Page 113 of Black Hollow: Awakening

“Yes,” Will replied tersely, slamming his locker door shut.

“I know we kind of clashed at the party, but if you wanted to talk about Oscar or…”

“No, Norma, I don’t want to talk,” Will gritted through his teeth. “Especially not about that.”

He slung his backpack over his shoulder and rushed toward the exit. Suddenly, someone bumped into him.

“Sorry,” he said automatically, intending to keep walking, but the person blocked his path. Will looked up. It was Axel.

“I told you to stay away from Liam, didn’t I?” he asked aggressively. “Are you really so dense that you’d ignore my warning?”

“I’m in a hurry,” Will grumbled, pushing past Owens.

“You had your chance!” Axel called after him. “Remember that!”

Will left the building. Owens really couldn’t have picked a better time!

Enraged, he left the school and started down the street, heading for the bus stop.

“Will!” He heard Oscar’s call.

Will’s hands clenched into fists. He felt like he was about to lose it.

“Will, please…” Oscar caught up to him, out of breath. “If you’ll just let me explain…”

“Then what?” Will hissed, stopping. “The fact that you were making out with another guy will suddenly make sense? What are you going to tell me, Oscar? That it was just pretend? That you were practicing? Auditioning for a part?” he mocked openly, but with every word, he felt a growing pain. “That the guy was on his deathbed and asked you for a final favor? Do you really think there’s a convincing lie that could get you out of this?”

“I don’t want to lie. I want to tell the truth.”

Will laughed with pity.

“Now that’s a first.”

“Will, please…”

Will’s gaze fell to the other side of the street. Blake and Abby were walking there, but they stopped when they saw him. Blake said something to the girl.

Will swallowed hard. Great. The last thing he needed was for Alden to overhear this pathetic exchange.

“Let’s not do this here,” Oscar whispered, apparently not wanting an audience either. “Let’s go somewhere. I promise I’ll explain…”

“I gave you a chance to explain,” Will snarled. “The day before yesterday. You looked like you’d swallowed your own tongue because you couldn’t stammer out anything that made sense. Now, two days later, you’ve managed to come up with some sob story and you think I’ll fall for it? Yeah, right.”

“Morgan!” A distant shout reached him.

He frowned and looked toward Alden. Blake had moved closer to the edge of the road. He looked shocked.

“Morgan!” he called out again.

Will had no idea what he was talking about. He turned around instinctively, and then…

He came face-to-face with Christine Ellis.

Her lips stretched into a hideous smile, and… she pushed him.

Will didn’t have time to react. He heard the piercing squeal of a horn, blending with Alden’s shout, and then he felt the impact. So hard, so painful, that he lost not only control of his body but also consciousness.

When he regained it, he was lying on the asphalt, unable to move. He could hear people screaming.