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"But how many more are there?" she wailed. "And why are they coming after you?!"
"Everyone has a vardoger. But, like I explained earlier, not every vardoger has the desire to overtake their human. But it seems like some of the ones that have turned evil aren't satisfied with just taking over their humans. My aunt told me they sense my power. I guess...I guess I'm a really powerful seer."
Simon's grip on my hands tightened. His expression was full of pain. "This has to stop. We have to stop this." He hesitated before continuing. "Your bedroom door was locked. Sarah and Grant tried to run in when they heard you screaming, but I realized it was locked when they started pounding on the door. When I couldn't get the vardoger off of you, I ran to unlock it. But...I never locked it in the first place. And I know you didn't."
My breath hitched as I processed what he was telling me. "Claudia must be near. She somehow has the ability to sustain the energies of vardogers that are detached from their persons."
Sarah's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "Do you mean she was in here? Claudia was in the apartment while we were asleep?"
I could see her visibly shaking, but I didn't know how to deny the truth. As much as it horrified me, I was sure that Claudia had locked the door to make me more vulnerable.
"I don't think talking about the details is going to do us any good," Grant said, looking meaningfully at Sarah. My stomach was in knots as I watched the fearful faces around me. I was supposed to be the protector, the all-powerful seer. Yet I had no clue what to do.
I thought about the dream of my mother. About my aunt's dream of my mother that she had written about in her journal. Everything seemed to point to my mother so I decided it was about time I visited my father.
"I think I need to go see my father. He can't refuse to give me answers once we're face to face." I checked the clock by the table, surprised that it was already five in the morning.
"I'm going with you," Simon said in a tone that brooked no argument. I didn't protest. I didn't think I could get through any of this without him. And I still had his vardoger to contend with.
Sarah had quieted down and was now only sniffling. She looked up at me, her voice tremulous. "Me too. I'm going with you."
I was grateful for her offer, but there was no way I was putting more people at risk. "It's not a good idea, Sarah," I said gently. "I appreciate it, but I'm not putting more people in danger." I turned to Grant when Sarah got a mulish expression on her face.
"I don't know, Caitlin," Grant said slowly. "As freaked out as I am right now, and trust me I'm as freaked out as a person can be, I don't like the idea of you and Simon going off on your own. Shouldn't we call the police or something?"
"And tell them what? That shadows are attacking me? That vardogers are trying to take over the world?" I tried to keep the exasperation out of my voice since Grant was only trying to help.
"She's right," Simon said, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me close to his side. "No one would believe us. Hell, you didn't even believe it until you saw it firsthand."
Grant glanced at me guiltily but he didn't deny Simon's claim.
"But that's even more reason why we should all go with you." Sarah had a stubborn look on her face and I tried to reason with her.
"Sarah, as much as I appreciate you wanting to help, you'll be a distraction because I'll be worrying about keeping you safe."
"But Simon is going with you," Sarah pointed out.
"She needs me," Simon said simply. I didn't argue because I knew it was true.
Sarah sighed, knowing she was fighting a losing battle. "Fine, but if you don't call me every hour I'm going to go crazy with worry."
I promised I would check in with her regularly and Simon and I got ready to leave. I was grateful when the sun rose, even though daylight was no longer a safe haven. Before we left, I took out the tools I had bought last week, although it seemed more like a million years ago. Even though iridium supposedly wouldn't protect me anymore, I wasn't taking any chances and quickly soldered a loop to it so that I could run a chain through it to wear around my neck.
"I don't think it's a good idea to mention this to Jenny and Marcus," I said before Simon and I left. "I don't want people to start panicking."
Grant gave me an odd look. "Trust me, I'm not telling anyone. Not that they would believe me."
I hugged Sarah fiercely. "I love you," I whispered to her, just in case this was the last time I would be able to tell her how much she meant to me.
"Don't say that like we're never going to see each other again," Sarah choked out. "I'm going to be super pissed if you make me spend my senior year hanging out with Samantha by myself."
I laughed at Sarah's joke about Samantha, Maxwell's resident man-eater that we were forced to hang out with on occasion due to her friendship with Marcus. But my laugh sounded more sad than anything else. I watched Simon and Grant hug, realizing how hard this must be for them too. We put our bags in the trunk of Simon's car and then we were on the road.
The drive to Philadelphia was solemn and I didn't feel much like talking. We spent most of the time listening to the radio. My anxiety rose the closer we got to my house. I had toyed with the idea of calling my father to let him know we were on our way, but I decided a surprise visit was the best approach. That way he couldn't try to avoid me.
"You should have seen Sarah's face when I demanded she give me Bob's phone number when you were missing." Simon's words broke into my reverie. "I was planning on going down to Philly to get some answers from him."
I quickly glanced at Simon who was watching at me with a raised eyebrow. It was an odd topic to bring up now, with everything happening. I wasn't sure if he was trying to lighten the mood or just get a confirmation about Bob's lack of existence. "Uh, did she tell you that there was no Bob?"
