Is She for Real? by P.J. Night Page B

was as if the ring was burning into her skin.
    She began gasping for air. The girls stood frozen in fear, just staring at her.
    She tried to wiggle herself free underground but couldn’t move. Then she began feeling herself fading away, as if she were about to faint. But there was nowhere to fall, because she was already down. Everything was growing dimmer at the edges, and soon she saw nothing at all.
    She could barely speak, but managed to murmur two words: “My lord …” Then there was no more talking. Her eyes were closed, and she stopped wiggling around.
    But in her head she was screaming.
    Oh my God! Where am I?
    How shall I ever get out of here?
    My Lord, how could you do this to me?
    Help! Be it known! I’m down here! Do help me!
    The girls stood transfixed, all thinking the same thought: Lady Warwick buried alive.

Now Lissa was the one who could hear her heartbeat in her ears. She ran with Olivia and Lily as fast as they could back to the house. They didn’t stop to put on their flip-flops, and the hot sand burned their feet. Then the grass in Lissa’s yard was scratchy and full of burrs. But in the panic of the moment, the girls didn’t bother to complain. Adrenaline surged through their veins as they focused on the crisis at hand.
    Lissa hoped her parents would still be home, that they hadn’t left yet to go antiquing with the Warrens, but at home she found only Nate, sitting at the kitchen table, calmly eating a grilled cheese sandwich. He had just gotten back from his fishing trip with his friends, but they hadn’t caught anything.
    When the panting trio entered, Nate looked up and put down his sandwich.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” He could tell something was very wrong.
    â€œWe were playing Sandy Lady …,” Lissa said, her voice breaking. She felt like a little girl. She hoped Nate wouldn’t be scornful of the way she was acting. Of course, that was the least of her worries, she reminded herself.
    Olivia grabbed Lissa’s hand and held it hard. Lissa’s voice was trembling so much that Olivia continued for her.
    â€œAnd we buried Bethany and she kind of freaked out, and then she stopped talking and moving. She went completely still,” Olivia finished.
    â€œWell, what happened when you dug her out?” Nate asked, raising his eyebrows.
    The girls stood silent. Nate pushed his chair back loudly and broke the silence. He ran straight for the door, saying sharply, “Why didn’t you dig her up right away? And why didn’t one of you stay with her?”
    And then he was gone, out the door, sprinting toward the backyard beach.
    â€œOh my God,” Lissa said, breathing hard and holding back tears. “He’s right. What were we thinking?”Something about the way he ran out reminded her of how serious this situation really was. She wished she could turn back time and listen to Bethany when she was saying she didn’t want to be buried. Why hadn’t she listened? Why had she gotten so caught up in Sandy Lady that she hadn’t heard her friend’s real fear?
    â€œWe’re so close to the beach,” Olivia said, trying to sound reassuring to the others. “She was only alone for a minute or two.”
    No one moved.
    â€œWell, come on!” Olivia said to her two friends, who seemed to be standing frozen. “Let’s get back there already! Hurry!”
    It was as if Lissa and Lily had been slapped. They quickly snapped out of their stupor, and the three of them ran back to the beach.
    As they approached, they breathed sighs of relief when they looked for Bethany’s head in the sand and didn’t see it. Thank goodness, he must have pulled Bethany out , Lissa thought, tears springing to her eyes.
    They could see Nate in the distance, standing next to where Bethany had been. But there was no sign of Bethany.
    As they approached Nate, they still saw no Bethany. Just Nate looking