads. I can almost see the whole scene play out before me like a movie.

But if they have put two and two together, then they should know I don’t have any hiding places, I was drinking before I left Mia’s
, and I was tipsy by the time I left. If Mia’s bothered to text or call me (and I’m sure she has), then she most likely thinks I’m ignoring her after our little spat.

T
he ordeal with Laney missing should also be some form of indication. Chase is probably frantic by now, wondering where she is. Let’s hope he’s called the cops.

Oh, man. We really need to speed
things up so we can get back and haunt the shit out of our families. Dying isn’t an option at this point.

And what if…
what if
this is all just a terrible dream? Squeezing my eyes closed, I begin chanting, oomS“Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.”

“Um
m…what are you doing?” Laney’s annoying voice catches me off guard, and I nearly jump out of my spirit form.

“None of your business.” If this is a dream, I can make
her go away. Closing my eyes once again, I recite, “Laney leaves, and I wake up.” I open one eye, followed by the other, sighing heavily when I realize it didn’t work.

Laney
leans against the doorframe. “Who are you talking to?”

“We w
ere never in a car accident, we’re not in Lichburn, and you’re not really speaking to me right now,” I say.

She folds her arms. “I hate to break it to you, but this isn’t a dream. How could we dream the same dream?”

“I’m not listening to you. You’re just an invention of my mind.” I rub the sides of my head, humming to drown her out.

She attempts to chat,
but when she comprehends that I’m not listening, she stomps down the hall.

I think I’m going crazy.

Snatching a pillow from the bed, I bury my face and scream. I doubt Laney or Sara can hear me—and if they can, I don’t care.

After p
ulling myself together (and punching my pillow a few times), I enter the living room with the reminder that I’m almost dead. My body is out there, somewhere through a portal. It’s worn out and bloodied and dying.

“Glad you could join us,” Sara says.

Sucking in a deep breath and exhaling through my mouth, I murmur, “Not like I have a choice.”

“And I’m
so
happy to see you, too,” Laney mocks.

I will beat her up before this is over with
, I swear. For now, though, I need to keep my head on straight, just long enough that I can get my ass out of here and tell my family where I’m at.

“So, what are we learning today?” I ask, compelling my legs to move toward the couch. For some reason, my
spirit feels weaker. I hope it’s not a side effect of being a temporary ghost.

Or maybe my physical self is nearly gone.

“Follow me.” Sara picks up a filthy book on her way out the front door. Laney and I stay close behind her. Outside, she places the book on a small stone table. “Watch.”

Her hand runs through both
the book and the table.

“Wait. How are we able to connect with stuff in there,” I say, pointing toward the door, “but we can’t touch anything out here?
Last night, we couldworht, we barely learn how to run our hands through anything, yet out here it comes naturally. It’s the exact opposite.”

Sara’s lips turn into a knowledgeable smile prior to answering,
“This area is linked to your reality, and not a part of Lichburn. We haven’t learned the specifics of why this is just yet, but the Elders are focusing more of their time on the link and less time on deporting souls. We don’t know why it’s connected to the human life, only that it prevents us from handling anything other than what’s inside our homes. Nevertheless, if we focus enough energy, we’re able to override the system, in a manner of speaking.”

I
think I just got my first mind fuck of the day.

Laney gr
oans. “That explains
everything
.”

“I know
it’s hard to grasp, but there is good training that comes from this: we
can
pick up items,” Sara explains.

I don’t know. What if she’s just feeding us this mumbo jum
bo and we’re really stuck in Lichburn for eternity?

“L
et’s see you do it, then,” I say, motioning toward the aged book.

Sara smiles,
but it’s totally creepy. Like she knows she’s badass and can throw that book at my face if she wants to.

And I’m right.

Minus the book-throwing part, of course.

“Five bucks says I’ll get this before Flora does,” Laney starts in.
That girl has it coming to her.

I retort, “Let’s pretend we’re back in the real world. ‘Oh, hi, Mommy and Daddy! Can I
use your plastic? I, like, totally have to go shopping, even though I went yesterday.’ Yeah, that five bucks isn’t even yours to bet.” It’s true, though. I’ve never seen parents dish out so much green on their kids. Yes, Mia’s included in that mix. At least she doesn’t blow her money in one place, though.

“I need you to concentrate, please,” Sara says, observing the two of us. “This will take longer than our practice session did last night.”

“Whatever,” I say. “Let’s just get it over with. I want out of this place.”

“Same,” says Laney.

“Only one at a time,” Sara advises. “Now, this might be overwhelming at first, but once you learn how to focus your power, this task becomes easier.”

Sara motions for me to stand beside her. I can’t help but snicker at Laney.
Eat that, cupcake.

“Please center every feeling in your body and mi>
< body and on this one object. If you can achieve that, then you will hold the book,”
Sara says, placing my hand near the ragged thing.

Trying to clear my head—and not think about what’s happening at home, why I’m here in the first place
, or if I’ll make it out alive—is like dangling meat in front of a lion and telling it not to eat. It doesn’t happen. But for the sake of my wanting to leave this place, I suck it up.

Waves of
pinpricks dance up and down my arms, and the rest of my body follows. I think I might be glowing, but I can’t stop long enough to check. I have to do this. I have to concentrate. The feeling intensifies as electrical bolts shoot out in all directions, and there is no care left in my entire being.

T
hen, as if it’s reaching out toward me with extended arms, the book situates itself in my grasp.

“Keep it alive,”
Sara urges. “Don’t give up.”

I wish I could see Laney’s face right now.