I hadn't expected Elijah to see me. 

And God, I was happy he did. He was the first person who could see me. The first person who could talk to me since this happened. 

I sat by his window, legs swinging. I was humming, watching his wall clock, when something yanked me. 

It felt like being pulled underwater. Sucked through a pipe. 

The next second I was back in my room. 

What was happening? 

Panic hit. I bolted for the door. Hit the same wall. Bounced back to my desk. 

Again. Again. There was a barrier. I couldn't leave. 

“No. Not this again,” I snapped. 

I screamed for Elijah. Called his name until my throat hurt. Nothing. 

Then footsteps. Relief. He'd noticed I was gone. 

But they didn’t come upstairs. They went down. 

I screamed until my voice cracked and I went weak. 

ELIJAH'S POV 

Gabriel was captain of the basketball team. 

Back in the city I was on the team too. Bench. Always bench. Never played a single game. 

I told Gabriel that. He grinned and said I was welcome to join. 

He sounded genuine. I said I'd think about it. 

Practice started Thursday, right after school. 

I was cutting across the hallway to find the gatekeeper when someone blocked my path. 

A girl with bright red hair. 

“Hi, I'm umm... my name is Eleanor, she said, shy. 

She wouldn't meet my eyes. Same class as me. I'd noticed her that morning because of the hair. Hazel eyes. Frail. Lips pressed tight like she was holding words in. 

“Hey. I’m Elijah. We're in the same class, right?” 

“Yes, we are.” 

“Can we walk together? Same direction.” 

“Sure.” 

We walked in silence. I slowed my pace so she could keep up. 

“So, where are you headed?” 

“Oh, right.” Her voice was steadier now. 

“First meeting of the semester for my club. 

Science club.” “Do you want to join?” 

Do I want to? No. Maybe. 

“I don’t know. I'll think about it.” 

“You're... kind of scary, she blurted. I frowned. Must've shown on my face.

“Uh—” 

“Your eyes,” she rushed. “They've got this odd look.” 

Pause. 

“But Annabelle talked to you, so you're probably not scary.” 

She glanced around, then leaned in and whispered. 

“Annabelle’s kind of a mini-celebrity here. So you're kind of a big deal now.” 

I opened my mouth. 

“Elijah!” 

I turned. Annabelle was walking toward us. Eleanor flinched. “I... I have to go. Bye.” 

She stumbled over the words and ran. 

Annabelle smiled. “Seems like you're making friends.” 

“Isn't that what school's for?” I joked. She laughed. 

“You look lost. Need help finding your way?” She meant the library. From day one. 

“Actually, yes.” I hesitated. 

“Do you know where I can find the gatekeeper?” 

I cringed at the word. “I mean the chief of security.” 

Her expression changed. Cold. 

“Why are you looking for him? He's weird. Dangerous. Stay away from him.” 

“What do you mean by—" 

“Just. Stay away.” 

The bus for Section 2 arrived. Annabelle turned to leave. 

Mine pulled up right after. 

I didn't know what bothered me more. Not getting to the gatekeeper, or what Annabelle said about him. 

I ran to my room. Took the stairs two at a time. 

I needed Farrah. If the gatekeeper wouldn't talk, maybe she would. 

She wasn't there. 

I thought maybe she'd gone somewhere. That's why I couldn't reach her in the morning. But she should be back by now. 

I checked the whole third floor. Nothing. “Farrah?” No answer. 

I went down to the second floor. 

The hallway lights started flickering. Fast. 

I ran to her room. 

Farrah was there. Tears in her eyes. Waiting. 

“I've been waiting for you,” she whispered. “Don't leave me like that again.” 

Then she dove in. 

Fast. 

And everything went blank.