Reality returned to Charlie and her friends. They packed up everything that night and went home. Nubia and the other scientists started their search for a new location to set up a lab, and the other kids went to their respective homes, feeling relief for the first time in nearly two weeks. The next day, Sunday, the three hung out in Maria’s shed in her backyard and speculated about Kelly.
“She hasn’t responded to any of my text messages since yesterday,” Maria said.
“Mine either,” said Mac.
“I told her that Andy was okay and that I didn’t hate her,” said Charlie. “She didn’t answer that one either.”
Despite that, Maria seemed certain Kelly would come to her senses and go home. “I’ll bet you five bucks we’ll see her in school tomorrow,” Maria said. “With soccer practice and auditions for The Sound of Music, there’s no way she’ll miss it. Her fans will demand it. Trust me.”
“I think she has new fans now,” said Charlie, feeling a bit glum. Somehow she knew that they might never see Kelly again.
On Monday morning Maria, Mac, and Charlie met up in front of school and headed toward the math building for first period. As they went, they overheard various students conversing about Kelly and her new fame. Even Vanessa didn’t scold Charlie and Maria for missing the soccer scrimmage on Saturday—she only had Kelly to gush over. The three friends didn’t join in. Instead, they scoured the campus, looking for her. Just as they were about to enter the math building, Maria spotted Kelly talking to Mr. Anderson outside the theater building. Maria squinted, then pointed her out to Charlie and Mac. “There she is,” said Maria under her breath. “Told you. Five bucks, please.”
“Do you see that?” Charlie said, looking closely at her. “Are my eyes going crazy or is she, like, pulsating with weird colors?”
“I see it,” said Mac. “Is her camouflage acting up or something? That doesn’t seem right.”
“I have no idea,” said Charlie. They watched for a moment, and then Kelly stopped pulsating and started heading down the footpath away from school. She broke into a jog, her bright blond hair bouncing against her back.
“Why is she running in that direction?” asked Mac.
“Maybe she forgot something,” said Maria.
“If she did, she’s going to be late,” said Mac.
Kelly didn’t make it back in time for first period.
She didn’t show up for second period either. Or third. Or fourth.
She wasn’t at lunch. And not one teacher mentioned her.
By the time theater class rolled around, Charlie approached Mr. Anderson before the bell rang. He was looking over a script as the students filed in.
“Hi there, Mr. A.,” she said.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Wilde,” he said. “Did you find that thing you were looking for before the break?”
“Uh, yeah, thanks. I was just wondering if you’ve seen Kelly or if you know why she’s not here today.”
Mr. Anderson didn’t look up from the script. “What’s that? Who?”
“Kelly. You know—Kelly Parker. Have you seen her?”
Mr. Anderson glanced up at Charlie, confused. His eyes had a glazed look that Charlie had never seen before. “We don’t have a student here by that name, do we?”
The bell rang. Mr. Anderson put down the script and stood up, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention.
Charlie stared at him, dumbfounded. It was like he’d been hypnotized. He’d forgotten who Kelly Parker was—his favorite student—and he’d just talked to her earlier that day. Either he’d lost his memory or all of that pulsating with weird colors meant Kelly had a fourth ability that nobody else knew about—not even Dr. Sharma. An ability to make him forget. And if Kelly could use it on Mr. A, she could use it on anybody. Had she done it to her parents to keep them from searching for her? Her other teachers and friends?
What if she could make people forget other things—like the fact that Dr. Gray was going to turn everyone into chimeras?
It was the most frightening thing Charlie could imagine.
She whirled around and clutched her throat, trying not to freak out. Then she ran full speed out of the theater to find her friends and family—she had to make sure Kelly hadn’t found them first.