***
Chay surprised me and stayed for my practice, which was good since Muriel, who was my ride, didn’t show. I was self-conscious with him watching me, but we were racing other teammates. The competitive nature in me took over, and I almost forgot Chay was there. Almost. He wasn’t someone a person could forget for long.
“You’re good,” he told me as we walked to his car after practice.
“Thanks.”
“You looked good too.” He grinned.
“Yeah, I looked awesome in my swim cap and no makeup,” I said with a laugh.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me around to look at him. “You looked awesome.”
I looked down, embarrassed. “Thanks.”
He held the passenger’s door open for me. I had one foot inside the car, my hand holding the door for support, when the second vision hit without warning.
Hot. Sulfur. Glowing hole.
I sucked in a breath. It felt like Friday night at the football game all over again. The demon, the glowing hole, the unbearable heat, and the disgusting smell.
Black hoodie. A creamy, white hand enclosed in a gray one.
My head started to pound. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the relentless waves of pain crashing into me.
Painted fingernails.
“Oh, no,” I whispered.
“What’s wrong, Milayna?” I jumped at the sound of Chay’s voice. I was so engrossed in the vision I’d forgotten I wasn’t alone. He wrapped his arm around me and helped me into the car.
“I had the vision again. Someone’s definitely turned.” I put the heels of my hands to my eyes and rubbed.
“You’re sure it isn’t Lily you’re seeing?”
“Yes… no… I mean, I don’t think it’s her. The person in the vision is wearing a black hoodie. The hood is up, hiding their face. I saw them shaking hands. It’s a girl.”
“How do you know if their face is covered?” He smoothed a curl behind my ear that had come loose of the messy bun at the nape of my neck.
“Her nails are painted.” Closing my eyes, I remembered Muriel telling me that she and her mother had their nails done over the weekend.
A lot of people have painted nails. And not just girls. But what about my nightmare… she’s been in them. She held me for the demon. No! Those are just silly dreams.
“If it’s a girl, then maybe it just has to do with Lily,” Chay said.
“No.” I shook my head and rubbed my temples. “I can’t explain it, but I have a feeling it’s someone else.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know,” I lied.
My best friend and cousin, for one. And I’m a horrible person for suspecting her.
Three weeks, five days until my birthday.
Listening to music, I hummed along while I put dishes in the dishwasher. I glanced out of the window over the kitchen sink. It was sitting on a swing in my backyard. I dropped my head on my arm leaning on the counter and cursed.
Great. Another night with the demon imp patrol.
I watched it swing, kicking its fat little legs in the air and cackling in its irritating, high-pitched squeal. A second hobgoblin marched across the yard. It glared at me through the window. I put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher and reached for my cell phone. It rang and I jumped, dropping it on the floor. I snatched it up, hitting the answer button.
“You see them,” I said.
“Hi to you, too.” I could hear the smile in his voice, and I laughed. “Yes, I see them. What are you doing?”
“I’m watching one stare at me through the window.”
“Hmm. Whatcha wearing?” His voice was low and lazy.
“Huh?” He’d never asked me anything like that before. He didn’t seem like that kind of guy… whatever that meant. I wasn’t sure. “Geez, stop playing around, Chay.” But something about the question, the thought that maybe he’d really want to know, heated my blood.
“I like you in purple,” he murmured. It was almost a quiet growl.
“How do you know I’m wearing purple?”
“Because I’m watching you,” he said behind me.
I jumped and turned, letting out a small scream. “Crap, you scared me! How’d you get in here?”
“Your dad.” He laughed.
“I didn’t hear you ring the bell.”
“How could you over your music?”
“Ugh. How long have you been here?”
“Long enough.” He grinned. I rolled my eyes. “The question is—how long have they been here?” He nodded toward the window.
“I just noticed them.”
“Well, why don’t you go out and see what they want?” He shooed me with his fingers.
“Alone? You’re going to let me outside without a security guard?” I teased, pulling my hoodie on. I froze.
A black hoodie. Just like my vision.
Chay watched me look at my hoodie. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
“Sure.” I smiled at him, trying to hide my panic. But I wasn’t sure. I’d like to think I wouldn’t turn, but I was sure Lily didn’t think she’d turn either. But I was wearing a black hoodie like the traitor in my vision and my fingernails were painted. Pretty damning evidence.