Coldhearted (9781311888433) Read online

  “Chin up, Barbie.” Mason smiled and removed his hand. “You have to be ready in case Ken comes along, wanting a kiss.”

  “You’re not Ken?” she dared to ask.

  He stared into her eyes. “I could be.” He leaned in and gave her a chaste kiss on her cheek. Then he pulled back, but kept a small distance between them, and said, “I’m really glad you’re here, Edie.”

  Edie found herself leaning forward, toward his lips. Mason was mimicking her movement, but just when they were about to kiss, the nurse reappeared. Mason and Edie scrambled apart, each to the opposite ends of the sofa, hands in their laps, trying to look innocent.

  The nurse didn’t seem to notice. “You can go now,” she said, indicating the both of them with a wave of her hand. “Your excuses are at the front desk.”

  Edie glanced at the clock. Time had flown by so fast. It was already near the end of third period.

  When they picked up their slips of paper, Edie asked Mason, “Where are you going next?”

  “American government. You?”

  Edie checked her schedule and fought to suppress a disappointed moan.

  “History,” she informed. She loved the subject, but she wanted to be with Mason.

  “Why don’t we meet up at lunch?” he proposed. “Seniors have a pass to leave. Jack’s is nearby. The food will probably kill you but it tastes great.”

  “You’ll give me directions?”

  He smiled. “I’ll do one better. I’ll drive you there. My dad should have my truck back in the student lot by now. So…what do you say?”

  Edie beamed, unable to hide her excitement. “Sure.”

  He grinned back. “Great.” He gestured at the school’s bulletin board, announcing the upcoming Halloween dance. “Meet me there, okay?”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  He leaned in like he was going to kiss her, but then backed away, deciding against it.

  He smiled to take the sting away. “I can’t wait, Edie. See you soon.”

  They waved goodbye and she watched him leave down the hallway. They were taking things slow. That’s okay, I guess. For now. She’d never a boyfriend before, and she couldn’t help imagining her and Mason, holding hands, kissing, talking about movies and music and silly stuff. She felt completely at peace, until a cold finger traced a line up and down her spine, making her shiver.

  Fear of the unseen overwhelmed her and she bolted, running down the hall. She halted at the end, and then busted through a set of double swinging doors, finding herself inside the library again. She hid in the very spot where Mason had hurt his finger. The book, The Ghosts of Grimsby: Thirteen Tales to Scare the Sh!t Out of You, was still lying open on the carpeted floor with blood soaked on the page, and the grinning Grim Reaper, seemingly alight with maniacal delight at her return.

  She picked it up and held it very carefully, as if it were alive and about to bite her. Mason’s blood was suddenly too intense, too pungent. She snapped the book shut and placed it angrily back on the shelf. This caused it to dislodge the equilibrium of every book that’d been aligned, tipping them all over like falling dominoes. There was a gap at the end, where the last book wobbled a bit, and then gave up, falling against the shelf. The crash echoed throughout the library.

  “Edie,” a voice called out, summoning her.

  Edie panicked, thinking she was in trouble with the librarian, but when she spun around to face her and that beaky nose, the old woman wasn’t there. In fact, there was no one around, except for a lingering chill that Edie thought, eerily, could easily be an unseen, human presence.

  There was a long stretch of silence, until the voice called out again, saying, “Eeedee,” in a haunting, sing-song tone.

  She went up and down the aisles, trying to find the culprit, but the library seemed utterly deserted.

  Until…she found someone.

  Chapter 5

  “Are you playing some sort of game? Because if you are, it’s not funny,” Edie scolded.

  The girl was sitting on the floor. She looked up at Edie through thick glasses, holding a book in her hands. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  She was Hispanic with mahogany hair pulled back in a droopy ponytail. Edie thought that she might have passed for pretty if she’d stop wearing that scowl on her face. Then again, Edie did have some blame in that, accusing her of something she hadn’t done.

  “Sorry,” Edie apologized. “I thought I heard someone calling my name.”

  The girl looked around, darting her magnified eyes back and forth. “There’s no one else here.”

