Some Quiet Place

feet away from my locker and moments away from class, when I’m spotted through the office window.
    “Elizabeth?” Sally Morrison shoves the door open and stands there in her perfect clothes, with all her good intentions, staring at me. I slowly turn. Her eyes are so sad as she keeps looking at me, waiting for me to say something. She really does want to help. I clutch my bag tightly.
    The counselor sighs after another moment. “Do you want to come into my office?” she asks, motioning for me to walk before her. I do, remaining silent.
    Together, we enter the room we’re both so familiar with. Sally shuts the door quietly and takes her normal seat, smoothing her skirt. Again, the woman gives me an opportunity to talk first, but I don’t take it.
    “Is there something you want to tell me?” Sally sits back, sighing. She doesn’t expect the truth. She’s waiting for another lie, like I’ve given her every other time I’ve been in here. Her crossed legs and her shiny shoes hold all my attention as I think.
    Sally waits. She doesn’t speak or even glance at the clock. Finally, finally, after we’ve been silent for ten minutes in this tiny room of hope and pain and lies, I give Sally Morrison my first truth. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I have nothing left but this.
    “Remember that day in your office? The bruises?” I ask. She just continues to wait. So I finally tell her, “A cow didn’t kick me in the face.”

TWENTY-ONE
    The only unchanged variable in my new life is Joshua. He calls every night, walks me to my classes. As time goes on, though, he stops insisting on giving me rides. He begins to believe that I’m safe again. Tim is still mysteriously missing, and I haven’t seen or heard from Nightmare. But I know it’s a lie, this delusion of peace.
    He’s coming.
    Fear still hasn’t made an appearance. When I think of him, I experience a twinge in my gut. Worry, trying to claw free of the illusion.
    On Wednesday morning, a week after Sally Morrison called me into her office, I pull into the school parking lot. The sky is gray, the wind dismal. Winter, a striking Element with white eyelashes and blue lips, is on her way. I remove the key from the ignition and drop it in my jacket pocket. Through the windshield, I watch the kids walking by, chatting. All of them are secure in who they are and where they stand. If it weren’t for the illusion that still holds on, I think I’d be jealous.
    Joshua is waiting on the front steps of the school. I see him before he sees me, and I hop out of my truck, watching him. His bright eyes scan the crowd climbing up the steps, and when he can’t find me, his gaze expands out to the lot to pick out everyone in the clusters by their cars. He’s so kind, so good, and I know that the best thing to do—the right thing to do—would be to free him. Even if the illusion does fully break, even if I do come out of this alive … he’s only a beautiful idea.
    Just like Fear. Who must be enjoying Rebecca’s ministrations. Since I haven’t heard from either of them, they must have reached the happily ever after they’ve been denied all these years.
    Thinking this, my stomach tight, I shoulder my bag and start toward Joshua.
    “So it’s Elizabeth now, correct?” a voice breathes in my ear. A beat later it adds, “It’s time.”
    My spine stiffens and I stop in my tracks. Tyler Bentley gives me an annoyed glance as he passes. He doesn’t see the urgent message in my eyes. I open my mouth—
    “I wouldn’t do that, Elizabeth . Ah, don’t turn around, please. What are you going to do, call the sheriff? Tell one of your teachers? None of them can see me, and you’d look like a hysterical schoolgirl. And then you’d have the boy’s blood on your hands. Wouldn’t want that now, would you? Start walking.”
    He means Joshua. He’s threatening Joshua. I obey, my gait halting as I begin the trek across the parking lot. “You’re not going to touch him,” I say through my teeth.
    Nightmare laughs quietly. He’s following me, moving with the group around us as if he belongs. He’s still leaning over my shoulder when he warns, “Then I suggest you stay quiet.” Before I can say anything more, my hair is stirred by a sudden breeze and Nightmare is gone.
    But I can feel him nearby. Even when Joshua spots me, smiling soothingly as his warm palm cups mine, I can sense the chill of Nightmare’s presence.
    Between classes, I pass him in the hallway