Page 130 of Sweet Nightmare

“It’s almost like you’re trying to impress someone.” Luis bats his eyes at me—and then at Jude.

“Oh my God, you’re terrible!” I say with mock annoyance.

But then his smile fades. “You okay?”

I know he’s talking about Eva now and everything that’s happened since then, so I shake my head. “Not really, no.”

“Yeah, me neither.” He pulls me in for another hug, this one even longer than the first. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“I just wish I knew how to get the hell out of it,” I tell him as we grab one of the buckets of snacks from the admin tables and make our way back to the others.

As we do, the winds outside get even faster. I can see it in the way the trees are blowing back and forth, hear it in the sudden uptick of their branches knocking against the windows in the halls.

Only about a third of the windows were boarded up before Jude’s nightmares got loose. Is this really the best building to hole up in during the worst part of the hurricane?

At the same time, at least the unboarded windows are letting in as much light as the storm allows. Plus, we’ve got medical and storm supplies, dry clothes, snacks…plus a host of student rooms to ransack for supplies if we end up needing to.

Not to mention the fact that we’re already here, which trumps a lot of the downsides in my opinion.

I grab a pack of peanut butter crackers from the top before handing the bucket to Simon.

“We just have to wait it out, right?” Mozart says from where she’s sitting cross-legged on one of the room’s worn-out sofas. “I mean, the storm can’t last forever, can it?”

Izzy grabs a granola bar and tosses it to Remy, who’s currently sitting on the floor, his back against the wall. “Can you portal us out?” she asks.

“What does she mean?” I’ve never given portals much thought before—why should I when they’ve been blocked on the island my whole life? Plus, I’m not particularly eager to get back in one, if I’m being honest.

“It means Remy’s got the portal mojo,” Izzy says as she twirls a dagger between her fingers. “His portals are legendary…at least in his own mind,” she finishes.

“Damned by faint praise.” Remy’s voice is rueful as he turns back to the group. “But to answer the question, I’ve already tried. Several times. Even though the portal block is still down, the storm must be stopping me because I can’t get out.”

“Is that normal?” I ask. “You not being able to use your powers in a storm?”

His New Orleans accent is heavier than usual when he answers, “To be fair, cher, I’m not sure I know what normal is. I have spent most of my life in prison.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.” I can’t believe I’d forgotten that.

“No worries.” He shrugs. “Just one more thing you and I have in common.”

I’m not expecting the hurt that truth brings.

“Why are you asking about his powers?” Luis’s silver eyes are intent as they study me. “What does it matter if they can’t help us now?”

“It probably doesn’t matter,” I admit. “I just keep thinking that there’s something strange about this storm.”

“Thank God!” Simon exclaims. “I’m not the only one.”

I jerk my gaze to his. “You think it’s strange, too?”

He shakes his head. “Before I came here, I spent my whole life in the Atlantic. I’ve been through more hurricanes than I can count—category one all the way up to category five. I’ve never seen anything like this before. Never.”

“What do you mean?” Jude asks. He’s half sitting, half leaning on one of the tables, his long legs stretched out in front of him.

He’s been silent up until now, not because he isn’t listening, but because he is.

“What’s so different about it?” he continues.

“The portal breaking the way it did. All the mermaids, selkies, and sirens getting their asses kicked when they tried to make a break for it after getting their power back. And now Remy not being able to get us out of here?” Simon shrugs. “I don’t know, man. Maybe I’m imagining things, but it’s like the storm is working overtime to either trap us or kill us.”

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