Stalking Shadows (Scary Mary) (4 page)

“Could it be a ghost?”

“I don’t know. Vicky says it’s clawing at her, but not physically. I’ve never heard of a ghost doing that, and Vicky’s afraid it’s going to kill her.”

“What could it be?”

Mary shrugged. She had no clue.

“Well, if it’s going after others, then maybe we should go visit them, and you might be able to find something out.”

“Just ask random patients if they’re being clawed by a supernatural force? I think we’d get kicked out.”

Rachel brought up the volunteer application. “Then maybe we should fill these out.”

“You know, I wasn’t serious about volunteering. It was just an excuse to come to the hospital.”

“And volunteering can be our excuse for visiting other patients, and we could maybe ask them a few questions. One of these programs has to make it possible.” Rachel began reading over the application.

Mary shook her head. “I don’t know if I can do this.”

“Do you want Vicky to keep bugging you in your dreams?”

“No.” Mary didn’t add that Vicky might not continue bugging her if this thing kept clawing at her.

“Geez, we need recommendations?”

Mary turned to her. Rachel had the application up to her nose. “What?”

“We need two recommendations to be approved to volunteer, and an orientation before we can begin.”

“Wow, I really don’t know if I can do this then. Who’ll write me a recommendation?”

“Well, my mom will, and maybe Mr. Landa? I bet he’d be pleased if you asked him. Who am I gonna ask?”

“Gran will, and maybe a teacher? Are there any you haven’t pissed off?”

“I’ve been good in my crafts class.”

“You don’t have to do this, Rach.”

“What, and hear about how good you are to volunteer at the hospital, and I should be more like you? No way. I’m doing this. Plus, I’m gonna help you find whatever this thing is, even if it goes against every fiber of my being to help The Hickey. I’m just gonna focus on those other patients.”

*    *    *

Mary let herself into her home and flopped onto the sofa. She could not believe she was actually going to volunteer. This seemed like a lot of work to accomplish something she didn’t know how she was going to do anyway.

Gran peeked out at her from the kitchen. “Welcome home, dear.”

“Thanks,” she said dully.

“How do hamburgers and French fries sound?”

“Sounds great.”

“How was school?”

“Okay, I went by the hospital.”

Gran leaned out of the kitchen to talk to her more easily. “You did? Did you visit the Nelson girl?”

“Yeah, I met her mom. She seemed nice. I felt bad for her.”

“Of course, dear.”

Mary pulled out the volunteer application and took it into the kitchen. “I also visited Rachel’s mom.”

Gran smiled as she put a frying pan on the stove. “How is Mrs. Pillar?”

“Good, she asked about you, but the reason I went to the hospital was because I’m thinking about volunteering there.”

Gran stilled and turned to her. “Really? Are you sure that’s wise? Hospitals can be very trying places for ones like us, especially you with your heightened ability.”

She looked down at the application, still surprised that she’d filled it out. “I think it’ll be good for me, and I think I can do some good. Will you sign the permission form?”

Gran drew back while she thought it over. “If it’s something you want to do, I will. I just don’t want you doing something that upsets you too much. Even for non-sensitives, hospitals can be very dire places.”

Mary clenched her body to keep from fidgeting. “I know, but I want to try. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll quit, but I feel like I have to do this.”

Gran gave her an odd look but shrugged it off. “All right. I’ll sign. It’s a good thing.”

She let out a silent sigh. “Thanks, Gran.”

“Did Vicky’s accident prompt this idea?”

“Yeah, sort of. How was your day?” she asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from all things Vicky.

“All right. Another ghost-hunting group called, hoping I’d work with them. Had to let them down easy.”

“Don’t know why you don’t give it a try. You could be the next big thing in paranormal entertainment.”

Gran shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m quite happy with my private practice. Anyway, I don’t understand why they insist on only working in the dark. It’s silly. You’re going to get hurt--and not by a ghost. And I don’t understand all their thingamabobs: EMF detectors, IR thermometers, and EVPs. It’s all just alphabet soup to me.”

“Yeah, but it would be cool to have a proton pack.”

“A proton what? What does that do?”

Mary grinned and kissed her on the cheek. “Don’t worry about it.”

Chapter 3

So Many Questions

Mr. Landa was overjoyed to hear that Mary wanted to volunteer at the hospital. He said it was an excellent opportunity for her, and he thought being in a different social structure would really open her eyes to her self-worth.

“What made you decide to volunteer at the hospital?”

“Well, I heard Vicky was there in a coma, and I figure this will give me access to her room so I can Sharpie a mustache on her without getting caught.”

Mr. Landa’s pleased smile slipped off his face. “Mary, the hospital is not a place for you to goof around. Volunteering there is a very serious responsibility. The nurses and doctors will expect a higher level of maturity from you. I will not write this recommendation unless you convince me that you will present that while there.”

She was surprised by his seriousness and quickly scrambled to reflect it. “I want to make people feel better. I know I can’t make them well, but I want to help in some way. I am serious about going there and helping people. Even Vicky, if she needs it.”

“You want to help people?” Mary could tell he didn’t fully believe her. She was going to have to convince him.

“Yes, the whole reason I want to do this is to help people. I feel like I need to. If I don’t do this, it will come back”--Mary’s throat caught as she realized the cliché she was about to say and how possible it was--“to haunt me.”

Mr. Landa nodded and picked up the recommendation form. “Okay, I’ll fill this out and send it in. Do you have someone else to ask for a recommendation?”

She nodded. “Yeah, Mrs. Pillar has already agreed to recommend me. She’s a nurse at the hospital.”