  “Yeah, I gathered that,” Edie muttered, frustrated.

  Suddenly, the girl leapt up, dropping her book. “Wait. You hear voices, don’t you? In your head?” she asked, tapping a forefinger against her temple.

  Edie took a step back, annoyed. “What’re you? The thought police?”

  The girl huffed. “Do. You. Hear. Voices?”

  “No,” Edie immediately lied.

  “It’s okay,” she said softly, as if Edie needed gentle coaxing. “You’re not alone. Lots of people hear voices, and they think they’re crazy, but they’re not.”

  “Who are you?”

  She smiled. “Julianna Desantiago, paranormal investigator, junior, and all-around believer in anything and everything. The truth is out there,” she added in a conspiratorial whisper. She reached into her pocket and withdrew something, handing it to Edie. “Here’s my card.”

  Her card? Edie refrained from rolling her eyes.

  Edie took it and read the script: Julianna Desantiago, co-founder of the Grimsby Paranormal Society. We investigate what goes “bump in the night.” Call or email. Below was her cell phone number and email address, along with a black skull, frozen in laughter—or grinning in proud hatred.

  “You can call me Jules,” she said.

  “Edie St. John,” Edie introduced herself.

  Jules gasped. “Oh, you’re Edwina St. John, Landon St. John’s niece! Can I meet him? I’m a huge fan! I’ve got all his books: I, Ghoul; A Vampire’s Vengeance; The Zombie Wars; The Jinni and I...”

  Edie let her ramble on like Mason had done. Jules was counting off a nonstop list of Edie’s uncle’s works—I’m afraid we’ll be here until midnight—so Edie held up her hand, shushing Jules.

  “I get it,” Edie said. “Big fan.” Edie waved the card in front of Jules’s face. “I’ll call if my uncle’s up to company, but don’t hold your breath. He’s a very private man.”

  Jules looked disappointed, but forced a smile. “It’s okay. I’d rather hang out with you.”

  “Me?” Edie asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Yeah. You hear voices.” Jules beamed. “That’s incredible!”

  Angry, Edie tossed Jules’s card back at her. Jules caught it against her chest, looking bewildered.

  “I’m not hearing voices!” Edie declared.

  She stormed out of the library and to her relief, heard no one calling after her, seen or unseen.

  ****

  Edie had missed third period entirely. It was now time for lunch.

  While she was waiting for Mason near the front doors, she kept shivering. Seniors were leaving through the front doors, happy, smiling, not knowing that with each push of the door, a blast of wintry air flew back into her face. She wished that she could come to school tomorrow with a ski mask on her face, but she was sure that’d raise alarms. Even though the students were wearing coats and sweaters, they seemed comfortable; they were used to this weather. As Mason had said, she’d get used to it too. With him, it seemed possible, but without him, Edie doubted it. Besides she didn’t plan on sticking around after graduation. Most definitely, she’d attend college down south, where the chance of snowfall was next to nil. Afterwards…well, she’d think about that later. She had plenty of time.

  Speaking of time…Mason was late. She was worried that she’d been stood up. He didn’t seem like that type of guy, but she’d been having an awful day
so far...

  “Hey.”

  She turned and saw Jules. Her hair had fallen out of her ponytail and hung down her back. She wiped her classes on her sweater and returned them to her face.

  “Hey,” Edie returned. “Sorry for being such a…you-know-what back in the library. I’ve just been going through a lot.”

  Jules smiled and waved Edie’s apology away. “S‘kay. No worries.” Then her smile faded. “I know about your parents. Sorry.”

  “Thanks,” Edie said, fighting back tears.

  Jules nodded with her chin at the front doors, where the seniors were leaving.

  “Are you heading out?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I’m just waiting for someone.”

  “You’ve made a new friend?”

  Edie smiled. “Uh, yeah, a new friend,” she confirmed, yet remained cryptic.

  Jules winked. “Seems like more than that. You’re blushing.”

  Edie gave a shrug. “He’s nice, that’s all.”

  “Who?”

  Edie hesitated, and then said, “Mason Fenwick.”

  Jules eyes got even wider behind her glasses. “Oh, every girl in the school has a crush on Mason.”

