Snared by Stefan Petrucha Page A

foolish.
    â€œHmm.” Mark stared at the keyboard for a moment, and then his fingers came down on the keys.
    The music that followed was classical, Lindsay knew, but she didn’t know the piece or the composer. Still, to her it sounded amazing. Each note and chord meshed together in a beautiful weave of sound. But it also sounded kind of sad.
    Mark stopped after a couple of minutes and said “Chopin.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œThe piece is by Chopin.”
    He returned his attention to the piano and started banging out a high tempo piece that sounded like old-time rock and roll. This only kept his attention for a minute though. “And that was Jerry Lee Lewis.”
    â€œYou play really well.”
    â€œThanks.” The compliment seemed to brighten Mark up a lot. He played a few more snippets, identifying each artist when he finished. “The Beatles.” “Elton John.” “Linkin Park.”
    The only song Lindsay knew was the last one. She liked it a lot, and though she didn’t know the others, she liked them, too, but probably only because Mark had chosen to play them.
    And there she stood, in Mark’s room. Alone with him. Her thoughts raced and collided, leaving her without anything to say. She supposed she could comment on the room or something. Itwasn’t so bad. It felt a little chilly to her, but it was okay. Still, it was no place to spend your summer.
    â€œYou’re shaking,” Mark said, rising from the piano bench.
    â€œToo much AC,” she replied, hugging herself.
    â€œDo you want another shirt or something? Doug and Jack keep the place like a refrigerator most of the time. I guess I’m just used to it now.”
    â€œNo, I’m fine,” Lindsay assured him.
    â€œDo you want to sit down?” Mark asked, indicating the desk chair behind her. “You might be warmer if you stay by the window.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œI’d offer you something to drink, but I think Doug or Jack might notice.”
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” Lindsay said.
    Then they fell silent. Lindsay sat in the desk chair, found it comfortable. Mark stood in the middle of the room, looking a little shy and uncertain. She could have just looked at him for an hour, but it was totally weird not saying anything. It made her tremble more.
    â€œI like your room.”
    â€œThank you. It’d be okay if I could get out of it every now and then.”
    â€œWell, they can’t keep you locked up forever. How long are you grounded?”
    â€œForever,” he said with a smile. “It’s really complicated. And they’re going to be back soon.”
    Lindsay watched the sad expression leak over Mark’s face. She again wondered if his guardians hit him, and the thought made her chest hurt.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked. “I mean, they aren’t hurting you, are they? Because that’s totally illegal.”
    â€œYou can’t get involved,” Mark said sharply. “It’s not what you think.”
    â€œIt just seems so unfair.”
    â€œLook, Lindsay,” Mark said, turning his head a bit as if looking for spies in his nearly empty room. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else? I’m serious. You can’t tell anyone. Not your friends or your parents or anyone!”
    Thrilled that he was going to share a secret with her, Lindsay leaned closer. She put her hands on her knees and nodded her head.
    â€œI swear.”
    Again Mark looked around his room. “I can’t explain it all, because there’s not enough time. But you know how sometimes the government willtake people who know things and hide them, move them to another part of the country, change their names?”
    â€œSure,” Lindsay said. She saw it all the time on television.
    â€œWell, it’s like that,” Mark said. “But it’s not just that. I think something’s