Almost Dead (Dead, #1) by Rebecca A. Rogers Read Free Book Online

people who die? She might’ve stolen my purse when I wasn’t looking. Does this mean she’s technically a grave robber?
    “Our world isn’t so different from yours, Laney. We may not be up to date with technology, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have basic necessities. Now, m ake yourselves at home. This may be a long night,” Sara says, taking a seat on one of the chairs. Flora sits on the couch. I lean against a table next to a dusty bookshelf.
    “You aren’t glowing anymore,” I say, eyeing her up and down like she’s a cheap trick. I d on’t have time for games.
    “I don’t glow within ownglow withe confines of my home. Out there”—she points toward the ginormous floor-to-ceiling windows—“is different. Out there, I light the way.”
    “How touching,” I add, for lack of a good comeback. She’s like an angel in disguise. In purgatory. I don’t find this comforting.
    “I’m going to teach you both how to move through objects,” Sara states, getting right to the point. “It’s simple, once you acquire a feel for the ability.”
    Move through objects? What good is that going to do? I need to be put back inside my body so I can use my cell phone and call my parents, or Chase.
    S ara leans forward and runs her hand through the coffee table before I can object to any more bullshit. It doesn’t land flat on the wood with a thud —it completely disappears from sight. I glance under the table to make sure I’m actually seeing this.
    Flora’s eyes are wider than the Atlantic Ocean. “Whoa. How’d you do that?” She runs her hand over the solid surface.
    Sara says, “This is what I’m going to teach you.” She ends her declaration with a proud smile.
    A smile that freaks me out. They both freak me out. I don’t want to be here anymore. I want this day to be over with so I can go home. Instead, I’m trapped.
    “Flora, let’s begin with you, since you’re already sitting down,” says Sara. “The trick is to concentrate on pushing your energy from your core to your fingertips. When you can focus your energy anywhere in your spirit form, you will be able to do many things.”
    “Like what?” Flora inquires.
    “We’ll get to that in a bit, but first, I want you to start small. Then we’ll work our way up from here.”
    This has to be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard of. That, or the coolest. I mean, who doesn’t want the ability to vanish into thin air… or a wall? I’m suddenly feeling overjoyed at the thought that Flora might fail this task, though. Standing back, watching her, has given me a new perspective on this whole ghost ordeal: Sara isn’t teaching us this stuff for fun. It’s important.
    “What’s this for, anyway?” I ask. Someone’s got to, and I definitely don’t hear Flora opening her big mouth to question why.
    “My job is to teach you essential tools to use in your reality, when you get your second chance.”
    Um…is she talking in riddles, or is it just me? “What second chance? We’re basically dead.”
    “No, Laney, you’re almost dead. In order for you and Flora to have a fighting cyoua fighthance, you’ll have to warn your families or loved ones that your bodies are at the base of a cliff. I can only keep you two alive and well for so long while you remain here with me. After you leave here, nothing is promised.”
    There’s no way either of us will make it in reality. No. Freaking. Way.
    I hate to admit it, (and I won’t to anyone’s face), but once Sara explained the gist of why we’re students in Moving Through Objects 101, it made some sense. I mean, I don’t want to be a poltergeist, but if that’s what it takes to get my family’s attention, then I’ll be the scariest, most persistent poltergeist Briarhaven has ever seen. I don’t even know if the town’s ever had a paranormal occurrence, so maybe I’ll be first on the leader board.
    “Again,” Sara tells Flora. If Sara’s losing patience, she doesn’t show it. Her features