Crossing Nexis Read online

  “If you say so.” I huddled against his bomber jacket. Maybe it would muffle the conversation.

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Harlixton clicked his pen, folding it and the pad back into his coat pocket. “Maybe we should reconvene back in the chapel so no one will overhear this conversation.”

  “That’s a great idea, for you two.” I puffed out a breath. “I just want to go to bed, if that’s okay. I’m kinda drained.”

  In fact, I was more than just drained. I felt like the walking dead. Seeing visions and angels really sapped my energy. I had nothing left.

  “Certainly. I’ll get your report at tomorrow night’s chapel meeting. Just in case there’s any holes to fill in.” Harlixton nodded as if I was dismissed.

  “Great.” I murmured as I squeezed Bryan in a side hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight, Lucy. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.” He mouthed Sorry as I walked away.

  “Wait up, I’ll walk with you.” Laura wrapped an arm around my back, like she knew my wobbly legs couldn’t make it across the field without a little help from a friend.

  ***

  Nelson Hall lay dark and dormant as I trudged back to my dorm with Brooke and Laura at my side. It wasn’t that late, was it?

  The second floor hallway was dim and empty. Silent, except for a soft squeaking noise. Creeeeak. I halted in front of my door, bile rising up my throat.

  The door to my room was ajar, swinging on its hinges.

  “Shanda?” I croaked. No answer.

  A tiny hand grabbed mine. “We’ll go in with you.” She glanced up at me, putting her small frame in front of me. If anything, I’d have to shield Laura, not the other way around.

  Brooke inched the door open wider. “I can’t see anything. It’s too dark.”

  I tiptoed into my room and flicked on the light. And wished I hadn’t. My jaw dropped.

  “Ohmigosh!” Laura’s shriek echoed back. “What happened here?”

  All of my stuff was strewn across the room. Clothes ripped from their hangars, dangling from the ceiling fan. Dresser drawers upturned, contents rumpled and wadded up in piles like garbage. Books littered the floor, leaving the shelves bare.

  “Looks like somebody wanted something.” Brooke stepped around a pile of papers, scattered haphazardly all over the hardwood floor like fallen leaves after a storm.

  Yet Shanda’s side of the room lay completely untouched. Her closet neat as ever. Her bed made to pristine perfection.

  Seconds passed like a statue as time froze around me. Finally I sputtered out, “Who would do this?”

  “I’ve got two guesses.” Brooke nodded her head down the hall.

  “You really think Monica would do that?” Laura squeaked, her voice higher than I’d ever heard before.

  Brooke rolled her eyes, planting her hands on her hips. “If she’s stupid enough to resort to cyber-bullying and forcing my brother’s ex on him, then yeah, I think she’d have a hand in this.”

  “Or at least lend her minion her master key.” I pursed my lips at the thought of that brassy blond, Colleen, trashing my room. My fingers curled into fists. “She’ll pay for this.”

  “You bet she will.” Brooke gritted her teeth, looking the opposite of ferocious.

  Laura held her hands up. “Before we go accusing people, let’s see if there’s anything missing first.”

  “That could take hours. I’m tired enough as it is.” I swallowed back a yawn, my limbs still gelatinous from Seer training. Instinctively, I patted my chest. Good. My necklace was still there. If they’d somehow stolen my Guardian amethyst, they’d really have the wrath of the Seer to deal with.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll help.” Laura went straight to work, picking up all the books around her.

  I barely made a move to help her. I rubbed my eyes, blinked. But I just couldn’t believe the bullying was happening all over again. At least this time, it was for a different reason, though equally as misguided.

  My mind completely blanked at what to do next. So I just followed my friends’ lead. Crouching over the nearest drawer, I refolded my wadded-up camis. Looks like I’d be wearing wrinkled clothes for awhile.

  Brooke plucked down a sweater hanging from the ceiling fan. “You know we’ll have to report this, don’t you?”

  “Maybe we should do that first.” Laura hopped through the floor maze, putting an armful of books back on my shelf.

  “Fine,” I huffed, sliding my tank tops in their rightful drawer. “Go get Miss Sherry, if you must. There’s no way I’m reporting anything to Monica.”

