A door swung open down the hall, revealing a disheveled Gabriel. His eyes bounced between us.
“Go back to bed.” Hayden’s voice was hushed, but the message came across loud and clear.
Gabe rolled his eyes and went back inside, slamming the door shut.
“He could’ve done it,” I said. “Wouldn’t even have to touch the rabbit or the knife would he? Not with his gift.”
Hayden grabbed my arm and hauled me into the bedroom. “Gabe wouldn’t do anything like that, Ember.”
Even with my heavy sweater, I felt his hand burning through the cloth. Somewhat stunned by how easily he handled me, I stared up at him for a second. He really didn’t seem afraid of accidentally touching me—he was crazy. I pulled my arm free and stepped back. “How do you know?”
“Because I’ve known him for years, and he’s like a brother to me.”
“Just like Phoebe’s a sister to you?”
“Yeah, like that.” He crossed his arms, his legs widespread like a fighter. “And don’t say you think it’s her, either. Both of them were in class, Ember.”
“They wouldn’t have time to sneak out of class and do it?” I plopped down on the edge of the bed. “Just because you know someone doesn’t mean they aren’t psycho.”
He crouched down in front of me, meeting my eyes. “Ember, you have to trust me when I say it couldn’t be either of them.”
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “What about Kurt? He looks psycho, too.”
“Kurt does look psycho, but he’s not crazy.”
“Then who do you think it could be?”
“I don’t know.” He ran his hand through his hair. “There’s a chance it could be one of the kids at the school—an outsider.”
“Why? They don’t know anything about me.”
“They don’t have to. They could’ve done it just to mess with you. Some of the kids around here are really weird with new people.”
A dozen or so stereotypes about West Virginians popped into my head. I’d watched the movie Wrong Turn with Adam. Hayden could have a point, and it was better than thinking someone I lived with could have done it. “You really think so?”
His eyes softened to a warm brown. “Yeah, I do. I’m sure you won’t have any more problems. So don’t worry, and get some sleep, okay?”
I nodded.
Hayden quietly closed the door behind him. Alone, I flopped back on the bed and rolled on my side. I wanted to believe it’d been some stupid prank, but the nagging worry in the pit of my stomach told me differently. People just didn’t do things like that. Sighing, I wrapped my arms around the pillow and closed my eyes.
Visions of carved bunnies haunted my sleep.
Chapter 12
Mr. Theo delivered a few days later. “Have you had any more problems?”
I glanced down at the slip of paper that held my new locker assignment. “No. Three days without a single thing.”
“I’m happy to hear that. I have to admit, seeing that rabbit even freaked me out a little bit. It made me question taking this job in West Virginia.” He pushed his glasses up his nose, grinning. The act reminded me so much of Adam my heart clenched.