Read Winter's Dream (The Hemlock Bay Series) for Free Online

can’t believe you haven’t been taking care of things.”
    My rage went to a whole new level. “How am I supposed to get to Nightmare Town and figure out what the hell is going on when I’m stuck here? I can’t sleep here! No sleep means no dreams. Nightmare Town is going to have to wait until I can figure out a way to get out of here.”
    To my surprise he nodded his agreement. “Then I’ll leave you to your scheming.”
    I glared at him and resented having to ask a final favor. “Whatever. But uh, can you move that?” I asked, pointing to the shelving in front of the door.
    Without looking he pushed one arm out and shoved the unit from in front of the door almost like Clint had done. But then his face softened slightly and I grew warm under his gaze.
    “What?” I mumbled.
    He just shook his head, his long knotted hair shaking with it. “I know you think I hate you, but I don’t. I didn’t mean for you to be hurt.”
    I stood for a moment, processing. “You?” I finally accused. “It was you in the bushes? You scared my grandma? You got us into this mess?” I shrieked.
    He motioned for me to lower my voice and I exploded. “No! Why would you do that? I did what you asked, I took you seriously and I broke up with Jordan!” Rage radiated from within me in hot, ugly waves.
    He grabbed my hand and held it between his two enormous ones. He was trying to soothe me and was completely failing. “Bixby, I had to be sure you stayed away. I thought if you blamed Jordan for this you would. I didn’t know you would find your own way back to our world.”
    “I don’t really think getting smashed in the head and knocked out by some asshole really counts as ‘finding my own way’,” I snarled, snatching my hand from his.
    He took a tiny breath. “I’m sorry.”
    “Apology not accepted,” I hissed. “Now get out.”
    His bizarre eyes met mine again and the sadness in them thawed my anger a little. “I think you little ones get enough hurt heaped on already. I wouldn’t try to add to that. I went about things the wrong way, and I am sorry.”
    I had no idea what to say to his bizarre little speech so said nothing. When I blinked he was gone.
     
    Chapter Four
    C lass was thankfully still in session when I slipped out of the storeroom door. I snuck silently down the dark quiet halls, praying no one would see me. I breathed a little prayer of thanks when I finally slipped into the girls shower room. It was empty and I made my way to the mirrors. My jaw dropped when I saw my reflection. Not only were there new coppery waves sprouting from my head but the dark bags under my eyes were gone and my skin was flawless. My shining eyes were rimmed by thick lashes again and my eyebrows were perfect.
    And there was something more, something that wasn’t quite seen. My reflection made me uneasy, as if I wasn’t quite human, wasn’t quite safe.
    The slam of the door broke me from my fearful thoughts. I raced to hide in the dormitory but was stopped by a shout.
    “Bixby!” Minnie called. Panic filled my heart and I froze, too scared to turn around. “Bixby, oh my gosh, I was looking for you everywhere. I thought for sure …” she trailed off in puzzled silence. “Well, I don’t know what I thought had happened, but I was worried.”
    Her small, warm hand touched my back and I turned around with my face down.
    “Bixby,” she breathed. “What did you do to your hair?”
    I opened my mouth but no words came.
    “Did you dye it?” Minnie wondered aloud. My panic receded a tiny bit. “Or cut it?” She pulled her fingers through a copper curl that wasn’t there an hour before. “Well, whatever. I’m glad you’re okay.”
    I risked a glance up at her and she pulled back. I watched her eyes dart over my features and her little pink tongue lick the corner of mouth like she always did when nervous. But she just looked, and then met my eyes and smiled. “Anyway, you better hope they didn’t miss you in class, you