  “It’s hard not to,” Edie said, not jealous. “But…why doesn’t he have a girlfriend?”

  Jules shrugged. “It’s probably because he’s just got off from a bad break.”

  “Oh?”

  Jules lowered her voice. “He used to date Rochelle Lafayette.” She shook her head, obviously not a fan. “I don’t know what he ever saw in her, but…anyway, they were together ever since middle school, I think.” Jules resumed her normal tone. “Have you met her yet? She’s a senior.”

  “I haven’t had the pleasure,” Edie said with cautious anticipation. “So…what’s so bad about her?”

  Jules sighed. “You’ll know when you meet her. Hope and pray you don’t.”

  “Hey, Edie!”

  Edie looked over Jules’s shoulder to see Mason approaching with a smile, exposing his dimples. Edie smiled back, unable to contain her glee.

  He stopped next to Edie, and then turned toward Jules. “Hey, what’s up?” he greeted Jules.

  Jules was speechless for obvious reasons. Then she found her voice. “Hey,” she squeaked.

  Mason turned back toward Edie. “Ready?”

  “Yep.”

  “Well, see you guys later,” Jules said, and then turned to walk away.

  “Hey, wait,” Edie said, halting her.

  She turned around, facing Edie, smiling. “Yeah?”

  “Um…can I have your card? With your number? Maybe we can get together some time, talk about…you know…weird stuff.”

  Jules withdrew another card from her pocket and handed it to Edie. “The GPS is investigating the old Grimsby Sanatorium this Saturday.” She leaned in, whispering, “It used to be a mental hospital.” She pulled back and smiled. “Lots of activity, I’m sure.”

  Mason furrowed his brow. “What sort of activity?”

  “The paranormal kind,” Jules replied, and then turned back toward Edie. “No pressure. Call me if you want to go. It’s this Saturday. You’ll meet the others. They’re big fans of your uncle.”

  “But…” Edie trailed off, hesitating, and then continued, “but what do you think is inside the sanatorium?”

  “Ghosts,” Jules replied, matter-of-fact. “I mean, a mental hospital’s bound to have crazy activity, right? Scary stuff. But in an awesome way,” she added.

  Edie didn’t need any more scary right now. But she didn’t want to disappoint Jules...

  “Sure,” Edie said with a smile. “As long as nothing else comes up, I’ll call you.”

  Jules beamed. “Great.” She turned toward Mason. “You can come too, if you want.”

  Mason gave her a small smile. “I’ll, uh, think about it,” he said, sounding polite, but not really gung-ho.

  Jules didn’t seem to notice, gave a goodbye wave, and then headed off to lunch inside the cafeteria.

  Mason escorted Edie outside. Light snow was falling, but she minded her steps, hoping not to fall. Mason sensed her timid movements and offered his arm.

  After she’d wrapped hers around his, he inquired, “GPS?”

  “Grimsby Paranormal Society,” she translated.

  “So…Jules is like some…ghost hunter?”

  Edie shrugged. “I guess. We’ve only just met. She seems nice though.”

  “Yeah, she is. You’re not really going to that abandoned sanatorium, are you? I mean, it’s probably locked. They’ll be breaking-and-entering.”

  Huh. I didn’t think of that.

  “Well, I’ll ask her,” Edie said. “If that’s the case, then no, I won’t go. I don’t want a criminal record. But…I’m sure that’s not the case.”

  “Still…I don’t want you getting into trouble.”

  They’d made it to the student parking lot. Now they were standing next to his pickup.

  But Edie didn’t let go of his arm. “I’m glad you’re concerned for me, but I’m sure it’s okay. I don’t think Jules is willing to risk her future, either, over whether or not there are ghosts in an old, mental hospital.”

  Mason wobbled his head. “Well, you don’t know Jules. We’ve grown up together. She’s…passionate about the supernatural. Always has been. I had no idea she was one of those thrill-seeking, ghost hunters, though.” He paused, and then continued, “She thinks there are aliens too. She’s obsessed with The X-Files.”

