Free Dead Is a State of Mind by Marlene Perez

Mr. Davis's murder all squared away by the time prom rolls around."
    Chief Mendez smiled. "You're right, Daisy," he said, but his smile seemed forced. "Even so, I'll put some extra officers on duty in the park that night."
    He handed me our approved permit for the party.
    It was getting dark by the time I headed home, but I decided to cut through the park anyway. I wanted to check out the layout and try to envision how we would set things up on prom night. Plus, maybe I'd find something to give me a clue about Mr. Davis.
    I walked to the fountain at the center of the park. The diamond in the crown.
    I avoided a dark splotch on the path near the fountain. It looked like blood. I bent down to examine the area. It turned out to be nothing more than melted chocolate from an icecream cone. Gross. I was about to get up when I spotted a couple on a bench several feet away from me.
    I saw the back of a tall guy's head. It was Ryan, sitting with Elise. They were engrossed in conversation and didn't notice me.
    The tight, miserable feeling in my chest didn't leave me. My legs were shaky, so I sat down on the ground and leaned against the fountain. The last time I'd had this sensation had been in sixth grade, when Kyle Vendajas, a boy I had a mad crush on, picked me last in dodgeball.
    I put my head down on the cold, smooth surface of the fountain and just sat there. I wanted to cry, but forced the tears back. I don't know how long I stayed like that, but when I finally looked again, they were gone. Who was Elise to Ryan, and why had he been spending so much time with her?
    It was getting darker, and I needed to get home. Ever since Mr. Davis's murder, rumors had been flying around about wolves roaming the park in packs.
    When I stood up, I felt a tingle and I realized my foot was asleep. I stomped it once to get the circulation going, and that's when I heard a noise coming from the bushes. I moved closer.
    Meow. A tiny face peered out of the leaves. A black kitten stared up at me, still meowing plaintively. She took a hesitant step forward and then batted something toward me. It was a bit of greenery covered with pink blossoms. I knew some plants were harmful to animals, so I took it away from her and put it in my pocket.
    She seemed miffed at being deprived of her plaything and let out a plaintive meow.
    The kitten wasn't wearing a collar. I inched closer, not wanting to startle her. She edged back toward the shelter of the bush.
    I looked at the darkening sky. Definitely time to head home, but I couldn't just leave her there. I remembered that the remains of my lunch were stuffed into my backpack. I hadn't felt much like eating, and the bell had rung before I could dump it.
    I dug through my pack and found the untouched roast beef sandwich. I gutted the sandwich and waved a slice of meat in front of her enticingly. Somehow I was sure the kitten was a she.
    "Here, kitty, kitty."
    She moved forward cautiously. I dropped the roast beef a few feet in front of her and then stepped back. Cats didn't like to be crowded, I knew. Or picked up by strangers. I didn't relish getting scratched, but if the roast beef didn't work, I'd have to grab her and scoot out of the park.
    The kitten used a claw to hook the meat and drag it closer to herself. I dropped another, smaller piece a few feet down the path. She froze and stared at me with huge sapphire eyes. At this rate, we'd be here all night.
    I tried again. She inched forward slowly, on her belly. I dropped a tiny piece of roast beef for her every few feet. I thought she'd gulp it down, but instead she ate daintily.
    When she was through, she meowed again, as if to say "More, please." She wound herself around my legs. We'd become friends, but we'd run out of time. I heard a far-off howl. " Time to leave, kitten."
    I took off at a brisk pace. The howling grew closer. The kitten bristled, all her fur standing on end, and then trotted after me.
    I wondered exactly how many werewolves there were in