I　slid　across　the　seat　and　put　the　truck　back　in　drive。　My　hands　were　shaking

almost　as　hard　as　Jake's

had　been；　and　this　took　a　minute　of　concentration。　Then　I　carefully　turned　the

truck　around　and　drove　it

back　to　my　house。

It　was　very　dark　when　I　turned　off　the　headlights。　Charlie　had　left　in　such　a

hurry　that　he'd　forgotten　to

leave　the　porch　lamp　on。　I　felt　a　pang　of　doubt；　staring　at　the　house；　deep　in

shadow。　What　if　it　was　a

trick？

I　looked　back　at　the　black　car；　almost　invisible　in　the　night。　No。　I　knew　that

car。

Still；　my　hands　were　shaking　even　worse　than　before　as　I　reached　for　the　key

above　the　door。　When　I

grabbed　the　doorknob　to　unlock　it；　it　twisted　easily　under　my　hand。　I　let　the

door　fall　open。　The　hallway

was　black。

I　wanted　to　call　out　a　greeting；　but　my　throat　was　too　dry。　I　couldn't　quite

seem　to　catch　my　breath。

I　took　a　step　inside　and　fumbled　for　the　light　switch。　It　was　so　black—like

the　black　water　Where　was

that　switch？

Just　like　the　black　water；　with　the　orange　flame　flickering　impossibly　on　top

of　it。　Flame　that　couldn't　be　a

fire；　but　what　then　？　My　fingers　traced　the　wall；　still　searching；　still

shaking—

Suddenly；　something　Jacob　had　told　me　this　afternoon　echoed　in　my　head；

finally　sinking　in　She　took

off　into　the　water；　he'd　said。　The　bloodsuckers　have　the　advantage　there。

That's　why　I　raced　home

—I　was　afraid　she　was　going　to　double　back　swimming。

My　hand　froze　in　its　searching；　my　whole　body　froze　into　place；　as　I　realized

why　I　recognized　the

strange　orange　color　on　the　water。

Victoria's　hair；　bl