Page 14 of Black Hollow: Awakening

Will remembered a news report he’d once seen—about some school gang that attacked students after classes ended. He had a feeling this was that kind of situation. That this was revenge for the basketball or something.

“You know, we were going to talk to you anyway, but that stunt… Wow,” Norma said, shaking her head.

“What stunt?” Will asked, not understanding.

“And then there was darkness!” Norma exclaimed dramatically, then giggled, hopping onto a desk. “You know.”

Was she talking about what happened in the lab?

“It was some kind of short circuit,” Will answered slowly. “I had nothing to do with it.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. And I had nothing to do with the fire at Mrs. Dwayne’s house.”

“What?”

“Nothing. Mistakes of youth. So? Are you going to tell us what’s wrong with you that you’re pulling a circus act like this, or should we tell someone?”

“Tell someone what?” Will asked, growing more and more confused by the direction of the conversation. He felt like they had him mixed up with someone else.

“I don’t think he gets it,” the other girl said quietly.

“Yeah, right,” Norma snorted. “Come on, Will. You’re among your own kind, go ahead.”

“Go ahead with what? And what do you mean, my own kind? I don’t even know you.”

Norma winked at him.

“You know,” she said pointedly.

Will didn’t know.

She rolled her eyes, then raised her hand, and a small flame flickered to life in her palm.

Will jumped back, not believing his eyes. How did she…? Never mind! To hell with news reports about gangs, these were some kind of pyromaniacs! She’d mentioned a house being set on fire. And now they wanted to burn down the school. Or him! What did they even want?

Panicked, he glanced around the room. Blake was leaning against the door. They were on the first floor, so Will could escape through the window, but Liam was waiting there. After a moment’s thought, he decided he’d rather take his chances with a twig like Alden than with the captain of the basketball team.

He lunged for Blake, but Blake shoved him away without the slightest effort.

Will staggered back a few steps, staring at Alden in disbelief.

“Please, let me go,” he said, his voice trembling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t do anything.”

“Are you serious right now?” Norma asked.

“Yes! I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“Damn it. Abby, are you sure…?”

The other girl nodded.

“The energy came from him. I can still feel it, though it’s weaker now.”

“I told you something was wrong with him,” Blake added harshly.

“What energy?” Will asked.

“The short circuit at KC. You caused it.”