Chasing Shadow (Shadow Puppeteer) by Christina E. Rundle Read Free Book Online Page B

so I had a chance to warm up. I needed to find a safe place to stow my bags while I tried to figure this out.
    “Anyway,” Starr said. She held the wheel with one hand so she could thrust the newspaper at me. The Daily Dark showed a picture of a white clad figure scaling the asylum walls. “Can you believe we were right next to the White Diablo?”
    I barely glanced at the paper before stuffing it into my backpack. “Are you nuts? You shouldn’t be waving this around.”
    My warning didn’t hinder her excitement.
    “I wonder what he looks like under all that white! And why white? Diablo means demon, you know. He should wear red or black or maybe a combination.”
    “Why does Diablo have to be male? This highly lucrative anarchist could be female,” I said.
    Starr was silent for a moment, thinking it over. When that silence stretched along with a smile, I figured Starr really liked that option better.
    But that smile faded. “The paper says that three hundred cells were open last night. That’s three hundred dangerous Berserkers that might be on our island right now.”
    I was saved from commenting as we rolled into the school’s parking lot. There were less than a dozen carts already parked, but the lot was small. With the school in the center of the city, most students walked. The carts were reserved for the rich who lived farther out in the woods.
    Starr parked towards the front and I ran my fingers through my hair. I was nervous about being at school. Even makeup wasn’t going to hide the damage this time.
    I waited out of politeness for Starr to gather her stuff, but I was quickly growing impatient. If I hurried, I might still be able to get breakfast from the cafeteria.
    “Are you coming or what?”
    “I hope you’re not planning to be grouchy all day,” Starr said. She shoved her pink compact mirror into her equally pink backpack.
    I tried not to growl. “I’ll work on it.”
    Rabid honking announced the cheerleading squad as their golf carts careened into the parking lot, barely missing the two of us.
    “Out of the way Raggedy, wouldn’t want your stitching to come loose!” Amber yelled. Her statement was followed by the beeping of her horn.
    An open can of orange soda was thrown at us, but I got the splash. Great! Now orange soda complimented my grass stains. The heckling cheerleaders drew unwanted attention my way. Amber jumped from the cart, waiting for me.
    Starr grabbed my injured arm, stopping me from approaching the girls. The pain was a good reminder of my current issue. I couldn’t get in a fight when my duffle bag was full of illegal items and my injuries would slow me down.
    “There’s other ways to get even,” Starr said.
    For someone so short, she possessed a lot of strength pulling me towards the gate. I pretended not to hear the muffled teasing that followed us. Back in grade school, someone called me Raggedy because of my scars and that nickname stuck. I really hated it.
    I would still be seething if a patrol cart hadn’t pulled into the staff parking with their lights flashing.

SIX
    T he patrollers jumped out from the cart and ran into the school.
    “They found us. They know we were on the boat last night,” I said.
    “There’s no way they could know. It was pitch black and foggy,” Starr said with a confidence I didn’t share.
    Starr started towards the school’s entrance. I followed because I didn’t want Amber to catch up. I was tired and hungry. My emotions were raw and my nerves were shot. I didn’t have patience for anyone.
    The tension made each step heavy as I approached the doors with more caution than her. It would be warm inside and my wet clothes were uncomfortably clingy. If I kept my head down, no one would see my face. I just couldn’t look suspicious walking in.
    Starr immediately approached a group of onlookers. “What’s going on?”
    I recognized all three students from Starr’s photo club. Their names escaped me since I didn’t have classes