Entranced Read online

  Beth dumped her iPod in her backpack. “What’s going on here?”

  I shook my head. Were even the middle school kids sad about Mike?

  A girl in brown braids and a flared skirt turned around. Her eyes landed on our car. “Beth!” she cried. She held out both hands and came over, tears sparkling on her cheeks.

  “What is it?” Beth asked, clearly alarmed. She got out of the car, shouldering her bag.

  I strained my ears, the journalist in me just as curious about the answer. A car honked behind me, and I knew I’d have to move. Transitioning back into Drive, I pulled away from the curb.

  The high school welcome scene was only slightly better. At least everyone wasn’t hanging out bawling anymore, but the atmosphere was still very somber, even with the bright sunshine overhead. I parked my car and headed toward the back entrance.

  “Hey, Meredith,” I said when I got to my locker. “How are things?”

  “Fine,” she said, not looking up from her phone. A frown marred her features as she texted. “Something’s up at the middle school. My brother said it’s crazy there today.”

  “Yeah, I kind of saw that,” I said. I checked my phone, but Beth hadn’t said anything.

  Meredith slipped her phone into her backpack. “How’s your work-study program going?” she asked as we crossed the street.

  “Great,” I said. “It’s really nice not to go to school all day. And I love journalism.” So much better than being stuck in Spanish. My fingers traced the scar on my neck absently.

  Meredith pulled open the door to the history building. “It probably seems pointless to go to psychology, huh?”

  I shrugged. “I still have to get an education.”

  She slid into her desk and I sat in front of her, then swiveled around to continue our conversation. I picked up one of her folders and turned it around. It had a inscription on the back that looked like a poem. “What’s this?”

  “Oh, just something I wrote.” Meredith’s cheeks reddened. “You can read it.”

  I hadn’t planned on it, but now her statement almost seemed like a request. It seemed rude to decline. I read the brief poem. The flowery language and beautiful imagery created a feeling of loneliness and longing inside my chest. I put the notebook down and stared at it, swallowing an urge to cry. “Wow, that’s amazing. You made me feel something. How did you do that?”

  “That’s what poetry does. I’m just the interpreter.”

  I turned back around as Coach began talking, but my thoughts were still on the poem.

  *~*

  Stephen gave me a head-bob hello in chemistry but otherwise didn’t approach me. I exhaled in relief. Whatever weirdness had been between us yesterday was gone.

  I couldn’t wait for class to end so I could get to work. But as soon as I got off the elevator, I was greeted by a flurry of activity.

  “What’s going on?” I asked James as he hurtled past me.

  “Working on something big,” he shouted, jogging backward for a minute. “Ask Mr. Edwards.”

  I made my way to his office and knocked on the open door. “Did you still want me working with Kate on the sports interviews?”

  He swiveled away from his computer and lowered his glasses, a somber expression on his face. “Actually that would be great. I’ve put Kate on something else, but those interviews need to be done. Check with her and she’ll get you started.”

  In other words, the intern didn’t get to work on the big stuff. I nodded and turned away, feeling a little jaded.

  “Hi,” I said, rolling a chair over to Kate’s cubby. “I guess I’m still on the interviews.”

  “Great.” She didn’t look away from the map on her screen as she keyed things in. “Here’s the list and numbers.” She reached across the keyboard and handed me a sheet of paper. “And the interview questions.” Another sheet of paper came my way. “After you get the interviews done, type them up and email them to me, will you? Remember to cite correctly.”

  “Sure,” I said, holding in my sigh. “What are you working on? What’s everyone working on?” What big thing was I being left out of?

  She finally glanced at me, just briefly before turning her eyes back to the computer. “You don’t know?” Not waiting for me to respond, she rushed on. “There’s been a string of suicides all across the townships this week. Collaborating with other police departments, it looks like they spread throughout the tristate area. Look.” She pointed across the Delaware Valley, throughout eastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.

  My eyes widened. An epidemic of suicides? “But how is that even possible?”

