Changed Time

Chapter Eleven

I woke up to the sound of rustling and whispering. I blinked my eyes a few times to focus them and I sat up.

"What's going on?" I asked rubbing my eyes.

Wyatt and Zach were sitting at the small table in the corner and from the way Wyatt was throwing his arms around while his lips were moving, I guessed they were arguing. When I spoke, they stopped talking and looked my way. Jessie, who was rummaging through her duffel bag also stopped.

There was a knock on the door before I could ask why they were all acting weird.

Wyatt looked through the peephole and opened the door. In walked Paige, and then to my surprise, Sophie.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood up quickly. "Sophie? I thought I made myself clear last night?"

"Relax, Drew. Sophie apologized to me, and there's the money you gave her." Paige pointed to the nightstand between the two beds. There, held down by a paper weight, was the wad of bills I gave Sophie the night before. "Also, Drew. I need to talk to you outside, now." Paige walked back outside and I hastily followed her, trying not to make eye contact with Sophie on the way out.

Once I got outside and the door slammed firmly shut behind me I stood beside Paige who was leaning forward against the railing. "Yeah?" I asked, trying to sound light.

"What you did last night was stupid," Paige said abruptly.

"What?" I asked, taken aback.

"Trying to send Sophie away," she said, "it was stupid. Idiotic, actually. We need Sophie. She's our only physical connection with Jamie, and maybe even the murderers. Also, Wyatt informed me that you told Sophie that she could be a target? You think a girl like that's going to just go home and try to act like nothing has happened? The only reason she isn't going to the police is because of you guys, take that away and she's probably going straight to the cops, and that would be a big problem for you guys."

"Maybe the police already found Jamie's body." I said.

Paige shook her head. "Jamie's college friends think she's at home, and Sophie was really the only one who would notice if she was gone, so we should be good for a week or so." She turned to me, for a second I got lost in her grey eyes. "Drew, I know she called us freaks, but we kind of are. I mean, we see people dying, we're like the kid in the movie, The Sixth Sense, we basically see dead people. Don't take it personally, we're freaky, at least Sophie has the nerves to say it."

I looked down, embarrassed that I freaked out on Sophie. I usually kept my cool, but recently things had been weird, and it was hitting my patience.

I nodded.

"Now, you don't need to apologize to her, but next time, see yourself from her eyes." Paige took a deep breath, turned around and walked back into the room.

Wyatt popped his head outside. "We're leaving in ten minutes, so get changed." He tossed me my bag. "Also, check to see how much money we've got. Paige said that there's this awesome diner just outside of Thorp. It's got amazing omelets."

I nodded. "Okay, I'll just check us out, then we can get going." I opened my bag and pulled out a black hoodie. I unbuttoned my black and white plaid, shoved it into the bag and pulled the hoodie over my head.

I tossed the bag over my shoulder and walked toward the check in office. It was in a separate building than the actual motel. It was much smaller, but also, much cleaner.

I stepped in and walked up to the desk. Behind it was an older man. He had on old reading glasses that resembled aviator sunglasses. He looked up from the book he was reading and gave a smile. Though he probably had less teeth remaining than he'd lost, I welcomed the friendly smile. He took off the glasses. "How may I help you, son?"