  “I’m on it.” Laura danced around the mess and disappeared out the door.

  Brooke fished some skirts off my bed. “You know Bryan’s going to want to hear about this. Harlixton, too.”

  “Maybe I’ll let you tell them. I just want to get this cleaned up.” To prove it, I righted another drawer and went to work folding.

  “Fair enough.” She helped me clean in relative silence, muttering under her breath every now and then.

  Couldn’t say I blamed her either. I was just that drained. Too exhausted even to let my inner fury take over. But Monica and Colleen would definitely have to watch their backs tomorrow.

  “Holy crap, what the—” Shanda cursed under her breath. “What the fork happened to our room?”

  Petals of anger started to ignite. “Colleen and/or Monica would be my guess.”

  “You gotta be right, girl, ’cause my stuff hasn’t been touched.” She rushed to her closet, stroking her cashmere collection. “If it was, my dad would hunt down those girls until they paid back every last cent.”

  “Obviously they wouldn’t lay a finger on your stuff. Must be some kind of Nexis code or something.” I crossed my arms, aiming my newfound fury at her, the closest Nexis member.

  “Hey, don’t look at me.” Shanda dropped the cashmere, and shot me a glare. “If I was on the inner circle, they would’ve given me a heads up. But I do know those girls. They don’t do random. There’s a reason they tossed the place.”

  “I wish you weren’t right,” I mumbled under my breath.

  Miss Sherry hustled her mass of frizzy hair into our circus of a room. “Lucy, Shanda, I’m so sorry this happened to you. I can’t imagine who would do such a thing.”

  “I’ve got a name for you.” Shanda stomped up to Miss Sherry and leaned in close. “That precious RA of yours. Monica had a hand in this for sure.”

  Our dorm mom backed up. “That’s a serious accusation, Miss Jones. But since she does have a master key to this floor, I will have to investigate her. Along with everyone else, of course.”

  Shanda rocked back on her heals, a satisfied grin on her face. “Hey, that’s all I’m asking.”

  “Is there anything missing?” Miss Sherry pried a pad from a giant pocket in her elastic-waist jeans. “I’ll need a full list.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, as defeat washed over me. “I don’t know yet. I just started cleaning up.”

  She thrust the pad at me. “Fill this out for me by tomorrow at the latest. If you’ll excuse me, I need to notify campus security.”

  “Thank you, Miss Sherry.” I reached for the notepad, and she patted me on the head.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll get to the bottom of this.” She bustled out of the room as fast as she’d entered.

  A phone trilled in the corner, and Brooke reached into her pocket. “It’s Bryan. I’ll be back.”

  “Thanks,” I mouthed as she slipped through the bathroom to her side of the suite.

  Shanda sank to her knees, wading through the books on the floor. “I can’t believe this. I never should’ve joined that group.”

  I plopped down on the hardwood next to her. “Hey, this isn’t your fault. You weren’t even here.”

  “True, but this was more than a Nexis prank. This is getting serious. Fast.” She turned her back on me as she gathered my toiletries and put them back on the vanity.

  Something dawn
ed on me. A horrible realization that rankled my stomach like sour milk.

  “The skeleton key,” I gasped, my heart banging against my ribcage. Digging through the piles of books around my bookshelf, I uncovered the remains of the puzzle box where I’d kept Harlixton’s treasure. Smashed to smithereens.

  “What skeleton key?” Shanda raced to my side, rubbing small circles on my back.

  I threw up my hands. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s gone.”

  I rifled through the books again, scanning for the tan cover Cindy had given me for Christmas. It wasn’t there, either.

  “Great. Now they’ve got the book, too.” I slumped to the floor in defeat.

  “What book?” Shanda’s hand paused on my back. “Don’t tell me you had some secret key to a Guardian hideaway, and a book on how to get there.”

  “Not exactly.” I leaned against my bed, head in my hands. “The key was for the chapel library’s secret entrance, which they’d still have to find. But now they have the book Cindy Cooper gave me. You know, the Guardian book on the Seer.”

  “Dang.” She whistled through her teeth. “Did you get a chance to read any of it?”

