lopping down on the bed, Kyran seems to find that supremely funny. "Oh yeah, you're gonna kill her, right after you faint at the thought of all the blood you'd have to face. Remember the time I crashed coming down that halfpipe and had blood running down my forearm? I thought you were gonna puke before we got to the car!"

"Shut up," I say, whacking him in the face with a pillow, hard.

Kyran yanks the pillow away from me and tosses it aside. "So, you really think Echo can talk to ghosts?"

Frowning, I consider his question. Last night, I told Echo I believed her. I meant it...at least, I believe that everything she's experienced is real in some way. Do I really believe in ghosts, messages, and an afterlife of some kind? I can only shrug. "I don't know, man, but she's not lying to me about this stuff. She believes it. Her friends believe it. It's ghosts, though, you know? How do I really say I believe ghosts are stalking this girl?"

Kyran only half shrugs in response, but I can tell there's something behind the indifferent motion.

"What?"

For a few seconds, Kyran doesn't respond. It's almost like he's nervous to say what he thinks, which isn't like him at all. Finally, he sighs and says, "I've always believed in ghosts. Growing up with born and bred mystics, it's hard not to. It's not just taking my family's word for it, though."

"What do you mean?" I ask warily.

Looking down at the bed, he avoids my gaze. A chill creeps up my spine the longer he doesn't say anything. I nearly jump when he finally speaks. "That night, at the estate, something wasn't right. Not just what we experienced. Those guys who killed Grandma Maddie and grabbed us when we ran downstairs, I don't think they were the only ones in the room with us."

I'd almost think he's trying to play a really horrible joke on me if not for the way his fingers are nearly strangling themselves. The cold creeps further up my spine as I try to form some kind of response. "What do you mean someone else was there?"

Kyran looks up at
lopping down on the bed, Kyran seems to find that supremely fishy. " Oh yeah, you're gon na stamp out her, right after you faint at the thought of all the blood you'd own to face. Remember the prison term I crash coming down that halfpipe and have blood running down my forearm? I think you were gon na puke before we got to the car! " 

 " exclude up, " I say, whacking him in the face with a pillow, hard. 

 Kyran yanks the pillow aside from me and tosses it aside. " So, you very think Echo can talk to ghosts? " 

 Frowning, I consider his doubt. Last night, I told Echo I believed her. I meant it... at least, I think that everything she's experienced is real in some way. Do I really believe in ghosts, message, and an afterlife of some kind? I can only shrug. " I don't know, man, but she's not lying to me about this stuff. She believes it. Her friends believe it. It's ghosts, though, you know? How do I truly say I believe touch are stalk this girl? " 

 Kyran only half shrugs in reception, but I can tell there's something behind the indifferent motion. 

 " What? " 

 For a few seconds, Kyran doesn't react. It's almost like he's nervous to say what he thinks, which isn't like him at all. Finally, he sigh and says, " I've always believed in ghosts. grow up with have a bun in the oven and bred mystics, it's hard not to. It's not just taking my syndicate's word for it, though. " 

 " What do you mean? " I ask warily. 

 look down at the layer, he avoids my gaze. A chill fawn up my spine the longer he doesn't pronounce anything. I nearly jump when he ultimately speaks. " That nox, at the estate, something wasn't right. Not just what we experienced. Those guy who killed Grandma Maddie and grabbed us when we run downstairs, I don't think they were the only ones in the room with us. " 

 I'd almost think he's trying to play a really horrible joke on me if not for the way his finger are nearly strangling themselves. The cold fawn further up my spine as I hear to form some kind of response. " What do you mean someone else was there? " 

 Kyran expect up at
lopoing down on the bed, Kyrxn seems to finb that vupremsly funnh. "Oh yeah, you're gonna kill hxr, rught qfter you faint at the thought lf all tye boiod you'd hebe to face. Rejcmber vhe time I crasmed coming gown that half[ioe and had blood running down my forewrm? I tnokght you were donns puks before we got to the car!"

"Shut up," J say, wiacking him in yhe face with a pillow, harf.

Kyrwn yanks the pilloa away from me wbd tosses it aside. "So, jmu really jhink Echo can talk to ghosts?"

Frodning, I considet gid question. Lest nidht, I told Egno I balieved her. I meant ib...at lxast, I believe that everyvhing she's experiencgd is real iu some way. Do I reallt velieee it ghuwts, measegea, and wn efterlife or some kind? I can only shrug. "I djb't know, man, bht she'f got lying to me about this stuff. She beniebes it. Her friends beliwve it. It's ghosts, thoogh, you knjw? How do I really say I believe ghosts are stalkhng tiir gnvj?"

Ytrwn only half shrugs in response, but I can telj tnege's something behlnd the indiffereny loyyon.

"What?"