  “There’s something else going on. Something about animal sacrifices. Jayne.” She lowered her voice and leaned closer. “We’re working on the theory that a cult has gone rampant in the area. If we can prove it and break the story first, it will mean huge things for the paper. Huge.”

  My mind flashed to the story about the duck massacres at Duncan Catholic. My breathing quickened. Was this related? I racked my brain, trying to remember that kid’s name. I would have to talk to him again.

  “What animal sacrifice stories?” I asked.

  “Kate, Jayne!” James poked his head over. “Unless you’re researching or hunting down leads, quit talking!”

  Kate swiveled back to her computer. “If you get those interviews done quickly, I’ll give you part of my assignment.”

  “Absolutely.”

  I found a vacant phone and settled in to make my calls. My thoughts wandered to my sister, and my chest tightened. I’d foreseen a suicide in her future. What if my vision was right—but wrong about the timing? She’d been so down about cheerleading, and then the people who used to be her friends treating her badly. I grabbed my cell phone and called Beth.

  She didn’t answer, and I reminded myself that since she was in class, that was perfectly normal. I texted her instead.

  Hey. You okay?

  It took a moment, but I exhaled in relief when a text came back.

  Yeah. Crazy town here today.

  That’s what Meredith had said.

  What’s going on? I asked.

  This girl committed suicide last night.

  A rock settled into the pit of my stomach. Are you okay?

  Yeah. I didn’t know her well. She ODed on drugs. Didn’t even know she was a user. Cray-cray.

  I settled back in my chair, tapping my cell phone to my chin. Could animal sacrifices plus multiple suicides have something to do with my visions becoming unreliable?

  I shook my head and turned back to the task at hand. Interviews.

  The interviews took longer than I hoped, and by the time I finished typing up the fourth one (including proper citations), it was almost five.

  “Are you staying?” I asked Kate as I shouldered my bag. She hadn’t budged from her spot, papers still scattered around her.

  “Do you realize how many there have been just in Forked River?” she said absently. “Six. Six suicides this week. And it’s only Thursday.”

  I didn’t answer. As I walked out to my car, I was grateful I’d only met three of them.

  *~*

  I did my homework in front of the TV, waiting for any news flashes. I ate dinner in the same spot, but either the news channels were keeping it under wraps or they weren't taking this seriously.

  My phone rang, and I put down my chopsticks and noodles to answer. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Jayne, it’s Meredith.” Her voice lacked its usual perkiness.

  I leaned back on the couch, still watching the TV. “What’s wrong?”

  She exhaled. “You won’t believe this, but—my little brother’s girlfriend died yesterday.”

  “Criminy.” I sat up. “That’s awful!”

  “Yeah. He didn’t even find out until he got to school.”

  “Oh, wow.” I picked up my pen and notepad and then put them down, stifling my journalist instinct and trying to be a good friend. “Is he okay? Are you?”

  �
�I’ve never been this close to death, Jayne. When Stephen’s parents died last year, that was the first time someone I knew died. Now it’s like, people all around us are dying.”

  “I know,” I said softly. As much as I’d gotten used to death, it still wasn’t easy. “How did she die?” The question just slipped out, and I held my breath, hoping it wasn’t too intrusive.

  “I guess she killed herself. I can hardly believe it. She had some Goth tendencies, but I never would have pegged her for being suicidal.”

  Meredith kept talking, but I didn’t really hear her. Another one. Who would be next?

  *~*

  “Are you going to be okay at school today?” I asked Beth as I pulled into the drop off zone.

  “Yeah.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know Rebecca that well . . .”

  Her voice trailed off, and I seized on the opportunity. “You wouldn’t ever do that, would you?”

  “Do what?”

  I didn’t bother mincing words. “Kill yourself.”

  She shot me a funny look. “No way.”

  “Promise?” I pressed.

  “For the love of sparkles, of course not. What’s wrong with you?”

  I laughed. Where she came up with these things, I had no idea. “Just remember that.”

