Thane’s grip feels like steel biting my skin, and I curl my fingers into my aching palm, desperate to hide.

“Let. Go. Of. Me.”

He smiles and then asks, “Or what?”

“Do not test me. You have no idea what I can do.”

He lets go, and I pull away roughly, rubbing my wrist free of his touch.

“I’m counting on that.” He takes a step back just as the bell rings. “Better get to class. Haven’t you heard? Mr. Val is a prick.”

I glare at him before turning slowly and heading to class. At first, I move away from him at a fast walk, but by the time I make it through Mr. Val’s door, I’m running. I come to a stop, slightly out of breath, and realize Mr. Val has been waiting for me. I glance at the students on my right and find they’re staring at me too. Natalie appears overzealous that I’ve been caught breaking another rule.

“Miss Silby,” Mr. Val says, his tone patronizing. “So good of you to join us. You’re late.”

I look behind me. I’m not sure what I expect to find there—maybe my excuse? I open my mouth to defend myself. “I was—”

“Running,” Mr. Val finishes, raising a brow. I feel like we’re facing each other in a duel, and I know I’m going to lose. As Mr. Val moves to pick up a stack of papers on his desk, he says, “Two days of detention.”

“What?”

His eyes cut back to me. “Do you want a third?” Snickers escape from somewhere in the room, and Mr. Val turns his terrible gaze on the class. “Would anyone like to join Miss Silby?”

The class is silent.

“Take your seat.”

I keep my eyes on the floor as I find my desk and slide low in my seat, shoulders weighed down with humiliation.

This day can’t get any worse.

Mr. Val begins the lesson. His voice grates like the chalk squeaking against the blackboard as he writes. With each shrill stroke—the sharp turn of a seven, the swift cross of an X—Thane’s words run through my head. What happened to Vera?

Vera.

The dead girl has a name.

She is well-known at this school where apparently I’m not the only one who can see the dead. She is missed.

I wanted to find the coin before, but now I’m desperate.

Who is Thane? Who are these “people” hunting me? Was he telling the truth, or is he one of them?