  Edie chuckled. “Well, it was a good show. She doesn’t sound so bad.”

  Mason shifted his arm, forcing Edie to let go, but then he caught her hand, holding it gently. “If you do go there, let me know. I’ll go with you.”

  Edie raised an eyebrow. “Really? But you’re not a believer.”

  “Neither are you, right?”

  Edie hesitated, and then said, “Right.”

  Mason squeezed her hand. “I want to be there with you, just in case there’s trouble, natural, or…dare I say, supernatural,” he said in a dramatic tone.

  Edie giggled, despite the very real fear that they may encounter a nasty ghost. She felt anchored to Mason, and she knew that as long as she had him in her life, everything would be fine.

  “C’mon,” he continued with a smile. “I’m starving.”

  He opened the passenger door and helped Edie up into the cab. She adjusted her seatbelt on, and then watched him walk around the front of the truck to the driver’s side, enjoying the view. But she was forced to look away, distracted by a dark shadow in the distance that seemed to be watching her. Then it detached itself from the school’s bricked wall and vanished around a corner, like a fleeing wraith. Edie let out a yelp when Mason slammed his door shut. She’d forgotten about him, immersed in fear.

  “Sorry,” he apologized. “I’m not used to having passengers. I didn’t realize how loud I could be.”

  Edie shook her head. “It’s okay. I just thought…”

  “What?” he asked, and then turned over the engine.

  The truck roared to life, sounding strong. No one would’ve ever guessed that hours earlier it’d died for no apparent reason.

  “Nothing.” She forced a smile. “Let’s eat. I’m hungry too.”

  “Edie.” Mason clasped her hand. “What’s wrong?”

  Edie sighed. “I thought I saw…someone…watching me. That’s all.”

  Mason smiled. Is he making fun of me?

  “Edie…of course people are going to stare at you. For one, you’re famous, and two, well…you’re bound to have admirers.” He let go of her hand, reached up, and tucked a stray strand of blonde hair behind her ear. His fingers were hot against her skin. Yet…she shivered, watching her breath escape. “Cold?” Without waiting for her reply, Mason turned up the heat.

  “Thanks,” she said, forcing another smile.

  He gave her a genuine smile back, oblivious to her deception. They headed out of the parking lot, and then onto the main road,
leading away from the school. It wasn’t the frosty weather that’d made Edie shiver. Mason’s touch was hot enough to heat her throughout the winter. No, it was the other touch that she’d felt: the unseen touch.

  A cold, bony finger had traced a line under her jaw from ear to ear, slitting her throat.

  Chapter 6

  Edie was wearing Mason’s scarf protectively around her neck.

  He’d had one inside his truck. It smelled like his cologne and Edie loved inhaling every bit of it.

  Jack’s was crowded with every senior from Grimsby High. A seating attendant directed them to a little table right in the center of the room so everyone could stare.

  Great.

  “What do you think?” Mason asked, staring at Edie over his menu.

  Edie looked around, and then replied, “It’s…nice.”

  Mason put his menu aside. “You don’t like it?”

  “No, no, it’s just…well, I feel like everyone’s staring at us.”

  Edie looked around for that dark shadow from the school, but it hadn’t made itself known…yet.

  Mason waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about them, and believe me, they’re not staring at us. They’re only thinking about their growling stomachs.”

  Edie took another look around and realized that he was right. No one was looking at them. It just felt that way.

  She turned back toward him with a smile. “Thanks for taking me here.”

  He smiled back. “My pleasure, Edie.”

  An auburn-haired waitress approached with her hair in a loose bun. “Hey, Mason.” She turned toward Edie. “Ah, new girl?”

  Edie smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Rebecca, this is Edie St. John,” Mason introduced, smiling, proud to show her off.

  Rebecca gasped. “You’re Landon St. John’s niece? Oh, I heard you were coming to Grimsby.” She paused, and then continued, “I’m sure it’ll be all right, but I’ll ask my manager anyway.”

  “Ask him what?” Edie asked, nervous.

  Rebecca waved her hand. “To a free meal, of course,” she said, and then gestured at Mason. “You too, hon.”