Page 32 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

You’re sure about that?Joan’s skepticism is overshadowed by the new hope filling my chest.

Morg can’t be dead.

Heading back to the stairs, I turn over everything Jinx did and said in my mind. I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t notice the ghost standing in front of me until I pass through her.

The cockroach ghost from the locker room is even colder than Brayden’s phantom form. Passing through her is like diving into the coldest part of the Arctic Ocean. As I trudge through her spiritual form, a voice whispers through my mind,Aliceeeeee.

My vision flickers, and images flash through my head at rapid speed. A woman with bright eyes and a big smile. Long, healthy brunette hair flying behind her as she swings back and forth at a playground. Gasps as a handsome man slams her into a wall and ravishes her mouth. Betrayal at his hands when she finds him with her sister. So many memories assault me, but it’s the last one which leaves me haunted.

Alice wearing a maid’s uniform, screaming at the base of the stairs in the foyer. A dozen ghosts float around her in the memory, pressing closer and closer. She’s digging her fingers into her hair, pulling it out as they grow near. Her screams begin to soften, almost like the spirits are stealing her fear away until all that’s left is a shell of a woman kneeling on the ground. The ghosts don’t stop until a white mist curls out of her mouth and her body thuds to the ground.

A woman appears out of thin air. Jinx is wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, but there’s no mistaking the eyes and cruel twist of her smile. Waving her hand through the misting air, she pulls it toward her and sucks it in, eyes seeming to grow brighter when she finishes.

My foot hits the first step, and I rub my arms to try to ease the chill which came with my collision with Alice. I turn to face her, surprised to see she’s watching me. If I were to put a word to what I see in her eyes, I’d use concern.

“Alice?” I ask, wondering if she can actually talk. The first time I saw her all she did was her fun little cockroach trick.

I swear if I see one bug, I’m going to scream,Joan says.

Can wolves scream?

Alice opens her mouth, and three of those nasty critters scuttle out. Holding back a squeal, I reach for one of the bugs, letting out a sigh of relief when my fingers pass through it. Not that ghost cockroaches are any less disgusting than real cockroaches, but at least they can’t breed. Or at least I hope not. Four more race out of her mouth, and I jump back, scowling at her.

“Ugh, they’re not even real, Alice.”

Her head cocks at an unnatural angle, and I wrinkle my nose.

“Blink twice if you can understand me.”

Alice’s eyelids flutter, and I lose count of how many times she actually blinks.

I think this one has a few too many screws loose, babe.

Joan is alwayssohelpful.

“Let’s try again. One cockroach if you can understand me.”

One bug crawls out of her mouth. I wait, seeing if it was just a coincidence but no more follow the first. Okay, I can work with this.

“You were a shifter? One cockroach for yes, two for no.”

One creepy crawler escapes her cracked lips.

I think I’m going to throw up,Joan whines.

You and me both.

“Jinx killed you? Same number of roaches.”

She blinks, a lock of scraggly hair falling off her shoulder and dangling toward the floor. Her current body position screamsExorcist,but I think Alice has developed this form for a reason. I don’t know why, but she’s obviously cognizant.

“Your last memory with the woman. She’s Jinx.”

One lone roach.

I shiver, unable to fight the repulsion. What? They’re fucking gross.

“Raven?” Everett asks from the top of the stairs.

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