Page 131 of Sweet Nightmare

“Why either or?” Luis remarks dryly. “Can’t it be both?”

“Right?” I agree. “When I was on the beach, I kept thinking that the storm was doing it on purpose, too. And I know”—I hold a hand up to ward off any objections or explanations about the indifference of the natural world—“that nature isn’t out to get us. But this doesn’t feel indifferent. It feels…”

“Malicious,” Mozart finishes for me. Future Mozart looks impressed as she looks at both of us over the top of the book she’s reading.

“Exactly,” I tell her. “Then add in all the other weird stuff that’s been happening around here and I can’t help thinking something else is going on. And we’re missing it because we’re blinded by—”

“A bunch of fifteen- to twenty-foot waves that keep trying to kill us?” Izzy comments, her voice dry.

“Pretty much,” I agree.

“What other weird stuff?” Ember speaks up for the first time. She’s been stretched out on the floor, eyes closed and hands behind her head. I thought she was sleeping, but apparently, she’s just been soaking in the conversation.

I don’t answer right away. Not because I don’t think I should tell everyone what’s going on—hell, Caspian literally just dumped it on Simon—but because I don’t know how to explain it.

“I can see…things,” I say after a moment.

Luis’s eyes widen because he knows how I feel about telling people about the ghosts. But this isn’t just about ghosts anymore. Everything tells me it’s about something much bigger than that, and if we’re going to figure out what it is and save ourselves, we’re going to need to figure out what it is.

I nod to Luis to let him know I appreciate his concern—but that I know what I’m doing. Then I turn to Jude, and he’s watching me steadily, his mystical eyes dark but supportive. And when he glances down at the empty spot next to him on the table, I accept the invitation and walk over to sit next to him.

I don’t know what’s going through his head, don’t know where we go after what happened at the cottages and then on the beach.

But Jude says he’s got me, and for now, that’s enough. While I’m ready to face whatever’s coming in the next few hours, I can’t do it alone.

“What kind of things are we talking about here?” Remy asks, and suddenly he seems very, very interested in listening to me.

I don’t say anything until I’m settled next to Jude, his hand resting on my lower back to send support that I didn’t know I needed.

“I know this sounds strange, but I’ve always been able to see ghosts. The island’s power blocking never shut it down the way it did my manticore abilities.” I give a little shrug to let them know it’s as confusing to me as it probably is to them.

“Ghosts?” Mozart repeats, her eyes going huge. “Seriously? Like scary ghosts or normal ghosts or something in between?”

I think about the wild-eyed ghost who has taken to popping up when I least expect her and say, “Both.”

“That’s badass,” Ember comments, and for once she actually looks interested in what comes next.

“It’s something,” I tell her. “Not sure badass is the right word. Especially since I’ve been seeing more than just ghosts ever since last night.”

Luis’s eyes go even wider at that revelation, and Jude stiffens against me. But before either of them can ask what I mean, Remy’s brows go up. “What exactly does that mean?” he queries, and his eyes are more than curious. They’re watchful.

How do I explain to him that right now I can see three of him and everyone else in this room, except for Jude. Oh, and I can also see where the old hotel concierge desk used to be—as well as the old guy who worked it.

“I know this sounds bizarre,” I start. “But I’m pretty sure I can see the past and the future as well as the present.”

A long silence greets my revelation, one filled with confused what-the-fuck looks and nonverbal exchanges among our group. Jude and Luis both look worried as hell. Izzy turns to stare at Remy, but he’s too busy studying me to notice.

“So you can see what’s going to happen?” Ember looks like she’s suddenly regretting the tears she shared with me. “Because, if so, I’ve got to say you really should have warned us about that portal breaking.”

“It’s not like that,” I answer. “I can’t tell what’s going to happen in the future. I can just see static pieces of it.”

“What is it like?” Mozart asks. She doesn’t look concerned so much as fascinated. “Can you see something from the past or the future right now?”

“I can.”

“Like what?” Luis leans forward, obviously intrigued.

Instead of telling him that future Luis looks exactly like present Luis, right down to the clothing—which concerns me greatly, considering everything that happened on the beach—I say, “There’s a little girl over near the snack table. She’s wearing a frilly dress and playing with a yo-yo.”

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