"h.e.l.lo Dr. Roberts. Thanks for coming so quickly," Grandma said in the other room.

"Hurry!" Wesley pulled me up. "Once she shows him your arms he'll know what you've been doing. He'll think you're crazy. Suicidal."

"She's right in here," Grandma said, footsteps nearing the kitchen.

"C'mon." Wesley yanked my arm so hard I feared it would come out of its socket. I stood feeling unsteady on my wobbly legs, and he pulled me to the side door. He burst through it and we stumbled out into the yard together. "Move! Move!" Pulling me he fled through the back gate and into the front yard. "Get in the car."

Panting, I said, "I don't have the keys."

"Here." He shoved the keys to Grandma's car into the palm of my hand. Spots appeared in my vision as blood rushed through my pounding head. As I hopped into the car I noticed red trickling down my arm. "Turn on the car!" His voice was high pitched and manic.

"I don't feel so good."

Wesley's arm came around me and he turned the key in the ignition. The car roared to life. Shoving me out of the way he sat in the driver's seat and took off. The car careened down the street. Colors blurred past as we sped away. Peering over at the speedometer I saw that we were going eighty.

"Wesley, slow down!" I screamed.

"You don't want them catching up to us, do you?"

The more scared I got the more lucid I became. What was I doing? "This is crazy," I said.

"No. What's crazy is allowing that old lady to run your life."

"That's not what I'm doing," I snapped.

"No? What do you think would've happened if granny's doctor found out you're a cutter?"

"I don't know." I shrugged. The car was moving faster now. I looked at the speedometer again. "Wesley! Slow down! You're going one hundred."

"What's wrong, Kenzie? Don't you trust me?" His voice was evil, animal-like.

I turned to look at him and screamed. In the driver's seat sat the same creature from my dream. He had a large hulking body and he held the steering wheel with sharp claws. He smiled at me revealing pointy fangs and drool dribbled down his reptilian chin.

I cowered against the window. "You're not my dad, are you?"

"Of course I'm not." His neck protruded out and his face was mere inches from mine. His breath was hot and rank. "I'm the enemy."

My heart hammered in my ears and I swallowed hard. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the pole a mere second before we slammed into it.

My eyes popped open and I sprung upright. I was in my room. Flinging off the covers I examined my arm but it was devoid of cuts from the mug. How odd. I glanced down at my body and saw that I had on the same outfit from last night. The scent of coffee wafted from the kitchen and I could hear Grandma opening and closing cupboards. Had I finally fallen asleep? Was it all just a dream?

I hopped out of bed and raced down the hallway to find Grandma b.u.t.tering a slice of toast. She turned to me and smiled. "Someone's up early."

Whoa. Deja vu.

"Mackenzie, you don't look so good. Are you sick?"

Shaking my head, I made my way to the cupboard and reached for a mug. Just as my fingers touched one cold swept over me.

Oh no. Not again.

"Good morning, Kenzie. Sleep well?" Wesley spoke in my ear.

I yelped and jumped backwards. The coffee cup teetered from my hand but I caught it before it hit the floor.

"Nice catch," Wesley said.

"Are you okay, Kenzie?" Grandma asked.

I nodded at Grandma, but then threw an exasperated look to Wesley. "Go away!" I hissed at him under my breath.

"What?" Grandma asked.

Wesley snickered.

"Nothing," I mumbled. I set the cup down. "Maybe you're right. I'm not feeling so great." Before she could say another word I scurried down the hallway and slipped into my room, closing the door behind me.

"Go away?" Wesley asked in a wounded tone.

"She can't see you, can she?"

"Who, Granny? Nah. Only you can. You're special, Kenzie. You can see things others can't."

My heart warmed at the compliment. The anger I had felt just moments earlier dissipated. It didn't matter what Rhiannon said about him. Wesley wasn't dangerous. I was sure of it.

Chapter Fourteen.

The music blaring through my headphones dulled the thoughts that filled my mind. It allowed me to stop the questions swirling in my head for just a little while. As I sat on the porch hidden in the blanket of night I saw Rhiannon come out of her house. As she locked her door the porch light illuminated her face. Her black hair, kohl lined eyes and blood red lips contrasted her pale face. After she locked the door she raced down her walkway, purse over her shoulder, black shift dress dancing around her white legs.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"Oh." She jumped, clearly startled. When she turned to me, her chest heaved with each breath. "I didn't see you there."