  “Right.” She waved and didn’t give me a second look.

  My shoulders tightened as I neared the high school. I tried not to think about whether someone else had killed themselves yesterday. Or who it might be.

  Everything looked normal in the parking lot, though. Kids fist-bumped, the girls bent their heads together. I exhaled and relaxed. If anything had happened, it would be obvious by now. I stayed in my car for a moment to send Aaron a text.

  Hey good morning. Want to go out tonight?

  I knew no response would come right away, so I pocketed my phone in an effort to resist temptation.

  Meredith greeted me at my locker. She looked a little pale, but otherwise fine. “Ready for class?”

  I slammed my locker open. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  I became more and more antsy as the day progressed. Had the police discovered any more about the suicides? I needed to get to work so I could find out.

  I didn’t even notice Stephen wasn’t in chemistry until I heard his name mentioned behind me.

  “Where’s Stephen?” a cute red-headed sophomore asked Toby.

  “Guess he’s sick,” Toby said. “Not sure.”

  “He didn’t tell you? I’ve been texting him since last night. No answer.”

  “Hmm.” Toby didn’t sound too concerned, but my skin prickled.

  Don’t, I told myself. You can’t go thinking every time someone isn’t around that they’re dead. But my paranoia wasn’t completely unfounded.

  I texted him as I dumped my books into my locker. Stephen, it’s Jayne. Is everything all right? Worried. He was all alone now, living with an aunt who worked crazy hours. He wouldn’t commit suicide, would he?

  *~*

  “We’re trying to break this story on the occult,” Kate said to me as soon as I came in. “Oh, and happy Friday.”

  “Happy Friday,” I echoed, putting my purse down at the foot of her chair. “What do you want me to do?”

  “Are your interviews done?”

  I nodded. “Typed up and emailed to Shane.” I bobbed on the soles of my feet, anxious to get back to the breaking news.

  “Great. Then you get to research.”

  I pulled out a notepad and pen. “What sources are we using?”

  Kate’s eyes glittered. “Stuff online is too convoluted, polluted with opinions.” She pulled a tag out of the desk drawer and handed it to me. “Mr. Edwards said you can go to the Georgian Court University library. Find all those old tomes nobody reads anymore.”

  “Really? I get to go research offsite?” I tried not to show how excited that made me.

  “Yep. Go see Mr. Edwards on your way out.”

  I turned to go, then swiveled back around. “Why isn’t he assigning this to you? You’re a student at the university.”

  “Which is why he’s not.” She grinned at me. “I don’t want to spend any more time there than I have to.”

  “Jayne!” Mr. Edwards smiled at me and came around his desk when I knocked. “Did Kate give you your assignment?”

  I nodded. “Do you want me to stop back here at the end of the day?”

  “No. Just remember you don’t get paid past five.”

  “Right.” I took a deep breath, then blurted, “Thank you for letting me do this. This is awesome.”

  “You’ve been with us for four months, and you’re proving your worth. Great journalistic minds don’t come with age—people are born with them. Get me lots and lots of information. And remember your citations.”

  Of course. That was like the mantra around here.

  “I want to run a full story on the history of the occult in New Jersey next Friday. You’ll be working on this all week. Check in at the office if you want, or just call and let me know when you’re on the clock.”

  “Yeah. Great. Thanks again.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  I didn’t find much at the library. There really wasn’t a history of the occult in New Jersey. I crossed off keywords and leads from my notepad and decided to change the angle of my search. I decided to focus on famous individuals who had been involved in questionable practices in the area. And maybe social trends like depression and melancholy.

  I’d forgotten that I’d run into traffic on the way home. Even though I left the library at five p.m., the usual half an hour drive took more than twice that. Instead of my mom calling to check on me, though, it was my dad.

  “Hey, sweetheart,” he said.

  “Dad!” I smiled at the sound of his voice. “You’re home!”

  “Flight got in four hours ago,” he said. “How was the first week of your senior year?”

