Free Almost Dead (Dead, #1) by Rebecca A. Rogers

returning home while I stay here and sling books across the yard makes me want to hurl—which forces me concentrate more than ever. An electric pulse gradually magnifies under my skin, and my fingertips begin to glow. I’m so fascinated by the brightness emanating from me, I lose all focus, and the light dims.
    “Damn it!” I stomp my foot. Habit, I guess. It’s not like it works here.
    Again, I think. At least I know what’ll happen this time. The stimulating energy prickles from head to toe. I close my eyes, imagining the book reaching my hand—struggling, at first, but eventually finding its way. God, this better work; otherwise, I’ll throw a bitch fit the afterlife has never seen before.
    My eyes remain shut so I won’t lose focus. Over and over again I play out the event in my mind and hope for the best, but my strength is failing. The electricity isn’t as strong anymore. I squeeze my eyes tighter, tighter, tighter. My ticket to freedom—and life—is only two feet away. I can’t let this slip.
    A dull thump against my palm takes me by surprise.
    “I did it,” I whisper , as I open my eyes and stare at the book in my hand. Why was that so hard for me earlier?
    “Congratulations,” Sara says from behind me, and my entire body jolts.
    The novel drops, swallowed again by the fog.
    “I d idn’t know you were out here.”
    She size="> leisurely glides toward me. “I wanted to see if you had what it takes, without pressure.”
    “Well, uh, thanks for not interrupting me, I guess.” I move to brush past her, but she steps in front of me.
    “I want you to know that I’m not taking sides. I do believe you can do this, but Flora was the first to understand. I’ve already promised her she could go.”
    I glance at the depressing fog, grass, trees—anything but her. “Whatever. You can say you don’t take sides all you want, but the trut h is you’ve taken hers. I should be the one who goes. I learned the first two lessons before she did. That’s got to count for something.”
    “You’ll be next to go. Trust me, Laney, I know you don’t want to be here. I hate keeping you, but it’s my job to prepare people for the world as a ghost. If you don’t have the skills necessary to travel and move things, then how will you survive?”
    Shaking my head in disbelief, I stare her directly in the eyes. “It’s so unfair. I don’t care what you or anyone else in Lichburn says. I should’ve been teleported out of this place by now.”
    Sara opens her mouth, but closes it and steps aside. She’s learning that if I don’t get my way, I’m more stubborn than a kid who needs a nap. And I’m learning that being in Lichburn is like one long nightmare after another.
    Except I can’t wake up.





chapter nine • flora
     
     
    S ara says if someone dies today, I can enter the Shadowlands. God, that sounds so morbid. It’s so weird how I can just take the place of someone else. Like Lichburn can’t have too many spirits, so they enforce crowd control. One dies. One moves on. Another stays behind. Who knew ghosts had rules?
    There’s a thick air between Sara and Laney this morning. I don’t know what that’s about, other than Laney not leaving Lichburn first. She couldn’t even touch the book when we were in the yard.
    Last night, after Laney’s dramafest, Sara and I stayed up so she could coach me how to not use so much energy. She said I’ll wear down fast if I don’t take breaks. But even if I do rest, my body will still feel thin. I’ve estimated that we only have a few days, more or less, before our bodies give out.
    “So, we just wait?” I ask.
    Sara nods, biting her lower lip. I’m sure she hates keeping Laney behind.
    “How does it work, exactly?” asks Laney. “I mean , does your doorbell ring or does something spooky happen?”
    s “I mean2em" align="justify"> “No,” Sara says. “I’m just…aware.”
    Laney continues. “Like you were aware when we fell off the cliff? How is