Don't Forget Me! (7 page)

Finally he turned back. He stared up at me. Even in the dim light, I could see the confusion on his face.

“Peter, come back up here,” I demanded. “Hurry. Why were you going down to the basement?”

“I—I don't know.” His voice was flat, faint, as if he were half-asleep. He obediently began climbing back up, slowly, his eyes locked on mine. It seemed to take him forever.

When he finally stepped back into the hallway, I slammed the basement door shut. I wished it had a lock. A chill ran down my back. I remembered those frightening kids in my dream, chanting his name over and over.

Or
was
it a dream?

Were there
ghosts
down there? Monster kids living in the basement? Zombies like in some horror movie?

Crazy thoughts. Really crazy.

But why was Peter heading down there?

I placed my hands gently on his shoulders and guided him to the living room. “Addie and I are going to help you,” I said softly. “You're going to be fine again.”

I led him to the couch. I made him sit exactly where he sat the last time.

“Here's the coin,” Addie said, handing it to me. “I found it in your room.”

My hand shook so hard, I dropped it. It rolled under the coffee table. I bent to pick it up.

“What are you going to do?” Peter asked.

“I'm going to hypnotize you again,” I said.

Peter squinted at me. “Again?”

“You're going to be fine,” Addie told him, forcing herself to sound cheerful. “You're going to remember everything.”

I climbed to my feet and held the chain up. The coin dangled in front of me, catching the light from the front window.
Please work!
I prayed silently.
Please let me return Peter to normal
.

“Sit back, Peter,” I instructed. “Take a deep breath and relax.” I began to swing the silver dollar gently back and forth.

Peter slumped back on the couch. His eyes followed the coin from left to right, right to left.

“You're starting to feel sleepy,” I whispered. “So sleepy. You can hardly keep your eyelids open.” I let the coin swing slowly. Peter's eyelids drooped. “You feel so sleepy… so sleepy….”

I glimpsed Addie out of the corner of my eye. She had a tight grin on her face. She flashed me a thumbs-up. “It's working,” she whispered.

“No, it isn't,” Peter said.

“Huh?” I gasped.

“I don't feel sleepy at all. You're just making me dizzy, swinging that dumb coin back and forth.” He started to stand up.

“No, Peter—” I protested. “Let's keep trying. Please—?”

He shook his head. “It isn't working, Danielle. You don't know how to do it.”

I turned to Addie. “I'm doing everything the same. What's wrong? Why isn't it working?”

She sighed. “I'm really sorry. Maybe we should go to school.”

“Yes,” Peter agreed, pushing his glasses up on his nose. “School.”

The coin fell from my hand. I didn't bother to pick it up. “I'll get my backpack,” I said.

Can Peter handle school? I wondered. Should I take him to Dr. Ross instead?

I turned toward the hall, and uttered a sharp cry when I saw the basement door—
wide-open again
.

“What is going on around here?” I sighed. I totally lost it. I ran down the hall. Grabbed the door—and slammed it as hard as I could. Then I hurried upstairs, grabbed my backpack, and tore out of the house.

“Hey, wait up!” I called to Addie and Peter, waving to them. But they had started walking without me, and they were already a block ahead.

The sun was still hidden behind low clouds. The air felt heavy and wet, as if a storm were brewing.

As I started to jog, I heard soft thuds behind me. I turned and saw a figure moving rapidly toward me.

It took me a few seconds to recognize him—the man in the black raincoat. The man all in black. The one who had been staring at our house, spying on us through the front window.

Shadows hid him as he trotted under the tall trees along the street. I couldn't see his face. But keeping in the shadows, he came toward me quickly.

I froze in panic for a second. Then I spun away from him and took off.

The backpack bounced hard on my shoulders. My shoes slipped on the wet grass.

I glanced back and saw him gaining on me. His black raincoat flapped loudly behind him.

“Hey—!” he bellowed angrily. “Hey, you—!”

Who is he? Why is he chasing me? I wondered.

I didn't stop to ask. I raced across the street.

Peter and Addie were only half a block ahead of me now. And the tall brick elementary school came into view ahead of them.

If I can catch up to them, maybe I'll be safe, I thought.

But then I heard a
snap
. My backpack strap flew up. The backpack fell off my shoulder. Hit the ground and bounced in front of me. I nearly stumbled over it.

I dove for it.

Frantic now. Frantic to get away.

Away from the flapping black raincoat. The outstretched arms. The evil face hidden in darkness.

I saw the man lurch into the street. Closing in. Closing in on me.

I grabbed the backpack. Too late.

He was steps away from me.

I was caught.

 

The blare of a car horn made me jump.

I turned in time to see a large blue van roar into the intersection. The man in black jumped back. He disappeared for a second behind the blur of blue.

It was all the time I needed. I scooped up my backpack and ran.

A few seconds later, I caught up to Addie and Peter. Addie caught the distressed look on my face. She stopped. “Danielle, what's wrong?”

I turned back and pointed. “Th-that man—” I sputtered breathlessly.

My mouth dropped open. He was gone. Vanished.

“Never mind,” I said quickly. I didn't want to upset Peter. He was already in such bad shape.

Addie and I led him up the wide stone steps to the elementary school. There were no other kids in sight. We were really late.

I stopped at the door and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You sure you'll be okay?”

He nodded.

I hesitated. Could I leave him here? Was I doing the right thing?

“I'll be okay.” He reached for the door handle.

I squeezed his shoulder. “Well …” I glanced down the street, feeling a chill of fear, expecting to see the man in the black raincoat waiting for me. But the street was empty.

“I'll meet you right back here after school,” I told Peter. “Wait for me right here, okay?”

