Page 18 of Property of Scythe

“I knew it!” she shouts as I temporarily pull my cell away from my ear.

“Mel, he’s the father of one of my students.”

“Get out! No way.”

“She’s the sweetest little girl. Hername is Mila.”

“Aw. That’s cute.”

“She’s adorable,” I add. “She looks like her father. Same hair and eye color. They both have dimples.”

“Wait. Is he single?”

It’s not a dumb question. “I don’t know.”

“Hmmm. Have you spoken to him yet?”

“A little. Once at the bakery and then at the elementary school. OMG, this bakery, Mel. It’s just like that little place in L.A. we both love with all the finger sandwiches, bagels, and fresh produce, except it’s a bakery, so there’s brownies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and the pastries are to die for.”

“Lottie.”

I pause. “Yeah?”

“What do you think this means?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit, not wanting to dwell on the reason I saw Scythe in my dreams before we met. It’s weird. Truth be told, it’s also scary.

“This isn’t the first time,” she whispers.

I know.

“I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“This is different, Mel.”

“Is it? Because last time you dreamed about a guy and he showed up in real life, you dated him, and he tried to kill you.”

Okay. That wasn’t all true. She had the facts a bit skewed. “I never actually dated that psycho.”

“Do Mom and Dad know?”

Absolutely not. “Just keep this between us, okay?”

“Lottie, what if something happens? You’re in some little hick town in Ohio. Is there even a hospital?”

I hate that she views Raven’s Crest as some hick town. It’s farfrom it. “Mel, that’s an unfair assumption. This town is beautiful and charming.”

“Even with the ghost of a serial killer and a haunted hotel?”

I guess she did her homework. “So? Maybe it’s a bit creepy, but it’s nearly Halloween.”

“In two months,” she fires back.

“I’m fine, Mel. There’s no danger.” I don’t know if I’m convincing her or myself. Something is odd about Raven’s Crest, but it doesn’t make me feel frightened. On the contrary, I feel safe here, like someone is watching my back. Literally.

I have to believe whoever paid for my purchases while I shopped around town meant to be kind and wanted to stay anonymous. Nothing is wrong with that. Right?

People shouldn’t be punished for performing good deeds.