The cold clutched her body from the moment they left the fire, creeping into the borrowed jacket like chilly fingers. Jessica’s legs, protected only by tights, were freezing, and her hands grew colder and colder no matter how deep she thrust them into her pockets.

“So who told you about the snake pit?” Steve asked.

“Um, everyone. Constanza was talking about it one day, and it sounded, you know, interesting.”

“And you were going alone? Wow, you’re one brave girl.”

“I have my moments of stupidity,” Jessica agreed. She could hear her teeth chattering.

“You are cold, Jessica.” Steve put his arm around her. The down jacket around her shoulders actually helped, even though it didn’t really feel right to be this close to a guy who wasn’t Jonathan.

“Thanks.”

“No problem.”

As they walked across the desert, Jessica wondered how Steve knew where he was going. There were no landmarks that she could see except the Milky Way, which ran in the direction they were walking. That meant that they were headed either east or west. She’d have to check the compass to be sure.

“You sure you know where we’re going?”

“Oh, yeah. Born and bred in Broken Arrow, I’m not very proud to say.”

“Okay.”

She looked at her watch. Five minutes.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get there by midnight,” Steve said. “Right on time for the evil spirit show.”

She smiled ruefully. “Wouldn’t want to miss that.”

There was a flicker of light at the corner of her eye. It was the bonfire, off to their right. She wondered why it wasn’t behind them anymore.

Jessica looked up into the sky. Now the Milky Way was spread out sideways across their path. They had turned either north or south.

“Steve? How far is the snake pit?”

“Oh, maybe another ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes? But it’s almost midnight.” A shiver traveled through Jessica, more chilling than the cold. “My friend said it was really close to the fire pit.”

“Are you cold? We can stop off in my car if you want.”

“Your car?”

“It’s right up here,” Steve said, pulling her closer to him. “We could warm up.”

She pulled away. “But I have to get there by midnight!”

The row of parked cars was visible now in front of them. He’d led her in a circle.

“Listen, Jessica,” he said. “The snake pit’s no big deal, all right? It’s just this old sinkhole full of rainwater and snakes. That’s Broken Arrow’s idea of magic, I’m afraid.” He moved closer. “I can show you something much more interesting.”

Jessica whirled around and walked quickly back toward the fire, thrusting a hand into her pocket for the map and flashlight. Her fingers fumbled, made numb and clumsy by the cold.

“Jessica…” She heard his footsteps following her.