Page 81 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“What?” she snapped, eyeing the three of them with an unpleasant glare.

“Hi, Christie,” Norma said with a cheerful smile. “You know me? We have math and chemistry together.”

“I don’t,” Christine ground out through her teeth. “What is it?”

“Can we come in?”

Christine looked at Norma as if she’d lost her mind.

“Why?”

“I got your report card.” Norma pulled a piece of paper from her purse and waved it in the girl’s face. “I wanted to give it to you.”

Christine didn’t move from the doorway, just held out her hand.

“Oh my God…” Norma said suddenly. “What a beautiful lamp!”

…and then, as if it were nothing, she pushed past the girl and barged into her entryway.

“What are you doing?” Christine exclaimed, chasing after her.

Abby entered the house and signaled for Will to do the same.

“A lamp? Seriously?” Will hissed under his breath.

Abigail sighed softly, closing the door.

“It’s just perfect!” Norma gushed over the most generic lamp in the world. “It would fit in my room like a glove!”

“What do you want from me?” Christine snarled.

“Okay, Christie.” Norma turned serious, approaching the girl. “We need to talk, and seriously. What’s been wrong with you lately?”

“Nothing!” Christine bristled. “Leave me alone!”

“Abby.” Norma’s eyes shifted to her friend. “Got any ideas on how to settle this quickly?”

Abby thought for a moment, then waved her hand…

…and Christine Ellis, pushed by a magical force, flew into the living room, stopping only when she hit the opposite wall.

“I’ll ask again…” Norma said, walking toward her. Abby stayed at her side, so Will did the same, although the situation was terrifying him more and more. What would they do if this girl really was just having a hard time? “What’s wrong with you?”

“I said, leave me alone!” Christine screamed.

A malicious little smile formed on Norma’s lips.

“You know what’s wrong with you, Christie?” she asked, squatting down next to the girl. “It’s that even though my friend just used her power on you, you don’t seem particularly surprised. In short, sweetheart… You suck at pretending.”

Christine looked shocked. So did Will, but only because it was in that moment that he realized how bizarre her reaction had been. If he had inexplicably flown across an entire room, he would be dying of fear, while Christine just seemed angry.

Suddenly, she started to cackle. It didn’t sound like a human laugh, and certainly not like a petite girl’s—the sound that came from her throat was low and raspy. Will felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. And when Christine’s lips stretched into an unnaturally wide smile… He instinctively backed away, feeling like he had just stepped into a modern horror movie.

“What do I see?” Christine’s head darted quickly from side to side. Her eyes jumped from one person to the next. “A little witch…” she finally said, looking at Abigail. “A nasty bitch,” she hissed, focusing her attention on Norma. “And a spy,” she added, looking at Will. Her face changed. For a moment, it showed something like anxiety, and then she suddenly screamed, “A SPY! SPYYYYY!”

The screeching sound chilled Will to the bone.

“Okay.” Norma didn’t seem the least bit fazed. “Let’s calm down with the name-calling, huh? Here’s my proposal. You leave in peace, and nothing will happen to you. Sound good?”