Free Deceptive Cadence by Katie Hamstead Page A

him. After the ice-skating incident, he met up with me at school and apologized. We agreed to still be friends—just friends—and he didn’t seem upset about it. At least one of the guys I dated the last time accepted my rejection and continued to be my friend. I had always liked Brian the most, so I was pleased I hadn’t driven him away like the last time.
    He shuddered. “It’s so cold!”
    The bell rang, so we reluctantly let go and ran to our classes to try and warm ourselves. My classroom was colder than the air outside. I danced around on the spot beside Michael as he laughed at me.
    “You’re such a girl.”
    “Thanks, Captain Obvious.”
    The roll was called and the twelfth grader stood to make the announcements. “This term’s disco will be on the eleventh of September.”
    I tensed. September 11, 2001? I glanced down at Michael, feeling sick.
    “Wow, that’s late this term,” he said.
    I looked away and stared ahead at the announcer. September eleventh . . .
    “Cadence? What’s wrong?”
    I turned to Michael in a daze. “September eleventh! It’s the day before here, but still . . .”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I should warn someone. Maybe I could . . .”
    Everything froze around me. I gazed at Michael’s face in surprise as he stared up at me, completely confused. I glanced around the room and saw a ball hanging in the air and a seventh grader leaning back precariously on the two legs of his chair.
    “Cadence.”
    I turned and saw the man with the silver hair and beard standing by the door. He wore white jeans and a white dress shirt instead of scrubs. “Cadence, follow me.”
    I trotted after him as we walked down the corridor.
    “Do you remember the terms of your contract?”
    I nodded. “It’s getting a little hazy, though, to be completely honest.”
    “That’s not surprising. Your mind will start confusing events, and you’ll forget things here and there. You will soon be just like a teenager again, except it will feel strange because you will remember events from a previous life. But don’t be afraid. You’ll retain enough to know what you’re doing and how to make better choices.”
    “I already feel like some of my other life was just a dream.”
    He smiled. “Yes, the more you change here, the less real that timeline will become.”
    I froze and caught my breath. “I don’t want to forget Austin and Melody. I don’t want them to be less real.”
    He turned to face me, and covered my eyes. “They will always be vibrant and real to you because you hold them alive in your heart.”
    As he pulled his hand away, I found myself in a white room, with a window overlooking New York City, and the Twin Towers. I gasped and stumbled back. “Why did you bring me here?”
    “Why?” He gestured up at the towers. “In a few weeks, these buildings will fall and there is nothing you can do about it.” He plucked my contract out of the air and pointed to it. “You agreed that you wouldn’t alter fixed points in time , which means you can’t warn anyone about this.”
    I let out a desperate gasp. “Why? Even if I could just save a few people―”
    “No, Cadence. This must happen. You know what happens afterward. This event changes the course of history.”
    I rubbed my eyes as tears burned in them. “But why? If you’re an angel, why don’t you stop them?”
    He nodded thoughtfully as he stepped in front of me. “Mankind was given the right to choose by God himself. I have no right to take that away from any of them. When people make bad choices, they have to live with the consequences of their actions, not only in this life, but in the next as well. But, out of this horror, brave hearts will be ignited and selfless acts will inspire mankind.”
    “Wait.” I shook my head. “By giving me a redo, aren’t you interfering with that?”
    He smiled again. “Not entirely. This was planned for your life. Without the understanding you would build, you couldn’t do