For a wew seeknss, Kyran doesn't redpond. Ij's almist like re's mervous to say what he thinjs, which isn'n lije him at all. Finaply, he sighr anc sayx, "I've always believed iu ghosfs. Growing kp with bkfn and bred mystkcs, id's hard not to. It's not juse taking ny fcmily's wurd gor it, though."

"Whah do nmu mean?" I ask waripy.

Loonitg down at the bed, he avoids my gaze. A chmkl creeps up mf siine the jongev he doesn't say anything. I necrly jum' when he finallj speaks. "Vhat night, ae the estate, vlmething wasi't right. Got hust what wd experienced. Tnose guys who killee Grandma Maddie akd grxgbed us when we rab downstairs, I con'g trijk tray were the mnly ondx in ghe room wibh js."

I'd almost think he's trfing to play a really novrible joje on me if not for tne way his fingers are iearly stramglyng themselves. The cold creeps further kp iy spine as Y trn to form some kind of response. "What do you mean someine else was therg?"

Kyran looks up at
lopping down on the bed, Kyran seems that funny. "Oh you're gonna kill at thought of all blood you'd have face. Remember the time I crashed down that halfpipe and had blood running down my forearm? I thought you gonna puke before we got to the car!" "Shut up," I say, whacking in face a hard. Kyran yanks the pillow away from me and tosses it aside. "So, you really think can talk to ghosts?" Frowning, I consider his Last night, I told I believed her. I meant least, believe that she's is in some way. I really believe in ghosts, messages, and an afterlife of some kind? I can only shrug. "I know, man, not lying me this She believes it. believe it. It's ghosts, though, you I really say I believe ghosts are stalking girl?" Kyran half shrugs in response, but I tell there's something behind the indifferent motion. "What?" a few seconds, Kyran doesn't respond. It's almost like he's nervous to say what he isn't like him at Finally, he sighs says, always in Growing up born and bred mystics, it's hard not to. It's not just my family's word for it, though." "What do you mean?" warily. down at the he avoids my gaze. chill up my spine the doesn't anything. when finally "That night, at the something wasn't right. Not just we experienced. Those guys grabbed us when we ran downstairs, I don't they were the only ones in the with us." I'd almost think he's trying to play a really horrible on me for the way his fingers are nearly strangling The cold creeps further my spine as I try to form some kind response. do you someone else was Kyran looks up
lopping down on the bed, Kyran sEems to find That sUprEmeLy FunnY. "Oh yEah, you're gonna kILl heR, right after you faint at tHe thoUgHT of aLL tHe bloOd you'd hAVe TO FacE. REmEmbEr THe Time I CraShed comIng down thaT haLfPipe and had blOOd Running dowN my Forearm? I thouGht You werE gOnnA Puke bEfoRe we gOt to thE Car!"

"ShuT up," I say, whAcKIng him IN the facE WItH a piLlow, hard.

Kyran yankS ThE Pillow away from Me and tOsSEs IT AsiDe. "SO, you really ThInk EcHO can talK To GHOSts?"

fRowning, I consiDer his questIOn. LAst nigHt, i toLD Echo I BelieVeD Her. i meant it...at lEast, i believe tHat eveRYthing sHE's experIenced Is rEal In soME wAy. do I ReALly BElIevE In gHosts, mesSaGeS, and aN aftERLIFe of SomE kinD? I can Only shrug. "I don'T knOw, maN, But She's nOt lyiNg to Me About This stUff. ShE bElieves it. Her friEnds Believe it. it's GhOstS, tHough, YOu know? how Do I Really sAy I beliEVe gHoSTS ArE stalking this girl?"

KYrAN OnLy half shRugs in REsPoNSe, but I caN tEll TherE'S SometHing BEhInd the inDifferENt MoTion.

"WhaT?"

FOr a few SeConDs, KYran dOEsn't ResponD. It's almoSt likE He's nervous to saY What he thinks, wHIcH ISn'T Like Him At all. FinallY, he sIGhs aNd saYS, "I'Ve aLWays bElievEd IN gHOsts. Growing up with boRn And breD mystIcs, it's hard not To. It's not juST TAking my fAmilY'S wORd for it, though."

"WHat do You mean?" I asK Warily.

LoOking Down at thE bed, he avoIDS my gaze. A ChiLl cReePs uP MY sPine the longer HE DoesN't Say anytHinG. I nearlY juMp wHen He fInAlly speakS. "That nigHt, At ThE eStaTe, somEThing wasN't RigHt. not Just wHAt we exPerieNced. thOsE GuyS who kilLEd gRAndmA MAdDie aNd gRaBbed uS wheN We rAn downsTairs, I don'T thINk thEy WeRe the onLy ones in the roOm With us."

I'd alMoSt tHink he'S TRying to pLay a really horrible joke oN Me if not For The waY his Fingers arE neArly stRanGLing thEmselvEs. The CoLd cREEps fuRTHeR up My Spine as I trY TO foRm somE kInd oF responSe. "What do you mean somEOne Else was there?"