He nodded. He went inside.

Addie and I watched him through the windows in the door, until he disappeared around a corner.

“He's still not right,” I said, biting my bottom lip. “When Mom and Dad get home tonight …”

“They'll know what to do,” Addie said.

“But they left me in charge, Addie. They left me in charge, and I messed up.”

Addie forced a smile. “Hey, look on the bright side, Danielle.”

“Huh?” I stared at her. That was so typical Addie. Always cheerful no matter what. Always working hard to cheer everyone else up. “What's the bright side?” I asked.

She thought for a moment. “I don't know,” she answered finally. “I guess you should just try not to think about it. I mean, come on. Peter will be okay. What's the worst thing that could happen?”

Later in the lunchroom, I sat at a table against the back wall, staring at my tray. Why did I take all this food? I wondered. My stomach feels as if it were made of lead. I can't eat a thing.

I heard a chair scrape against the floor. I looked up as Zack dropped down across from me. He ripped apart his brown paper lunch bag and unwrapped a sandwich. “Want to trade?” He poked the sandwich in my face. “It's tuna fish.”

“No thanks,” I murmured.

“Mom knows I hate tuna fish. So she packs a tuna fish sandwich every day.”

“Help yourself to mine,” I said, shoving the tray across the table. “I'm not hungry.”

“What happened to you in Chem class?” he asked, grabbing the pizza slice off my tray. “You totally messed up.”

I shrugged. “Yeah. I guess. I just … I couldn't remember the assignment. I studied it. It just all went out of my head.”

The truth was, I barely heard a word anyone said to me all morning. All I could think about was my poor brother. Was he okay? What was I going to tell my parents when they returned home tonight?

I suddenly realized Zack had been talking. He was gazing at me, waiting for a reply.

“What?” I asked. “I'm sorry. I—”

“After school,” he said. “I'm an ace in chemistry. You know. We could go over the chapters for the test.”

“Uh … I'd like that, Zack. But I'd better not. My parents are still away. I have to take care of Peter.”

Zack pushed his lips out in an exaggerated pout. “Peter can amuse himself while we study.”

I felt terrible. Zack was being so nice. I was beginning to think he really liked me. But I couldn't spend time with him while Peter was still so messed up.

And I couldn't explain to Zack what I had done to my brother.

“I—I can't,” I said. “Maybe tomorrow we can—”

“Yeah. Maybe,” Zack grumbled. He stuffed the rest of my pizza into his mouth. “Do you want those pretzels?”

The afternoon dragged by. I couldn't concentrate. Couldn't think. I kept picturing Peter on his own at school, sitting in class in a total trance, unable to remember anything.

Maybe he made it through the day okay, I kept telling myself. Maybe he snapped out of it. When I meet him at his school, he'll be his jolly old self again.

It's possible, isn't it?

I couldn't wait to find out. I cut my last class. It was only gym, so it was no big deal. I waved to Addie on my way out of the high school, signaling that I'd call her later. Then I made my way to Peter's school, two blocks away.

It had rained hard during the day. Water had puddled along the curbs and street corners. A gusty breeze sent water dripping down from the swaying trees. The storm clouds were finally parting, allowing narrow beams of sunlight to filter down.

I jogged all the way to the elementary school, my shoes splashing up rainwater. The cool, moist air felt soothing on my hot cheeks.

I reached the school at exactly three o'clock, in time to hear the clang of the final bell. Inside the building I heard cheers, the scrape of chairs, slamming locker doors. A few seconds later, kids came streaming out of their classes.

I waited at the bottom of the front stairs. Crossing my arms in front of me, I kept my eyes on the double doors, eager for my brother to appear.

The doors banged open, and kids came charging out. Laughing, shouting, shoving each other, they swarmed around me as they made their way to the street.

Maybe Peter will be laughing and shouting too, I told myself. The way he always has in the past.

When Peter didn't appear in the first stampede of kids, I felt my neck muscles tense. Where was he?

I knew that Mrs. Andersen's class was second from the door. Peter was always one of the first ones out of the building.

Relax, Danielle! I scolded myself. It's not even ten after three yet. Don't hit the panic button too soon.

Car doors slammed. Bike chains clattered as kids pulled them free of the bike racks. A bright silver Frisbee whirred past my head.

The school doors banged open again, and a group of girls in Scout uniforms stepped out. They were followed by several little kids, being led by parents or nannies.

I checked my watch. Three-fifteen.

“Okay, Peter,” I muttered. “Let's get going.”

What was he doing in there? Probably hanging out with friends, forgetting all about me.

The laughter and shouts had faded. Most of the cars and school buses had pulled away with kids inside. A few more kids straggled out. Two boys hopped down the stairs, tossing a small plastic football back and forth.

“Hey—!” I called out. One of them looked a lot like Peter. But it wasn't.

I let out a long sigh and checked my watch again. Three twenty-three.

“Come on, Peter. Give me a break!” I groaned.

I couldn't help it. Fear started to tighten my throat. My stomach suddenly felt like lead again.

Where
is
he? I
told
him to meet me on these steps.

Very quiet now. The doors were closed. One last kid came wandering out, holding a Game Boy up in front of his face. He was concentrating so hard on the game, he tripped and fell down the stairs.

“Peter … Peter … ” I repeated his name under my breath.

I didn't know whether to feel frightened or angry. I decided I had no choice. I couldn't stand out here all afternoon. I had to go in and get him.

My legs trembled as I climbed the stairs.

Stay calm, Danielle, I scolded myself again as I pulled open the door. He's either goofing with his friends. Or else he's talking with Mrs. Andersen, probably showing off, trying to impress her.