Shadow Demons by Sarra Cannon

You have no idea what I’ve been through this weekend.”
    Lark narrowed her eyes at me. “I thought you had a nice date with Jackson last night. Did something happen?”
    Crap. I needed to learn to keep my big mouth shut.
    “No, I just meant that I’m exhausted,” I said, turning away.
    “What is it?” she asked, touching my shoulder. “Something’s obviously bothering you.”
    “I’m fine,” I said. My voice came out a lot harsher than I meant for it to. I looked around to make sure no one was watching us. “I mean, it’s just that things have been really stressful since I moved here, you know? I feel like it’s been one tragedy after another.”
    Lark frowned and put her arm around me. “You sure you don’t want to just come out with us and try to have some fun? It might help.”
    I shook my head. “I’ll be fine,” I said. I forced a smile. “I’m just tired, that’s all.”
    “Okay, but you’re definitely coming to the Ball next weekend, right? Did you talk to Mrs. King about it yet?”
    “Yes,” I said. “I had a chance to talk to her earlier this morning before everyone else got here.”
    “And?”
    “And she said exactly what you told me she would say.” I sighed. “I don’t really have a choice when it comes to this particular event.”
    Lark smiled and gave me a big hug. “I know you totally don’t want to go, but it’s going to be great,” she said. “We need to come up with some kind of theme for our costumes.”
    While Lark rambled on about different ideas for what we could all wear for Halloween, my mind wandered back to the attack in the woods the night before. Who was that witch?
    And if Jackson hadn’t killed her, how long before she came back for revenge?
    Then there was the mysterious guy with the braids. Who was he?
    A shiver ran down my spine. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. Would I ever get used to living this kind of life? One where every time I turned around, someone new was trying to kill me?
    “Harper?”
    I snapped my head toward Lark. “Yes?”
    “Have you even been listening to a word I’ve said?”
    I bit my lower lip and stared up at her. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I wasn’t ignoring you or anything. I’m just-“
    “Tired.” She slammed her locker door shut and picked up her duffel bag. “I know.”
    I slumped back against the metal door of my own locker and groaned. “Shit,” I said. “Lark, I-“
    “It’s fine,” she said. “We’ll talk costumes tomorrow okay? I’ll give you a call or something?”
    I nodded, then realized tomorrow was Sunday. Zara was coming back to Peachville to start work as my trainer. I probably wouldn’t have a spare second to talk on the phone. “Wait,” I said. “I can’t tomorrow. Zara will be here, and I’ll have a million things to do in training. She said she wanted to get me started on a training program right away, and I can only imagine how rough that’s going to be. Why don’t we just talk about it Monday at lunch?”
    “Okay,” Lark said. She looked toward the door and waved.
    I peered around the corner to see Lark’s mother standing in the doorway. “Oh, hi Mayor Chen.”
    “Hi Harper,” she said, a sweet smile on her face. “You did a great job today at the competition. You all did.”
    “Thanks,” Lark and I said in unison.
    “I have to run,” Lark said. She turned and gave me a soft smile. “Get some rest. I’ll talk to you soon.”
    “I will,” I said, glad she wasn’t mad at me.
    “You don’t need a ride home or anything right?”
    “No,” I said. “I’ve got a ride.”
    “See you Monday then?”
    I smiled and nodded. “See you then.”
    Lark and her mother left the locker room. I looked around and realized I was completely alone. My gaze wandered up to the window where I first saw the crow watching me.
    Mary Anne.
    I sighed. In this town, even my friends were my enemies. Jackson was the only person I felt I could completely trust, and even he had his