The Thirteenth Hour by Quinn Sosna-Spear

Author:Quinn Sosna-Spear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2021-10-26T00:00:00+00:00

THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE WATCH

Ugh.”

I sat up quickly but regretted it. My whole body ached.

Why am I here? Why does everything hurt?

Then the memories streamed back: the slumber party, the battle with the Smoke Keeper, Jeremiah trapped in the Wall.

I glanced down at my body, but there were no bruises or burns. I would have expected some after last night. This must be the “phantom pain” Alejandro had told me about.

I felt my pockets, the ground, the cushions, but I couldn’t find the watch. Jeremiah must have really taken it.

I’m the worst. Jo had given me only a couple of rules, and I’d already broken the most important one.

There was only one way to fix it. I would have to find Jeremiah to get the watch back before he woke up.

I squinted at the old cat clock on the wall behind me. It was almost 10:00 a.m., and no one had come to wake me up.

At least it’s Saturday, I thought, hurrying from the basement. I had to make this quick and then get out of there.

I snatched up my backpack and tiptoed up the stairs. I could smell eggs and waffles from the kitchen down the hall. Must be Mr. and Mrs. Berg cooking breakfast. They used to make us eggs and waffles after all our sleepovers.

I pushed the memory away and slid down a hall. Jeremiah’s room was at the end, next to Fallon’s. I really, really didn’t want to wake anybody up. It’d be impossible to get the watch back if someone caught me now.

I pushed open Jeremiah’s door.

The walls were covered in soccer posters. Jeremiah was still in bed, flat on his back.

He’s still asleep, right? I’ll have to be quiet.

I snuck up to his bedside, as silently as I could, but when I peered down, I wanted to scream. I slapped a hand over my mouth to stop myself.

His face was pale and drenched with sweat.

I stepped closer to inspect him. He took low, shallow breaths.

He wasn’t dead, at least, but this was really weird.

I shook his shoulder and whispered his name, but it didn’t work. I got bolder, louder, rougher, but still he lay there.

What if he couldn’t wake up because he was trapped in the Wall? Alejandro thought that our minds could enter alternate realities but not our bodies, right? Then what if Jeremiah’s mind had gotten stuck there?

Will he be like this forever?

All at once I felt panicked. I had to do something. I had to help him.

I ripped the covers off and saw the watch in his fist.

I pried it from his warm fingers, dropped it back into my pocket, and replaced his blanket.

If he was trapped in the dreamworld, it was probably my job to get him out.

I clicked Jeremiah’s door shut behind me, then stopped to listen outside Fallon’s room. I wanted to know if all the girls were awake yet.

I pressed an ear to the door and listened. I could hear the soft sounds of someone snoring.

Good. It’s still safe.

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