Call Spirits in Your Past **Book Two**

Chapter 29 (Monday)

Ana focused on Mrs. Aterak, who sat, calmly sipping water. Mrs. Aterak smiled at Alura, nodding to something the woman had said about the state of her breakfast. Hilarious, Ana thought. She would've rolled her eyes, except she knew Mrs. Aterak could see her. Even if their former teacher never looked quite directly at her.

What's hilarious? Teremki asked.

Literally nothing. Just Alura and Sorano talking about the pancakes they're eating.

Oh, Teremki sounded upbeat. Can you tell if Ghost is around at all?

Ana peered around the chair she stood behind, to a plate slowly being relieved of its pancake-y contents. He's right in front of me, she paused. Either that, or it's Lina's bear.

Kwayo's panda theory? he asked.

Maybe not. That's a whole lot of not-bamboo.

Teremki telepathy-snorted.

How'd you do that? She asked. The snort thing.

I...just did?

That's weird, she concentrated, trying to also snort telepathically.

Aren't you supposed to be spying? Not sending me weird noises?

Aren't you supposed to be trying to reach Dryda?

I am. A conversation between us two isn't helping.

Ana rolled her eyes and pretended to dramatically sigh, but Ghost's chair sliding backwards interrupted her, nearly squishing her against the wall. She sucked in her stomach, pressing against the wall and only narrowly avoiding the chair. Then it slid forward again, and she exhaled silently in relief. She couldn't hear Ghost's footsteps, so she'd decided to stand behind his chair while he ate--less chance of him bumping into her after he got up to leave. But, she'd clearly forgotten about his chair bumping into her when he got up to leave.

She hardly dared move from the wall until the dining hall's door opened. It shut, and Alura resumed talking with Mrs. Aterak. But the door handle shifted, and Ana narrowed her eyes at it. It jiggled again, ever so slightly.

She stared, wanting to groan. Ghost was only faking his exit.

Why hadn't she just looked through a window?

Oh right. Because she couldn't hear conversations through a darn window.

Carefully, she stepped away from the wall, having no way to tell if Ghost stood on the opposite end of the room or was already returning to his seat. She ducked under the table and crawled to the middle, probably the safest spot in the entire room, though one of the worst vantage points. Unless she snuck outside and went with the lousy window option, but then where would she be?

Well, you'd be outside.

Ana nearly banged her head on the table. Teremki!

What about me? He asked, and Ana realized the first voice hadn't been Teremki. Nor had it been Dryda. Or Kwayo.

Um, hello? She asked hesitantly.

Hello? Why are you saying hello? Teremki asked.

Hush, Teremki, she slowed her breathing. I heard someone else.

They both went quiet, Ana listening intently.

Did you get that? The voice asked again.

Who are you? Ana aimed her thought at the...place...the voice had come from. It was like an arrow, sort of, sent into her mind, sharp and piercing compared to the shared mental space where the four of them could speak to each other.