Chapter 119

I pressed my lips to those of the apparition, but I felt nothing but air. Not even a zap of static electricity. It was simply… nothing.

Disappointed, I opened my eyes.

“Sorry,” he said.

“It’s not your fault,” I whispered. “You aren’t real.”

“I could be. If you talked to him.”

I shook my head. “It’s not that simple.”

“Why not? You care about each other.”

My aching heart couldn’t take much more of this torture. “He doesn’t. Not like how I want.”

The apparition of Asher watched me with curious eyes, so like those of the real Asher.

“Are you so sure about that?” he asked.

“Of course, I –”

A knock sounded on the door. The apparition immediately vanished.

My heart broke all over again.

The knock sounded again.

“Hold on! I’m coming.” I rubbed away my tears and pushed myself up onto my legs. Then I went and answered the door.

I immediately wished I hadn’t.

Because Nurse Irene was standing on the other side. She pushed her way inside without me giving her space, and peered around my room with scrutiny.

“Quaint,” she said.

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have things at the hospital to do?”

“I’m off-hours.” Facing me, Nurse Irene retrieved her notepad from her satchel bag. “I’ve been running all over, trying to get more information on Brent, and Aimee, and you… When I thought to myself, why not go to the source?”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“You, Cynthia. You are the one who started me on this path. You are the only one who can connect every dot.”

“I told you, I was only asking Nancy hypothetical questions.”

Nurse Irene rolled her eyes. “Stop insulting my intelligence. This would be so much easier if you just answered my questions.”

I crossed my arms. “I have nothing to say to you.” I couldn’t tell her I had an apparition in here up until the moment she knocked, but I still shifted nervously, like she might be able to tell somehow on her own.

“Don’t be this way, Cynthia. Surely you would much rather speak with me than any of those researchers from the facility?”

It sounded like a threat. Maybe it was. Either way, it was enough to give me pause.

“There. That’s what I thought.” She flipped through her notepad. “I spoke with Aimee, darling girl. She’s very protective of you. For a while, I thought the one with the ability was her. Even though she’s young. But from what I hear, she was just as surprised by Brent’s apology as anyone.”

“Everyone was surprised because it was surprising,” I said flatly. “Brent’s guilt must have been eating away at him for a while, and he finally decided to act.”

“That’s not what his friends think. They believe something more sinister. And then of course, there are all these rumors of a ghost baby. Aimee was stumped about that one. She had an explanation, like you, for most things, but not that.”

“Brent’s guilt caused him to see things,” I said.

Nurse Irene tutted as she shook her head. “That’s not what he said.”

My stomach dropped. “You… spoke with Brent?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Like I said, I’m going straight to the sources. And Brent is a big piece of the puzzle. See, you and Aimee almost could have convinced me that this was all just college drama, with too many hormones flying around. But after talking to Brent…”

“He’s lying,” I said at once.

She lifted a brow at me. “He seemed quite certain about what he saw.” She read off her page. “Quote. It was a floating baby and said it was the ghost of my child. It said I had to seek atonement or it would haunt me forever. End quote.”

The blood drained from my face.

Nurse Irene wasn’t done. “Brent says that the ghost baby appeared outside the gazebo after Aimee had run away, so it’s very likely that Aimee is not the one with the projection ability. It was a short list to start with, Cynthia.”

“I don’t know anything about it,” I lied.

“We both know better than that.” She flipped her notebook closed. “Truly, Cynthia, it would be better if you just talked to me. Cooperate, and I can do my best to help you. But if you try to keep your secrets, they will only harm you in the long run.”

I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, trying to comfort myself. But chills were curling down into my very bones.

“You should cooperate with me, so I don’t have to press for an investigation with the research facility,” Nurse Irene said. “A girl like you, about to have a baby. You wouldn’t do well in there. Just something to think about.”

She headed for the door. I didn’t move from where I stood in the center of the room.

“I look forward to hearing from you,” she said, and disappeared out the door.

Again, I fell to my knees, but this time, no apparition could comfort me.

Later, when the initial fear had subsided, I reflected on Nurse Irene’s words. Today, she had seemed to imply that by speaking to her, I might avoid going to the research facility. But in the past, she had said that she would have to report anyone she discovered with the projection ability.

Was she lying today, to get me to expose myself? Then, after she got what she wanted, would turn me in like she was supposed to do?

I had no reason to trust she would do anything otherwise. No, no matter what I couldn’t reveal to her my secret. It didn’t matter what Brent had told her. Without proof, she had nothing.

So long as I stopped making apparitions, I could keep my secret.

I hoped.

My confidence shot, I rubbed my hands together. I had no idea if this was a viable plan. I hated the thought of doing nothing and expecting positive outcomes.

Maybe I could call Aimee. She knew about Nurse Irene. We could compare notes.

But she wouldn’t be able to calm me down as quickly and thoroughly as Asher.

I knew I should leave Asher alone, but… even if we weren’t fake dating anymore, he would still be concerned about my safety. Since Nurse Irene threatened me, I had to tell him so he could continue to look out for me.

He’d be upset otherwise.

Right. Yes.

That was as good a reason as any to go see him. And if I just happened to get a comforting hug while I was with him, that would only be a side benefit.

Mind made up, I grabbed my purse and dashed out of my dorm room. I ran down the stairs and out into the cool night. I didn’t slow as I pushed through the entrance of Asher’s athletic dorm, or as I rushed down the hall.

Only when I stood before Asher’s door did I stop on my heels. My nerves bubbled within me, excited to see Asher again, and not with him surrounded by a group of girls.

Here, in the comfort of his room, we would be back on our usual footing. In privacy, we could be as close as we’d always been.

I lifted my hand and knocked.

I waited.

He didn’t answer right away. That seemed odd.

I knocked again, louder.

Finally, I heard footsteps coming toward the door.

A smile stretched my lips. It instantly fell when the door opened.

This was not Asher.

This was girl with brown hair and brown eyes. She kind of looked like me.

Except for her smudged lipstick.