Silence filled the room. Everyone looked at each other, then to me. I was looking at Wren, who was still and quiet.

“Is he gone?” Sarah asked.

“He should be,” I said.

But Kevin shook his head. “No. I still feel him. He’s—”

Suddenly Bent took form again—this time right behind Wren. He grinned at me as he wrapped his arms around her.

“No!” I screamed.

But it was too late. Bent was gone.

And the asshole had taken my sister.

LARK

“Where are you going?” Ben asked when I jumped up from the table. Everyone else was still trying to figure out what had just happened.

“Haven Crest,” I replied. “He took Wren.”

The room fell silent at that pronouncement. Kevin looked as though I’d just punched him in the face. “What?”

I barely glanced at him. I was too busy shoving cans of salt-mix into my bag. “Bent took Wren. I’m going after her.”

“I’m going with you,” Ben said.

Kevin’s jaw tightened. “So am I.”

“We all are,” Roxi joined in. “Right?”

“I don’t care who comes with me,” I told them. “But I’m going. Now.”

They followed me out of the house—Ben was right behind me. “I’ll drive,” he said. I didn’t respond. Of course he was driving. I’d left Nan’s car at home.

I went straight for his MINI Cooper and tossed my bag on the floor on the passenger side. Roxi and Gage jumped in the back as Ben slid behind the wheel. Sarah and Mace would have to go with Kevin.

“Uh, hey,” Ben told me as he slipped the key into the ignition. “I got you something.”

I frowned. “Okay.” Couldn’t it wait? My sister was in danger.

He reached behind his seat and pulled something out.

“A stick?”

He held it lengthwise. Then I saw the twists in the metal. “Wrought iron,” he said. “The paper wrapped around it is a pujok my grandmother made for you.”

I grinned. “A ghost-beating stick!” Oh, I hoped Bent gave me a chance to use it on him.

He laughed. “I guess. My mom’s an artist. She works with metal. I brought a couple extra, but you can keep this one.”

“Thanks.” It was actually one of the most thoughtful gifts anyone had ever given me—given the circumstances. “And thank your nan for me.”

Ben smiled, and my heart did this funny little dance.

Roxi and Gage sat in the backseat and made out most of the way to the graveyard. I couldn’t believe it. Ben turned on the radio to cover the face-sucking sounds behind us. Really? In the movies danger always makes people sexy, but this just made me want to smack them. I knew that Wren was more important to me than them, and that to them she was a ghost and should be able to protect herself, but they didn’t know about Bell Hill and how I’d almost lost her.

“Are they always like this?” I asked.

Ben glanced in the rearview mirror and grimaced. “This just started earlier today, I think.”

I turned my head to look at him. He was smiling. “Really?”

He nodded, smile growing.

I laughed. Couldn’t help it. “That’s messed up.”

It was a short ride to the graveyard. Kevin pulled his car into a spot right beside Ben’s. It was a busy night—lots of cars with lots of steamed-up windows.

Everyone had their rings on, and those who hadn’t brought something made of iron took one of Ben’s sticks. I handed out the cans of the salt-iron cocktail. “Don’t use it unless you have to,” I said. “We don’t want to waste it—no telling how many we’ll be up against. If you’re attacked or feel threatened, let some fly.” This whole thing could be a trap, and I knew that. I also didn’t say it aloud. Wren had been taken because of the people with me, and I’d trade them for her in a heartbeat.

I put my salt into the messenger bag slung across my body, along with the iron rod. Once we were all set, we made for the tree and crossed over onto Haven Crest land.

“You okay?” Ben asked me.

I nodded, but it was a lie. As soon as my feet hit hospital property I felt them—the teeming, impatient souls that tormented this place—or were tormented by it.

“We’re not at the main buildings yet,” Mace pointed out.

I looked at him. “I know.” Didn’t he get it? This place was bad news.

We only made it halfway across the field before I felt something coming for us. It wasn’t the same thing that had come the other night—this was just a scout. These ghosts weren’t the chaotic entities that I’d dealt with at Bell Hill. These ghosts knew what they were doing. They were organized. This thing coming at us had been sent.

They knew we were coming. They’d been expecting us. It was a trap.

And I was going to walk right into it. But I knew what I was getting into.

I stopped, watching the scout as it took form in front of me. It was a young boy—not much younger than me. He was dressed in old-fashioned clothing and the dark sockets of his eyes blazed with mockery. Jerk.

I drew back my arm and punched him in the face as hard as I could. The jolt—like punching a wall—drove up my arm like my bones were being shoved into my shoulder.

“Was that a ghost?” Gage asked.

I shot him a scowl. “No, I just thought now would be a good time to practice my kickboxing. Yeah, it was a ghost.”