"I scared you this time, that's a first." I walked down the stairs and across the soft gra.s.s.

Rhiannon's eyes widened and she backed away from me like I had two heads.

"What's going on?"

"Um...nothing." She swallowed, her neck swelling with the effort. "I...I need to go."

"What did I tell you? She's jealous." Wesley appeared by my side. "She's going over to her friend's. She doesn't want you to know."

Rhiannon glanced in his direction, terror stricken.

"You can see him, can't you?"

"Who?"

"Wesley."

"No, but he's here isn't he? I can feel him. Evil is all around." She shivered. "He's hidden your aura. It's like you're dead too."

"Ask her where she's going. Make her tell you," Wesley prompted.

"You still haven't told me where you're going."

"None of your business." Rhiannon spun around and raced toward her car.

I chased her. "You're going out with your friends aren't you?"

"Please just leave me alone." Her voice wavered.

"Why haven't you introduced me to them? You said you would."

"I don't know." She shoved her key into the lock of the driver side door, fumbled with it. Her fingers quivered.

"Its cause you're jealous of me, isn't it? Because I have powers you don't."

"That's it," Wesley said, pleasure in his tone. "That's my girl."

My heart swelled with pride at his words.

"I don't want your powers, Kenzie. You're scaring me. At least I have control of my powers. You're letting this spirit control you. Can't you see what he's doing to you? You look awful. You're not acting like yourself. He's evil, Kenzie."

"Liar!" Wesley's eyes darkened.

Rhiannon flinched like someone struck her.

"He's destroying you. Why can't you see that? Look at your eyes. They're black. You look possessed."

"Shut up! You'll regret that," Wesley hissed.

Rhiannon's body flew backward as if someone had shoved her. She screamed. Her eyes were wide like saucers. Landing with a thud on the pavement, her neck snapped back, her head hit the asphalt. My heart stopped. Rhiannon shrieked and her head whipped from one side to the other like someone slapped her. Red palm prints arose on her cheeks.

"Wesley! What are you doing?"

I looked around but couldn't see him. He was invisible.

Rhiannon's screaming heightened, her face turned blue from the exertion. She writhed on the ground. I watched in horror as purple bruises rose on her arms.

"Wesley! Stop it. Please, you're hurting her."

Behind me I heard footsteps. "What's going on?" Isaac ran from his yard.

The door to Grandma's house opened and she bounded onto the porch and across the lawn just as the screaming ceased. Rhiannon cowered on the ground, twitching. Her gaze darted nervously around like a stray cat. It landed on me and she pointed accusingly.

"She did it!

"Did what?" Isaac asked breathing hard, sweat slicking his forehead. "What happened?"

"It's that spirit. The one that possessed her."

Isaac's brow furrowed, studying me intently.

Grandma knelt near Rhiannon, studying her wounds. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just need to get away from her." Rhiannon scrambled to her feet.

Grandma turned to me. "What's she talking about, Kenzie?"

"I have no idea. She's the witch, not me."

"Witch?" Grandma asked.

"Whatever." Rhiannon rolled her eyes. "Just stay away from me, okay?" She climbed inside her car, turned on the engine and peeled out. As she drove away, I could feel Isaac's and Grandma's eyes burning a hole in the side of my face. I caught sight of Wesley hovering at the edge of the lawn. He flashed me an evil grin, causing my stomach to curdle.

"What was that all about?" Isaac asked.

I looked blankly at him and shrugged my shoulders.

"Why would she say that about you?" he persisted.

"I don't know."

"So she was just making it up?" he asked incredulous.

"Kenzie," Grandma cut in. "Now would be a good time to tell the truth. Tell us what's going on."

"Oh, I see. So now both of you think I'm the bad guy, is that it?"

"No, honey." Grandma's hand rested on my shoulder. "It's not that at all. But clearly something happened tonight and we're just trying to understand."

Bitter tears stung my eyes. "By blaming me?"

Isaac came close and looked deep into my eyes. "Tell me the truth, Kenzie. Have you been dabbling in the supernatural?"

"No." The lie tasted like poison on my tongue.

Isaac sighed, his eyes betraying his disappointment. I could tell he didn't believe me, and that hurt more than the accusations ever could.