“She sounds very appropriate. Have you chosen which program you’d like to do?”

“The hospitality cart sounds good. I’ll go around and ask people if they want books or games and give them whatever I have on the cart. I figure I can do that.”

Mr. Landa nodded. “That sounds like an excellent program. Just be sensitive to people’s needs. The hospital is not a place people want to be, but they have to be there. Just be mindful of that, and you should do fine.”

She nodded, surprised by his insight into the matter. He may not get her at all, but he could be pretty perceptive every once in a while.

“You mentioned Vicky. I hope you understand how terrible her situation is and how much worry and strain it is putting on her family and friends. Her condition is not a laughing matter and should be handled with respect, even if no friendly feelings are present.”

Remembering Mrs. Nelson’s tear-covered face, she looked down at her clasped hands. “I know. I shouldn’t have made that joke. I’ll wait until she regains consciousness to mustachio her.”

Mr. Landa snorted. “I am serious, Mary. There are a lot of people worried about her. You may not share their concern, but you should at least respect it.”

She twisted her fingers. She knew who was concerned. Cy was concerned. He'd finally come back to school that day, but he looked awful. He had bags under his eyes, and he was moving slowly. He looked like he’d spent weeks by Vicky’s bedside. People were already whispering how romantic it was, just like Sleeping Beauty.

“I do respect their concern. I’m sorry I keep making jokes, but it seems unreal. I feel like I just spoke to her.”

He nodded. “I understand. Hopefully she’ll wake up before you start to miss her. I’ll work on this recommendation. I really think this will be good for you.”

She leaned back in relief. The bell ending fifth period rang. Mr. Landa waved her out as he turned to his computer.

As she exited the guidance counselor’s office, she looked toward a side door out of the building. She debated skipping sixth period, but she had to turn in a paper and didn’t want to get it marked off for being late. Still, she was worried about where Cy would sit. He’d always sat beside her in class, but now, it felt like he shouldn’t. He was dating Vicky. She felt betrayed and like she was “the other woman.” How could he have hung out with her while being interested in Vicky? She’d go to class. If he didn’t sit with her, it would be a clear signal that their friendship was over. He hadn’t spoken to her since the accident anyway. Maybe their friendship was already over.

She took her usual seat at the back of the room. She watched the door as her classmates streamed in. When Cy entered, she felt a jolt go through her like she’d been electrocuted, even though it was him she’d been watching for. She didn’t blink as he came straight to the back and slipped into the seat beside her.

She cast a sideways glance at him. He had a cast on his left arm and a serious sling holding it in place. He looked exhausted.

“Hey, how are you doing?” she asked.

He leaned back in his chair and stared ahead. “Can I Xerox your notes after class?”

“Sure.” She was a little put off by his coolness to her, but the day had probably been really rough for him. Everyone had been giving him looks and talking about him. She knew how awful that was, but then, the looks directed at her were usually nasty and the talk mean. Still, it had to be tiring.

She thought about asking him about Vicky but couldn’t do it. She really didn’t want to hear what he had to say, but she didn’t know what else to talk about with him.

She looked across the room to the conspicuously vacant seat. All three of them had shared this class, but still, they’d managed to keep whatever was going on between them a secret from her.

Mrs. Myers began class by collecting their papers. Cy, of course, didn’t have one. He got an extension.

She tried to pay attention, but her eyes kept wandering back to the empty seat. How had she missed everything? Why hadn’t Cy mentioned anything?

She was nervous as she wrote it, but she still passed him the note.

So you and Vicky were on a date?

He grabbed her pen and scratched a reply slowly with his right hand.

Yes. Don’t want to talk about it.

Her head swiveled to him. “
Don’t want to talk about it?
” She’d thought they were friends. They’d eaten lunch together. They sat beside each other in class. She’d thought they’d both disliked Vicky. Originally, he’d sat beside her to stay away from Vicky!

Cy was watching the teacher intently. He wouldn’t even glance at her. She’d seriously held out a slim hope that Vicky had tricked him into the date, or maybe that the reports were wrong, that maybe they hadn’t been on a date. But he was not bolstering her hope, he was destroying it. How could he have done this to her?

She didn’t even try to make her notes neat and legible. She barely paid attention to Mrs. Myers’ lecture. It was petty, and it was hurting her as much as Cy, but she was mad. And hurt. If he chose to go out with a girl like Vicky, then he wouldn’t choose to go out with a girl like her. It was simple, really. If someone enjoyed sunny, warm, tropical islands, then that someone wouldn’t enjoy dark, cold, Arctic plateaus. Mary sat back and got colder. Most people preferred sunny, warm, tropical islands. That’s why they were popular. Dark, cold, Arctic plateaus didn’t get many tourists. And the few who did go had probably meant to take the plane to Cozumel. Maybe Cy had gotten on the wrong plane. He’d tried to play it off as intentional, but he’d snuck off to warmer climes when he’d gotten the chance.

When the bell rang, she gathered her things. “I’ll go make copies of my notes in the library. Do you want to wait at the front of school for me to bring them out?”

He hung his book bag on his good shoulder. “No, I’ll go with you.”

She didn’t reply and exited the room. They walked in silence to the library while students streamed around them in the opposite direction. She caught herself glancing back to make sure Cy wasn’t getting jostled by the other students. Walking against the flow in a crowd had to be dangerous for his arm. She felt like a chump for worrying about him.

She entered the library and went to the copier. Another student was already using it. She stood back to wait. Cy came up beside her. He held out his hand. It had a dollar in change in it.

“Here.”

She took the change stiffly and set about ignoring him again. It was what one was supposed to do with strangers.