Free Dark Calling by Cheryl McIntyre

squeaks. 
    “Uh, what’s going on Icky?” Lila asks.  Her eyes dart over Keely, a quick check for injuries.  She notices the bags by the door.  One is spilling over with clothing.  She r aises an eyebrow and gazes at her brother.
    Nick is at a loss.  He doesn’t know where to begin.  Keely laughs.  Not like it’s funny—although to her, it kind of is—but a quiet, slightly hysterical laugh.   They all stare at her.
    “Is she all right?” Lila whispers.
    Keely stops abruptly.  “Am I all right?  Really?”  She begins to pace.  “There is something seriously wrong with you people.  Of course I’m not all right!”  She is shouting now.  Tears sting her eyes.  She does not want to cry.  “My parents may be dead.  Someone wants me dead.  But nobody is willing to tell me why.  And I am stuck here, in this crappy little apartment with people I’m pretty sure I shouldn’t trust.  And believe me, if I were in any better of a position, I so would not be here.  I’d be calling the cops on you fricking people.”  She flops down on the futon.  “Oh, and let’s not forget that I was sick all day and then nearly attacked on my first day of school.  This h as been the day from hell .”
    “She’s a little cranky, isn’t she?” Lila flips her pink-blond hair over her shoulder.  Keely’s eyes bulge.   Cranky?  
    Bryon scratches his head uncomfortably.  “True story.”
    “Come on.  You need to soak in a hot bath.  Then we’ll get you settled so you can rest.”
    Keely is so taken aback by Lila’s obliv ious reaction to her manic rant that she allows her to pull her to her feet.  Willingly follows her into the bathroom.  Watches quietly as she runs the hot water into the surprisingly clean bathtub.  Lila hands her a towel and wash cloth.  Keely takes it.  Nick is there, giving Lila Keely’s back pack.  Lila passes it to Keely before backing out of the room and pulling the door shut behind her.
    What the hell?   Although she’s pretty sure she was just Jedi mind tricked, Keely decides she wants the bath.  Despite the heat, she is frozen.  Chilled through her skin, straight to her bones.   And the muscles in between ache. 
    She locks the door. Kicks off her shoes, she doesn’t even remember putting them on.  Undresses and s ubmerges herself in the hot water.   The scrapes on her hands sting.   She slides down so that only the small oval of her face is above the steaming water.  Stares at the ceiling.  Does this for a very long time.  Her eyes trace the shape of the exhaust.  Follow the circle of the heating vent.  Trail the fine lines of the cracks in the ceiling. 
    There is a soft knock at the door.  A muffled voice.  She pushes hersel f up.  Notices the water has turned cold and gray .  Hair dye.  It will fade away in a few more washings.   She really wishes her mom would let her use permanent dye.  
    “Keely?  Are you all right?”  Nick sounds slightly panicked.  Keely figures she better respond before he kicks the door in.  She rolls her eyes.
    “Yeah.  Fine.”  Her voice is as icy as the water has become .  She reaches over to her back pack.  Pulls her shampoo out and b egins washing her hair. 
    Keely’s head is fully lathered with the sweet smelling shampoo when she hears whispering.  Her hands freeze.  Ears strain to listen.  Someone is whispering at the door. 
    “What?  I can’t hear you,” she calls.  The whispering cuts off.  Begins again.  She leans over the side of the tub trying to hear better.  Why is he whispering?  Just say it already .
    Suddenly the whispering is in her ear.  In both ears.  All around her.  Keely doesn’t move.  Doesn’t blink.  She is much too scared to do anything. 
    “In three plus a day.”
    “You’ll be his.”
    “Find your way.”
    “To where your mother is.”
    “Trade her for you.”
    “If she you want to save.”
    “If your love is true.”
    “You must be brave.”
    The