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Back Fractured Save as PDF
Chapters (42)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. DEDICATION PAGE
  4. CONTENTS
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  42. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“He didn’t find anything, though,” Jim added. “We think the Mazikin were creeping around outside at some point last night, maybe looking for recruits.”

I nodded. “They’re building their numbers by possessing people no one will miss. No one’s going to raise the alarm until their numbers are so huge that it’s too late to stop them.”

“Your classmate was different, though. He was missed.”

I closed my eyes. “Yeah. He was a victim of opportunity. They grabbed him because he was chasing them, trying to expose them. And he turned out to be much more valuable than they anticipated, I’m sure.”

Jim’s eyes followed Tegan as she and Laney walked up to Aden’s memorial, carrying a huge bouquet of flowers and a set of pom-poms. “They could try to do it again.”

“They will. They’ll be cautious because I’m sure they don’t want to be caught any more than we do, but we have to keep an eye on everybody just in case. Do you have a cover story for being here?”

“Raphael got me some papers. He said I could use them if you gave me the okay. I’m a transfer from Bishop MacDonald Prep.” His cheeks turned pink. “I was suspended for fighting and drinking on school grounds.”

I chuckled. “Sometimes I think Raphael actually does have a sense of humor. No offense.”

He rewarded me with a sheepish smile. “None taken.” He pointed at Tegan. “Um … who’s that? Did she know Aden?”

“Yeah, they dated for a while.” I glanced at him and caught the look of interest on his face. “Hey. Don’t get distracted, okay? Keep your focus on your job.”

The eager glint in his eye dimmed but didn’t quite die. “Yes, Captain.”

I pushed my door open and raised my head to see Malachi staring at me from the front of the school, his face a blank mask. I tore my eyes from him and muttered, “None of us can afford to be distracted right now.”

SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN

MY FIRST FEW CLASSES passed in a blur. During lit class, I stared at the back of Malachi’s neck without blinking. He didn’t glance at me once. But as I headed for biology, his fingers closed hard around my arm and dragged me into the hallway next to the gym.

His face was in front of mine before I could protest. And it was no longer unreadable. His frustration showed in the firm set of his mouth. “Why?”