Free The Accident by Diane Hoh Page A

tell me, were you?”
    “I didn’t want to frighten you, Megan. Because nothing bad can happen to me. I can steer clear of evil better than you can. Your body is safer with me than it would be with you.”
    Megan heard none of what Juliet was saying. All she could think of was being trapped in this horrible, empty world … forever. It was too terrifying to comprehend.
    Megan went out on the terrace roof to try to fathom what Juliet had just told her. Everything was perfectly still. Not a single leaf on the oak tree stirred. The lake was quiet, lying between the two shores like a giant ink stain. One by one, the lights in the houses bordering the lake went out, until, with no moon visible in the pouting gray sky, the darkness was complete.
    Megan had never felt so alone in her life.

Chapter 12
    R ESIDENTS OF L AKESIDE WERE severely shaken by the attack on Connie Logan. There was talk of hiring a private security patrol for the area. But the proposal was voted down because of the expense.
    Megan called Juliet’s attention to the drawings. “Keep your eyes open for more of these,” she said. “If someone else is going to get hurt, you might get another one. Check the art cubbyhole every day and the mailbox here at the house. And Juliet,” she warned, “ I think Mom is right. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go out alone. It might not be safe.”
    Juliet didn’t argue. She didn’t want to be alone, anyway. She wanted Justin with her, preferably at all times. “I know he’s your boyfriend,” she told Megan happily, “but it’s okay because he thinks I’m you. So it’s not like I’m doing anything wrong, right, Megan?”
    She didn’t seem to be taking the drawings seriously. That bothered Megan. How was she going to keep watch over Juliet and her family, too?
    Megan wished she could feel as confident about Juliet’s safety as Juliet seemed to. If there was a list of potential victims somewhere, Megan’s name was surely on it. Everyone who had been hurt was close to her. If she could be next, that meant Juliet could be next.
    She couldn’t forget Juliet’s answer to her question the night before. “Juliet,” she said as Juliet checked out the clothes in Megan’s closet, “I wish you’d pay more attention to what’s going on in town. You don’t seem to care at all. But if something happens to you … ”
    Juliet selected several outfits and carried them to the bed. Spreading them out like food on a picnic table, she said nonchalantly, “Goodness, Megan, nothing’s going to happen to me! I told you, I’ll know if something evil comes near me.”
    But that wasn’t good enough. It was making her crazy. “But if something does happen … I’d have to stay … like this … forever?”
    “The same thing would happen to you that will happen to me, come midnight on Saturday. I’ll disappear, poof!” She smiled happily. “But it’ll be okay now, because you gave me this week. Stop worrying. Nothing’s going to happen to me before Saturday.”
    Poof? She would go poof? And disappear? Forever? The sharp-toothed edges of Megan’s trap closed around her. She could only pray that the hours and the days would fly by quickly.
    And that Juliet was right about being able to protect herself.
    Megan’s father brought his wife home from the hospital at noon. While she slept, he gave Juliet permission to go to the library with Justin. Reluctant at first to have any family member leave the house, he relented when Juliet pointed out that she had a report due in social studies.
    “Nobody is going to attack me in the library, Daddy,” Juliet pleaded. “Besides, Justin will be with me.”
    He gave in then, and Juliet ran happily upstairs to change her clothes.
    But Megan wasn’t so sure the library was perfectly safe. The auditorium at Philippa should have been perfectly safe, too. But it hadn’t been for Hilary, had it? Maybe no place in Lakeside was safe. And if Juliet and Justin got lost in each other