Unknown by Christopher Smith Read Free Book Online

me.”
    “Then give me the names,” Roberts said.   “I’ll talk to them.”
    “And make things worse?   I can’t do that.   There’s no way you can shut down all of the people who have made it their life’s work to make my life a living hell.   And don’t think I’m being melodramatic—I’m not.”
    “You’re going to have to trust someone, Seth.”
    “I do,” I said.   “After today, I trust these two.   After you’ve talked to Mrs. Branson, I’ll know how firm you were with her and then, if she does find some compassion and does change, maybe I can trust you, too.”
    “I hope that’s the case, because I plan to talk to her and Mike Hastings immediately.”
    In the silence that passed, I felt embarrassed.   I’d never opened up like this to anyone.   I felt exposed and uncomfortable.   I just wanted to leave.   “Anyway,” I said.   “I’ve probably said too much.   I’ve gotten through years of this crap and I can get through this year.   Then I can move out of this town and start a new life somewhere else.”   I looked at her.   “Do you mind if we leave now?”
    She shook her head.
    “Do I need to go back to her class?   There’s, like, another forty minutes left.   I don’t want to go back in there.”
    “I don’t expect you to.   Why don’t you take the rest of the day for yourself?   Go home.   Let me talk to Mrs. Branson and Mike Hastings.   We also have a teacher’s meeting tonight.   Believe me when I say that I’ll be sending every teacher in that room a warning.”
     
     
    *    *    *
     
     
    Outside Roberts’ office, the three of us stood together.   They were trying to be discrete, but I was aware of them looking at my face and my hair, and wondering what the hell I had done to myself to go from what they knew to what they saw now.   I‘d gone too far.   I should have been more subtle.   What was I thinking?
    “I appreciate what you both did for me today,” I said.   “It means a lot.”
    “Are you walking home?” Alex asked.
    “Because you don’t need to,” Jennifer said.   “I’ve got a car.   It’s not much, but I saved up for it and it runs.   I’ll take you home if you don’t want to walk.   I could ask Principal Roberts.   She won’t mind.”
    Alone with her in a car?   I’d never spent much time around girls because none wanted to spend time around me.   Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Alex looking intently at me.   Did he want me to take the shot and go with her?   Or was he interested in Jennifer himself?   “Thanks,” I said.   “But actually a walk sounds good.”
    “You sure?”
    I nodded.   And truth be told, I needed that walk.   I planned on doing something on that walk.   I wasn’t looking forward to it, but it had to be done, regardless of the death it would cause.   “I’ll be fine—all of the beasts are rubbing their hands in here.   Would you do something for me, Jennifer?”
    “Of course.”
    “Can you get that video you shot off your phone and put it on a thumb drive for me?   I think I might be needing it if Branson tries to screw me.”
    “I can do that.   I’ll have it for you tomorrow.”
    “I’ll pay for the drive.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” she said.   “My brother’s a techie.   He won’t miss it.”

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
    There are woods behind the school that, if you keep on the main path and walk along several winding miles, will eventually empty out near the neighborhood where I live.  
    And also where creepy Jim lives.  
    I needed to see if he was home and have a talk with him, but first there was something I needed to do if I was going to fully understand the amulet’s power and the weight of responsibility that came from wearing it.
    The day was bright and warm, so warm that I took off my light jacket and exposed my pale arms to the sun.   The heat felt good.   I ran a hand over my face and for the first time in