  A spark of hope ignited in my chest. “I read some on the plane. I wish I knew what it meant, though. It was a bunch of Guardian prophecies about the Seer and choosing. And a book in the Bible. Zechariah, I think.”

  “Hmm.” Shanda scratched her chin. “I suspect you’d need the Guardian’s Book of the Seer to really understand it.”

  “Or the Nexis version,” I murmured, shaking my head. “I’m so stupid. How could I let this happen?”

  “Hey, it’s not your fault.” Shanda slung her arm around my shoulder and squeezed.

  “I left the book and the key out in the open. Just begging for something like this to happen.” I threw up my arms, gesturing at the remnants of the break in. “See?”

  “Huh-uh,” Shanda shook her head, grabbed my arms, and pinned them to my side. “You didn’t make Colleen and Monica commit a felony. This is their fault.”

  Slowly, I nodded. “I know. You’re right.”

  “I know it’s not your fault because,” she faced me head on, still holding my arms down, “it’s my fault.”

  “What?” I sputtered for the second time tonight. “What do you mean?”

  “I think this is payback.” Her gaze shifted all around the room. “Because I’ve been spying on them.

  “What do you mean, you’ve ‘been spying on them.’” I gaped at her, completely unable to grasp the concept of my best friend keeping a secret this big from me.

  She hung her head. “As part of my deal with the Guardians, I started hacking the Nexis tower security cameras in December, trying to find anything useful.”

  The shock wore off as ideas rolled around in my brain. “Did you find anything?”

  “Nope.” She shook her head. “Not yet.”

  “Then they probably don’t know what you’re doing. Yet.” My lips curled up, the ideas coming together in my mind. “Look at your side of the room. It’s immaculate.”

  Shanda cocked her head at me. “You don’t think it’s a tactic? Like, hurt the ones you love?”

  “No way.” I shook my head so hard my earrings slapped my cheeks. “I don’t think those girls are that smart.”

  “Ha!” She laughed out loud. Then her smile faded. “But you are thinking something, aren’t you?”

  “I am.” I nodded, glancing at the door to make sure it was closed. And locked. I pushed myself up from the hardwood floor, and sat on the edge of my bare mattress, patting the spot beside me.

  She narrowed her eyes at me but came over and sat down next to me anyway.

  “Okay, here goes.” I leaned in, keeping my voice low. “I’m thinking we can use your hacking skills to turn the tables on them. Somehow. Anything to stop the blond reign of terror.” They weren’t going to get away with this. I was done bowing down to bullies. Of all shapes, sizes, or secret society persuasions.

  “So you want me to keep spying, but not just for the Guardians anymore.” She turned a wry grin my way. “I like it.”

  “Right?” I waggled my eyebrows at her. “You can see if they’ve got the book, and what they plan to do with it.”

  “That’s not a bad plan, girl.” Her smile widened. “Someone taught you well.”

  “Hey, I learned from the best.” I grinned back at her. “The good news is, they’ve only got a few pieces of the puzzle.”

  Shanda’s face fell. “Yeah, but they’ll figure it out eventually.”

  I ground my teeth together at the thought of them finding the secret entrance because of me. “We’ll just have to figure them out first.”

  The wind howled outside, rattling the window behind me. A small part of me wondered—was this the Montrose Academy version of a reckoning?

  Chapter 11

  A bitter wind gnawed my exposed cheeks as I walked with the Guardian girls across the quad, dreading the chapel meeting tonight. More like an inquisition, I’d bet. As I trudged through the brittle grass with only moonlight to guide me, part of me longed for it to snow. Just like it did in Harrisburg a month ago. Probably because it was the last time I felt remotely safe.

  Or maybe I just wanted to go back to the last time I was happy. When Bryan surprised me with those three precious words. But I couldn’t go back in time, no matter how much I wanted to. Going back wouldn’t change my reality. Bryan would still choose the Guardians over me. Nexis would continue to bully me. Will would still be an enigma.

  I stared up at the soaring arch of the chapel entrance, outlined against the night sky. Brooke and Laura, oblivious to my internal musings, pushed open the door and walked right in.

