The MirrorMasters Read Free Page A

world around me. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Then, just as suddenly, it was gone.
    "Jenny!" I cried out, sinking to my knees. Lightheaded and consumed with anguish, I choked back a sob.
    "What is it?" Kara asked, her blue eyes filled with concern. She rushed over to help me stand.
    "I...I think it’s too late. Something’s happened to her!" Where this knowledge came from, I had no idea. Jenny’s presence was just…gone, but I wasn’t going to give up. "Let’s go. We have to at least try to stop whatever’s happening."
    The rest of the group froze, staring at me in stunned silence. I could only pray that my feeling about Jenny was wrong, that we would find her safe.
    A quick search of the cemetery — around every tree, headstone, and bench in view of the fence — yielded nothing out of the ordinary but an empty grave, a grave like the one from my mirror-vision.
    "They’re gone now," I said, staring at the deserted cemetery in confusion. Had my feeling about Jenny just been a trick of my imagination, fueled by the vision and that horror movie? Had the strangers from the mirror hidden somewhere in the woods?
    "They were here," Kevin insisted. "I know I saw them!"
    "We know," Kara assured him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Let’s go check out the forest. They must have gone there."
    "I can’t believe this is happening," I lamented.
    Kara shook her head. "It’s like a nightmare."
    "Yeah, but we'll find her. We’ll find her."
    "Not you, Leah. You have a way of finding trouble, and there’s already been enough trouble tonight. I want you to wait for us at home," David said. It wasn’t a request — it was an order. Blocking my path, he drew himself up to his full height, his eyes boring into mine.
    He reminded me so much of Dad in that moment, stern-faced and intense, but it would be the worst possible thing to say right now. We needed to find Jenny, not get into a pointless argument.
    "Let me go, too." Sidestepping, I moved out of David’s reach. Instantly, I regretted saying it that way, like I was asking my brother for permission or something. I crossed my arms and blew out an exasperated sigh. "Listen — I need to do something to help. I’m not just going to sit here twiddling my thumbs and worrying myself sick while I wait for you to get back."
    "Sorry, you’re not coming. I can’t search for Jenny and protect you, too." David’s expression softened until he almost looked apologetic, but his chin still held a stubborn tilt that let me know he wasn’t about to change his mind.
    Lifting my chin in defiance, I fixed David with a glare. It had no visible effect on him, but at least it would let him know I wasn’t backing down, either. He was only acting so superior and fatherly because the others were watching. Well, I could play that game, too.
    "We’re wasting time arguing. Jenny’s the one in danger. I think that’s a little more important right now."
    David turned away from me without another word, as though he expected me to head home like he wanted. Forget that! No matter what, I wouldn’t leave him and our friends alone to face whatever happened out there.
    Kara gave him a pointed look, a silent directive to let me go with them. Flashing her a grateful smile, I followed them and closed the cemetery gate behind me.
    A faint breeze stirred, caressing my skin like unseen, ghostly hands. Its touch sent a shiver racing down my spine. High above the treetops, the moon, obscured by clouds, barely gave its light. Mingled with the sweet fragrance of tropical flowers was an acrid, burnt scent, a scent that intensified as I and the others left the cemetery. The world seemed eerie, still. Only the muffled sounds of our footsteps broke the silence.
    "Leah, go back!" David wheeled around to face me and pushed me toward our house.
    "No!" I refused to budge, refused to be controlled.