Page 7 of Switching Graves

Most people don’t like that he’s into such odd things. In fact, most people don’t like anything about Bane, so I chalk it up to being their problem and move on like my dad told me to do. He’s never bothering anyone. Even when they bother him.

Anyway, I usually don’t mind trekking through the woods with him. It’s just that today it’s wetter and muddier than usual, and the river is flowing faster to drain out all the excess water, which always make me anxious. Plus, my friends are meeting up to play soccer at the high school, and I don’t want to be late.

“Bane, did you hear me?” I prod again, more irritated when he doesn’t even flinch.

The river is so loud, he may just be drowning me out. Standing from the large rock I’ve been leaning against, I slog my way through the thick mud to check out whatever he’s looking at.

It’s a round, blue bug lying on its back as he examines the underside. I watch in silence as he blinks down at the grotesque thing, and it begins to squirm around in his palm in a futile attempt to escape the magic he’s using against it.

“Dude, it’s been two hours. Let’s go.”

Since he can’t stand uninvited physical touch, I avoid tapping his shoulder or nudging him in the side, the way I would with anyone else. Instead, I walk around his front to balance on the edge of the river, letting him know I’m here.

Finally lifting his eyes to my chest, he nods and starts gathering his things together in his backpack.

“I’m going to take him home,” he mumbles toward the ground, grabbing some tweezers and gently placing the weird metallic bug into a plastic container.

“You always do.” I sigh.

Ignoring me, Bane zips his pack and throws it over his shoulders. “Something in the water is killing them off,” he says to himself, turning back toward the way we came without another glance in my direction.

Is something in the water killing them off, or are you?

I keep the question locked away inside my mind, unwilling to give it a voice and upset him. Dad says Bane doesn’t understand how he can affect things yet.

“Hold on,” I whisper a few minutes later, throwing my arm out in front of his chest to stop him. He bumps into it, scowling over at me before the voices start again, and his attention snaps over to the direction they’re coming from.

“We’re almost out of here, Con. Why can’t you just leave it alone?” a desperate, female voice echoes off the trees from out of sight.

“Because this entire place is built on a foundation of my family’s blood,” another feminine voice rushes out as a brunette girl storms into the clearing before us with a blonde close on her heels.

I can tell by their clothes that they’re students of Ravenshurst. The second girl grabs the first’s arm and spins her around, stopping her from her mad dash through the woods.

Bane and I immediately fall to the forest floor, sticks and rocks digging into our chests as the air wheezes from our lungs upon impact. Shoving past the pain, we army crawl to a fallen log and duck behind it to remain unseen.

Locals aren’t supposed to be in this part of the woods. Really, we aren’t supposed to be anywhere near the university.Ever. But our property lines up against it, and the river is just on the other side, so we bend the rules.

Still, to be anywhere near a Ravenshurst University student is nothing but trouble for us. No one is usually out here to catch us though, especially with the strict rules the university has for its students.

“This is bigger than you. There are people who would rather see you dead than have your identity revealed to the public.”

Pushing her friend off her so hard, she nearly falls onto the messy forest floor. The first girl replies, “They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this. You know it as well as I do.”

“Then take it up with your family. They’re just as guilty.”

“Oh trust me, I will be,” the first bites back.

“We should go,” I whisper to Bane.

He turns toward me, eyes widened in fear, and nods his agreement.

But how? If we move too fast or make too much noise, the students could easily catch us and turn us in. Our punishment would be far worse than theirs, especially if they come up with an excuse about chasing us out here.

Everyone in Nocturne Valley has heard a story or two about that exact thing happening. Our father is the one who punishes them. It’s why we stay far away from anyone who has to do with Ravenshurst.

The university may be our town’s life blood, but it’s also the deadliest piece of it.

“At least wait until graduation. Keep your mouth shut for a few more weeks, and then you can blow the top off this whole place,” the blonde begs.

---