  Was it only the first week? It felt much longer than that. “It’s been a bit crazy.”

  “I guess things have been odd around here. Maybe I should stay home more.”

  Not that I would mind, but we all knew Dad’s consulting job required him to work onsite. As much as he hated being away from us, he loved his job. So we bore his absence. “We’re okay.”

  “Where are you? Your mom said you get off work at five.”

  I bit my lip. I hadn’t cleared it with my mom to drive to Lakewood. “Almost home. I’m in pretty bad traffic. Work had me run some errands and I’m down south.”

  “I’m ordering a pizza. Want us to wait for you?”

  “No.” My thoughts flashed to Aaron, and an uneasy feeling crawled through my stomach like a restless spider. I’d texted him three times today to see if he wanted to do something tonight. He hadn’t answered once. A chasm had opened between us, and I wasn’t sure how to close it. “I might be going out with Aaron later.”

  “Then definitely save your appetite. Oh, and Jayne?” He lowered his voice. “Your mom has a headache. She’s lying down, so keep it quiet when you come in.”

  Mom didn’t get headaches unless she’d been crying. “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, nothing. Focus on the road, and we’ll talk when you get home.”

  I calmed myself and tried to pay attention to the traffic. I paused at the light and sent Aaron one more text.

  Trying to reach you. Date night tonight??

  Why wasn’t he answering? Was he ignoring me? Or was something wrong?

  It’s nothing, I told myself. His phone’s just off while he’s in class. I was going from Crazy Jayne to Jayne the Paranoid.

  As soon as I got home, I greeted Dad with a hug and a kiss, said hi to Beth, and went down the hall to my parents’ bedroom.

  “Mom?” I said, poking my head into her room. She lay curled up on her side, her back to me, arms wrapped around a pillow. The blinds were pulled shut, the room dark.

  She rolled over. “What is it, Jayne?”

 
I approached her, studying her face for clues. Dad hadn’t filled me in on anything earth-shattering, so this had to be personal. “Are you okay?”

  She tried to smile, but her lips trembled, and it fell flat. “Nothing for you to worry about. Just issues at work.”

  Mom wasn’t known for being overly emotional. I couldn't imagine her getting this upset because a sale didn’t go through or someone said something mean to her. “What kind of issues?”

  “A coworker died unexpectedly. See? You’re not the only one who has to deal with this.”

  Dozens of questions popped through my mind at once. I picked one. “Who died?”

  “You don’t know her, Jayne.” Her blue-green eyes shimmered. “She was so young.”

  “How did she die?”

  “Never mind that.” Mom closed her eyes, tears seeping out.

  “She killed herself, didn’t she?” I couldn’t stop myself.

  Her eyes flew open again. “Why did you ask that?”

  “Haven’t you noticed, Mom? There’s been like this whole string of suicides lately.”

  Ever the pragmatic, she was quick to dismiss me. “Emily had some personal issues she was dealing with. This was her way out.”

  “Really? So you saw this coming?” Mom’s brush-off annoyed me.

  “Don’t be flippant,” Mom snapped. “It doesn’t matter. She’s dead now, and her family has to deal with it.”

  My annoyance vanished, and I lowered my chin. “I’m sorry,” I murmured. I took her hand and squeezed it, and she squeezed it back.

  “I’m going to rest now, Jayne. Help your father.” She closed her eyes again.

  “Okay.”

  I slipped out of the room, wishing it were tomorrow already so I could return to the university library. There had to be clues somewhere. What good were my powers if I couldn’t get to the bottom of this?

  The smell of a baking frozen pizza greeted me as soon as I closed the door to my parents’ room. I wandered down the hall and checked my phone as my stomach growled. Half after six, and nothing yet from Aaron. I avoided the kitchen lest I consume the substandard food in my hunger.

  I booted up the computer, not sure what to search for but needing to do something. I typed in suicide rate, New Jersey. Several links to official stats and unofficial blogs popped up, all of them more than a year old. I tried a new search. Suicides on the rise in New Jersey.