Rose heard herself wailing from far off, “This isn’t fair.” She was vaguely aware of someone else appearing and of Jerram turning on this person and telling him to mind his own business and go away. “Wait,” Rose said weakly. She was sure the person was Daniel. But all she could make out was a retreating back. How embarrassing to have made such a scene. What would he think of her now?

Someone must have made a phone call because after she had been wrapped up in her sweaters and coat, they took her right out to Mom’s waiting car.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a high fever,” the school nurse was saying, and she tucked Rose into the car.

“I knew this would happen,” Mom complained in accusing tones. “I don’t know why you insisted on going to school.” Rose was familiar with this way of Mom’s handling anxiety, scolding or nagging when she cared most.

“I’ll be okay.”

“You certainly will when I get you into bed.”

“Yes, Mom.” Rose was relaxing. It had been a dumb idea to go to school. She thought of her warm bed, of going to sleep. A fever was bound to make you a little crazy. A fever could give you all kinds of nutty ideas and after all, death had been on her mind lately. Delirious was the word.

As Mom drove the car away from the school, Rose looked back to wave. To see if maybe Daniel had reappeared; to make it up to Grace. Poor Grace. She’d been a real bitch to her.

Grace and Jerram were standing in front of the glass doors, watching the car. In front of them was Nancy, dressed up in her stupid white angel dress.

You’re going to freeze in that, Rose thought.

Unwillingly, she raised her hand in acknowledgment, knowing there was nothing she could do about it. She’d have to tell someone about Ladyvale Caves because that was where they’d find Cyn for sure. She was in Nancy’s power now; Nancy had given her a taste of death.

She waved. Nancy smiled and waved back.

Part Four

Him

I Had been saving this one up for a Christmas treat but I had to get rid of her. She talked too much. I had to wrap her up like a Christmas present to keep her quiet.

She can sleep now. Peace in sleep. Sleepful peace. Death loves her. Anyway, it was getting too hard to hide her. A risk I should not take again. Wollenschaft could get suspicious. I have always been a careful person, which is why I have been able to hide this long.