Surrender by Lee Nichols

Author:Lee Nichols
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Published: 2011-12-09T23:00:00+00:00

We all gathered in Mr. Stern’s office—me, Lukas and Natalie, and Mr. and Mrs. Stern. Max had been the last to show, and was bitter about cutting his Ancient Greek class. Mr. Stern dialed the Knell.

Simon’s voice came from the speakerphone. “Whenever you’re ready, Emma.”

“Is Bennett there?” I asked.

“No, he’s—out at the moment. But please, go ahead.”

“We’re here, honey,” my father said, from the speaker.

I wanted to ask Simon about Bennett, but couldn’t, not with his parents sitting there. So I just told them what happened. “Then Sara called and told me that Britta seems fine,” I finished. “She stayed with her after Lukas dropped them off.”

“Why didn’t you stay, Lukas?” Simon asked. “Sara can’t detect spectral activity.”

“I wouldn’t let him,” Natalie said. “Have you seen Britta?”

Mr. Stern shot her a look. “I’m sure we can all trust each other here.”

“I trust Lukas with my life,” Natalie said. “Just not with Britta’s pants.”

“Natalie!” Mrs. Stern said sharply, and Natalie had the grace to look embarrassed.

I glanced at Lukas and saw him slouch in his seat, inspecting his phone with great fascination.

“And the girl,” Simon said, ignoring them. “Britta. She has no memory of the possession?”

“I don’t think so. Sara says Britta thinks I did something to her. We’re not exactly friends,” I admitted.

“If you could overnight an item of clothing she was wearing,” my father said, “I’ll read it and try to learn more.”

“How are we supposed to get her out of her clothes?” I asked.

“Not a problem,” Lukas murmured, so only Natalie and I could hear.

Natalie elbowed him, and I spoke before they had a chance to start bickering. “She doesn’t remember exactly what happened, but what if she knows, on some level, that I was the target?”

“Which is why your father and I have decided you’re not safe there,” my mother said. “We think you should come to New York.” She started listing all the reasons I’d be safer with them, treating me like a twelve-year-old.

To my surprise, Max came to my defense. “Mom—she’s fine. They don’t call her Emma F. Vaile for nothing.”

“She is not Emma F. Vaile; you should know your own sister’s middle name,” Mom scolded.

“The ‘F’ is for … Frickin’. She’s Emma Frickin’ Vaile, Mom. She battled Neos to a standstill twice, and now you rag on her?”

My parents seemed to realize their hypocrisy and settled down. I was glad Max was on my side.

Then Simon gave us a rundown of his thinking about the theory and practice of possession. “Ghosts possessing the living are dangerous to others—as Harry and Sara can attest—but also to the host. If Emma hadn’t dispelled that ghost, the girl at school could’ve suffered lasting damage.”

“This is so the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ episode of Supernatural,” Natalie whispered to me as Simon droned on the speakerphone. Mrs. Stern gave us the eye from her chair. I tried not to prove that I was a twelve-year-old by snickering and giggling, and instead pressed my arm against Natalie’s to let her know I thought it was funny.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.