  Not me. I lingered in the doorway, unwillingly to follow them in just yet. I still needed answers before I faced the Guardian firing squad.

  Laura turned, red waves swishing. “Coming, Lucy?”

  Something hitched in my chest. “Not yet. I just need a minute, okay?”

  Brooke inhaled, a sharp whistle. She gave Laura the oddest look, almost like she was afraid. Did she know what I’d been wrestling with? My inner war, her brother on one side, Will on the other.

  Laura bobbed her head. Grabbed Brooke’s hand. “We’ll be down the hall.”

  Their whispers faded down the dark hallway.

  The scent of hot wax wafted to my nose. I stood in front of the candle station, tongues of fire licking their red glass cages. Dancing to a tune I couldn’t name. Somewhere deep within, I related to their straining rhythm.

  I picked a wooden wand and plunged it into the nearest flamelet. It caught fire as I watched, transfixed. Words coalesced in my mind as I stared at the growing flame.

  Moving to the middle candle, I lit the wick. It sparked and caught fire—a burning symbol of my struggle.

  Staring at the candle I’d just lit, a silent prayer crossed my mind. For help. For clarity. I needed to figure out where I belonged, aside from my relationship with Bryan. Or even my strange fascination with Will. If I really wanted to be the Seer, would I have to make a stand on my own?

  I closed my eyes. Turned to the Maker of the universe. The one who sent my angel.

  I don’t know what to do. Show me the way.

  The chapel sanctuary faded into black. Images rushed into my mind. Me standing on a mountaintop, wind whipping around me. I jumped, free-falling into the unknown. Then I was caught by an eagle, soaring through the clouds. But it wasn’t an eagle. It was more than an eagle. A white bird, radiating light brighter than the clouds. The light grew brighter than the sun. Angel.

  And we soared up, up, and up. Higher than I’ve ever been before. Till breath was only a memory. And the heavens opened. A golden light so bright, even my angel shuddered. Heavenly music swelled from above. Goosebumps popped up all over my body. It was a world full of light—immense, and beautiful. So glorious it was too much for me to bear. I wanted to run, fall down on my knees, and beg for mercy.

  I couldn
’t take it anymore. I opened my eyes. Blinked. I was back in the chapel. The real world looked so gray now.

  Snow was falling in the sanctuary, sparkling like diamonds from the Gothic-domed ceiling.

  A hush fell over me. Every sound silencing for this one moment in time.

  Silent flakes of white fell all around me. Made me think of Bryan. His love. But they didn’t touch me. No wet splotches on my arms, no drops of water on the marble tiles. As if the glittering whiteness floated down just for me—in that unseen world only I could see. Trying to tell me something. And I felt cold all over again.

  Then something strange happened.

  Flakes of iridescent black started to fall. Mixing with the white snow. Muddling the white crystals into shades of gray. Like the shadows around Will on New Year’s. Was it a metaphor of some kind? Or a warning?

  As suddenly as it started, the snowfall evaporated into thin air. Was that my answer? Great. Another riddle I’d have to decipher. Yet my heart felt lighter now. Free of its heavy burden. I knew it wasn’t all up to me.

  In one giant breath, I whispered my thanks to the heavens, releasing any remnants of my inner agony.

  Low murmurs wafted down the hall. I walked toward the sound. Sharp interjections, then staccato beats pelted my ears. I braced myself.

  In the library doorway I halted. Still as a statue. Bryan and Mr. Harlixton were arguing. Loudly.

  Bryan’s cheeks were patches of red. Eyes hard as icebergs. “I can’t believe you’re making me do this.”

  “I’m not making you do anything.” Harlixton’s voice was calm and even. “This was a council decision. It’s out of my hands, I’m afraid.”

  Bryan’s gaze darted around the room, stopping on me. “Lucy, I can’t—”

  His face crumpled like a paper bag. He glanced at Harlixton. “You tell her.”

  My heart drummed wildly. “Now what?”

  “Lucy, I don’t know how much you overheard, but it seems like we’ve got a real mess on our hands this time.” Harlixton crossed the room and gently placed my hands in his.

  For some reason I couldn’t move, couldn’t leave the safety of my doorway. I just stood there, frozen in place.