all the mothers and Ambrose and Mary Katherine and her friends at Shady Pines.
She looked down at the phone.
No bars. No service.
She would try calling again on the road. She would try all the way to West Virginia. She filled her tank, then topped it off. Then, she filled the red plastic can with one more gallon of gas. She knew this might be her last stop for a long time. She threw the gas can in the trunk and climbed back into the car.
“Mom? Am I asleep or awake?”
“You’re awake, honey. Don’t sleep yet. She wants you to sleep.”
“Mom, I don’t know where I am.”
“I know, but I do. And I won’t let you out of my sight.”
Christopher’s mother hit the ignition. She pulled away from the gas station and climbed onto the street. The wind had knocked a tree down on Fort Couch Road, so she turned around and headed west. Past the high school. There was a shortcut to the highway. She could get on it and be in West Virginia in less than an hour.
“Drink your Coke.”
“I did.”
“I know you’re sleepy, honey. But you have to fight!”
“I just need to get in the backseat and sleep.”
“We’ll be in West Virginia in an hour. Then, you can sleep for days.”
“The hissing lady will never let me go, Mom.”
“Put your seat belt back on!”
“Don’t worry. The nice man said he’d find me. I won’t be alone.”
He was too weak to move to the backseat. He closed his eyes. She shook her son frantically.
“NO! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”
She grabbed the gallon of water and poured it on his head. His eyes snapped open. She gave him another Coke. His arms were too weak to hold it.
“Mom,” he said.
“What, honey?” she asked.
“She’s going to turn to avoid the deer.”
“What?”
“Don’t be mad at her. This was all meant to happen.”
He touched her hand and calmly turned to the passenger-side window just as the deer ran in front of Mary Katherine’s car. Mary Katherine turned to avoid the deer and Christopher’s mother saw the two headlights rush right at her son in the passenger seat.
Christopher’s mother looked out at the headlights. She could feel the tickle he left behind on her hand as time stopped.
Christopher was right.
This was all meant to happen.
She saw every coincidence strung together like popcorn around a Christmas tree. She could have unpacked the groceries, but they were still in the car. She could have lost her keys, but they were still in her pocket. One second here. Two minutes there. There could have been a line at the gas station. Or no more gas. Or a credit card that worked instead of cash from a fake aerosol can.
But that’s not what happened.
Because it didn’t want to stop her from leaving.
It wanted her to be on the road.
In that spot.
At exactly 2:17 a.m.
When Mary Katherine’s car turned to avoid the deer
and crashed through the passenger-side door.
Part V
Asleep
Chapter 65
Christopher, it’s so nice to see you again,” the voice said.
Christopher opened his eyes. He was in a hospital bed. A nurse stood above him, humming to herself. She was preparing a sponge bath. Her eyes looked familiar, but the white surgical mask covered her face.
The calm voice spoke again. “That’s it. Don’t be afraid.”
Christopher couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. He looked around the room. The door to the bathroom was closed. He listened, but he couldn’t tell if the voice was coming from behind the door. Was that breathing? Was that scratching?
“Oh. I’m not in the bathroom. I’m up here, buddy.”
Christopher looked up and saw Bad Cat staring at him from the TV. It was one of Christopher’s favorite episodes. The one where Bad Cat uses the fire hydrant to turn the neighborhood street into a water park. But the episode was all wrong. The fire hydrant wasn’t shooting water.
It was shooting blood.
“Hi, Christopher,” Bad Cat said. “Gosh, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you a ton. How are you, buddy?”
Bad Cat smiled. His teeth were razor-sharp. Covered in meat. Christopher tried to sit up, but he was strapped down tight. He looked at his wrists and ankles. They were tied to a gurney with balloon strings.
“Don’t fight, Christopher. We’re trying to help you. We just need to know where he is, buddy.”
Christopher panicked. He looked around the room for any escape. Bars blocked the windows. Was this the imaginary side? A nightmare? Where was he? How did he get here?