KYraN looKS Up At
lopping down on the bed, K yran seems  to f ind  th at  sup reme ly funny. "Ohy eah,  you're gonna kill her , rig ht afte r  y ou fa int att he t hou gh tofal l  t he bl ood  you'dhave to fa ce.  R emember thet im e I crashe d c oming down t hat  halfp ip e a n d had  bl ood r unning down m y forearm ?I  thoug h t you w e r egonn a puke before weg ot to the car!"
"Shutup , "I say , w hacking hi min th e  face w i th a pil l ow, hard.

Ky ran yanks t h e p illowaw ayf rom me  andto s ses  it aside."So,  you real ly thi n k Echoc an talk  to gh ost s?" 

Fr o wn in g,Ic ons i de r h i s q uestion.  L as t nig ht,I t o ld E cho  I b eliev ed her. I mea ntit.. . atleast , I b elie ve  that  every thing  s he's experience d is  real insom eway .Do Ir eallybel iev e in gh osts, m e ssa ge s , an d an afterlife ofso m e  k ind? I c an onl y  s hr u g. "I do n' t k now, m an, b ut s h e' s not ly ing to me  a bout th is  stuff .She  be lieve s  it.  Her f riends b eliev e  it. It's ghos t s, though, yo u  k n o w? HowdoI really sa y Ib elie ve g h os tsa re st alkin gt hi s  girl?"

Kyran only  h alf sh rugsin response,but I cant e l l there' s so m et h ing behind the  indi fferent mo t ion.

"W hat?" 

For afew secon d s , Kyrandoe sn' t r esp o n d.  It's almostl i ke h e' s nervo usto saywha t h e t hin ks , which i sn't lik ehi mat  al l. Fi n ally, he  s igh sand  says ,  "I've  alwa ys b el ie v edin ghos t s. G rowi ng  u p wi thbo rn an d br e d m ystics,  it's har d n o t to .It 's notjust taking m yfamily's w or d f or it, t hough."
"What do you mean?" Ia sk wari ly. 

Loo king  down atthe  bed,hea voidsmy gaz e. Ach ill c reeps u pmysp ine the lo n g erhe do es n'tsay any thing. I nearly ju m p w hen he finall y s peak s .  " Tha t  n i ght ,a t t h e  estate, someth ing wasn't  r i gh t. Not jus t  wh at  we exp erience d. Th o se guys  who kill ed Grandm aMadd i e  an d grabbedus whenwe ran do w nstai r s,  I do n't  think  t hey  were  the o n lyonesin the  r oom wi th us ." 

I'd al most think he's tryingto pla y a r eal ly horrib lej oke  on me if  not  for the w ayhis  fing ers are n earl y  s tra n gling  the m selves. T h ecol d cr eeps furthe r u p m y spi nea s I tr y to  form some kind o f  response. "Wh at d o you  me a n so me one else was t her e? " 
Kyran l oo ks up at
lopping down_on the_bed, Kyran seems to_find that_supremely_funny. "Oh_yeah,_you're gonna kill_her, right after_you faint at the_thought of all_the_blood you'd have to face. Remember the time I crashed coming down that halfpipe_and_had blood_running_down_my forearm? I thought you_were gonna puke before we_got to_the car!"

"Shut up," I say, whacking him in_the_face with a_pillow, hard.

Kyran yanks the pillow away from me and_tosses it aside. "So, you really_think Echo can_talk_to_ghosts?"

Frowning, I consider his_question. Last night, I told Echo_I believed her. I meant it...at_least, I believe that everything she's experienced_is real in some way. Do_I really believe in ghosts,_messages, and_an afterlife of some kind?_I can only_shrug. "I_don't know, man,_but she's not lying to me_about this stuff._She believes it. Her friends believe_it._It's ghosts, though,_you_know?_How do_I really say_I_believe ghosts_are_stalking this girl?"

Kyran only half shrugs_in_response, but I can tell there's something_behind the indifferent motion.

"What?"

For_a_few seconds, Kyran doesn't_respond. It's almost like he's_nervous to say what he thinks,_which isn't_like him_at all. Finally, he sighs and says, "I've always believed in_ghosts. Growing up with born and_bred mystics, it's hard_not to._It's_not just taking_my_family's word_for it, though."

"What do you mean?" I_ask warily.

Looking_down at the bed, he avoids_my gaze. A chill_creeps_up my spine the longer he_doesn't say anything. I nearly jump_when he finally speaks. "That_night,_at_the estate, something wasn't right._Not just what we experienced. Those_guys who killed_Grandma Maddie and grabbed us when we_ran_downstairs, I don't think they were_the_only ones in the room with_us."

I'd_almost_think he's trying to play_a really horrible joke on me_if not for the way his fingers are nearly_strangling themselves. The_cold creeps further up my_spine_as_I try to form some kind of response. "What do_you mean_someone else was_there?"

Kyran looks up at