Toxic (Denazen #2)(41)

Through the dust and dim lighting, I saw my reflection. Something wasn’t quite right. Leaning closer, I saw my hair, previously in its boring cow-brown incarnation, was now streaked with brilliant purple.

“Um…”

“That is so awesome. Think of the cash you’ll save on hair dye!”

Kiernan continued to gush, and a block of ice formed in the pit of my stomach. Dad’s words echoed through my head.

The first sign was a surge in their abilities. Several months before they were rendered completely irrational, they all showed signs of advancement.

I thought back to the moss-green-shirt-turned-nail-polish. I’d mimicked it without touching it, but I’d been trying to do it. This time it’d happened completely on its own without so much as a head twinge or muscle cramp—exactly like the polish at Vince Winsted’s—and that scared the crap out of me.

“Think of the wardrobe possibilities,” Kiernan continued. “You’ll never have to spend cash on clothes again. Walk in to a store, check out the merch, and BAM. Insta-wardrobe. Oh! And catalogs! You can totally stock up on fashion mags and be Parkview’s own runway diva.” She tugged at the end of her shirt. “Try this.”

“Try—”

She rolled her eyes and gave an exaggerated sigh. “My shirt. Try mimicking your shirt into my shirt.”

For a brief moment I had a Denazen flashback. That tool Rick commanding me to mimic on cue. Meaty, sweat-covered fingers on my skin as his greedy eyes all but ate me up.

Deep breaths. In and out. That was over.

Eyes closed, I concentrated.

I didn’t need to open them to know it worked. It wasn’t the slight, drained feeling that overcame me or the cool, welcome breeze tickling my now bare midriff. It was Kiernan—who was obviously way more excited than I was.

“Oh-my-frigging-God.”

“I think you’re right,” I said, trying to cover up the sick feeling in my stomach. “This could be epic for my wardrobe.”

Suddenly there was a loud bang. Seconds later, someone screamed. It was garbled and frantic, but when the wail of a police siren sounded, I had a pretty good idea what they’d said.

“Shit!” I scrambled up, the last of the pink liquid buzz gone, and raced to the window. Pulling up in front of the house were four patrol cars. “Not good…”

Kiernan threw open the door and froze, shoving me back inside as I tried to peer around the corner. “No good! They’re already in the house.” Frantic, she slammed it closed. “We have to go.”

She made a move to grab my arm, but I stepped out of reach. “Not a chance. Kale is here! I’m not leaving without him.”

With a growl, she pointed to the window on the other side of the room. “Go out there. I’ll see if I can find Kale.”

And before I could make an objection, she disappeared. A second later, the door opened and closed again. Kiernan was almost as impulsive as me. We should have used her ability to sneak past the police and right out the front door, but that would have meant stopping to think for a second. We were cut from the same cloth. Act first and think later.

I was able to drop to the patio awning just below the window. On the front lawn, a flood of people streamed from the house as the wailing sirens drowned out their panicked cries. The cops had a few kids in cuffs by the cars. They were trying to grab the stragglers as they ditched the party.

As soon as the coast looked clear, I lowered myself to the ground. But I’d underestimated the height. My feet buckled as I landed in the dew-damp grass. I jarred my shoulder, which sent a dizzying wave of stars dancing into my field of vision. No time to think about it. I shook the pain off, cursing, and was about to get up and make a run for the woods, but a pair of worn, black shit-kickers came into view.

“Not leaving, are you? Party’s just getting started, yeah?”





14


“What a surprise.” I got to my feet and brushed off my jeans. The cops were busy with the front door and weren’t paying us any attention. “Slumming?”

Able grinned. “Is it so hard to believe I came to see you?”

It was believable, all right. Should have known that crap Dad spouted about having a choice was bullshit.

Able took a step closer. “Since I’m here, and you’re here, how about we go somewhere? Together, yeah?”

He reached for me at the same moment Curd came barreling out of the house and around the corner, followed by a very shirtless Vicki Donnor. She bounced like runaway Jell-O, nearly popping out of her zebra-striped bra, and knocking over anyone unfortunate enough to get in her way. I could understand her hurry. After the last party, her father threatened a nunnery if she got caught again.

Able was focused on me so he didn’t see them come around the corner. I took a small step to the side to avoid collision. Vicki, determined not to get snagged by the cops, slammed him from behind. The surprise blow knocked Able off balance and sent him stumbling sideways. She muttered an apology as she zoomed by, and Able cursed, but I didn’t wait around.

I sprinted around the corner to the front of the house. The lawn was out of bounds because the patrol cars were still there. The backyard was a no-go. I couldn’t make a run for the woods because Able was blocking my path. The only choice was the house.

There were a few partygoers still trying to bail. They trickled from the house, some from the front door, others trying to sneak around the side from the backyard. Luckily, the cops were so busy rounding them up that they didn’t see me slip back inside. I pulled out my cell and pointed the glowing screen toward the ground so I could see where I was going. The stereo was still blasting, the opening beats of the song familiar.