Free Unleashed by Rachel McClellan Page A

envelope. She read the only two sentences scribbled on it over and over again.
    Kate slapped her arm. “What does the note say?”
    She looked out the front window. "Giving you what you want. See you soon."
    "Who signed it?" Kate took the note and read it. "So bizarre.” A few seconds later she added, “But freaking awesome! Do you know what this means?"
    Claire didn't answer.
    "We can go to Portland now! We're in, Claire. Can you believe it?"
    "It doesn't mean we're in," Claire said, looking at her.
    "What do you mean? Of course it does. We have the money now."
    "But I don't know who it's from."
    "So? It's clearly a gift."
    She read the note again. "But where did it come from?"
    "Who cares? We have the money! Why aren't you excited?"
    "I don't know. There's something about the note. Like whoever gave this to me, knows me or something."
    Kate rolled her eyes. "Of course it's someone you know."
    "Then why didn't they sign their name? It's creepy."
    Kate started the car and pulled back onto the road. "Whoever gave it to you just wants to remain anonymous. I think it's sweet."
    Claire settled into her seat. "Yeah, maybe." She didn't tell Kate about the gas station being robbed. There was a chance the two events had nothing to do with each other, but then why did she feel so sick? Good things just didn’t happen to her.
     
    Ms. Simmons, Claire’s English teacher, finally sat down after an hour-long lecture. She looked out of breath and began to fan herself with a blank sheet of paper.
    “Last thing, students,” she said. “I want you to think about this quote for next class,” she looked down at a book on her desk and read: “With every day, and from both sides of my intelligence, the moral and the intellectual, I thus drew steadily nearer to the truth, by whose partial discovery I have been doomed to such a dreadful shipwreck: that man is not truly one, but truly two.” She looked up. “Come prepared with your thoughts on Monday.”
    The bell rang. Everyone in class stood up.
    "Logan!" Claire called from across the room.
    He turned around and she reared back in surprise when she saw what he was wearing: a black Bandon High hoodie. He walked over to her, yawning.
    “What’s with the shirt?” she asked.
    He looked down. “It was cold this morning.”
    “Did you go straight home after the concert last night?”
    “Yeah, why?”
    She paused, looking at him. It could’ve been anyone watching her and Kate. Lots of people had the same shirt, and as far as she knew Logan had never lied to her. “You look tired.”
    "Rough night is all." He yawned again.
    "Must have been that way for everyone.”
    "What do you mean?"
    Claire gathered her books, pretending she didn’t hear him. "What are you doing for lunch?"
    He shrugged. "Not sure. Why?"
    Even though she and Logan were best friends, they rarely ate together. He was usually off with his guy friends or with some girl. "Will you eat with me? I need to ask you something."
    He smiled and opened his arms. “I already know what you’re going to ask me, and the answer is yes. I will be your man for the rest of your life.”
    She punched him in the arm. "This is serious. I really need some advice."
    Logan searched her eyes and nodded. “Let’s go.”
    She followed him out, wondering how best to approach the subject. It wasn’t just the money that was bothering her. It was the conversation at Bodian about the missing vials, the crazy threats from Gary, the footprints at her window, and the lone figure wearing the Bandon High sweatshirt. Somehow she felt it was all connected.
    "So what's this about?" Logan said as they sat down on the grass.
    Claire popped open her soda can and unwrapped a sandwich from the cafeteria. More from habit than a desire to eat.
    "Do you believe what Mrs. Simmons said?" she asked.
    "About what?"
    "About how man is not really one but two? Like we all have some kind of beast inside of us just waiting to come out?" She tugged at a blade of grass,