They won’t take Matthew to the hospital.
He regained consciousness shortly after the exorcism finally came to an end. Barbara looked him over right there in the carpet cabin—the other campers had already been ushered back up to the dorms, but I refused to leave his side until I knew he was okay. He was badly bruised and in pain, but Barbara assessed that there were no broken bones or anything life-threatening. So Mr. Martin said there was no need to call a doctor.
And Matthew agreed.
Yesterday, I would have been surprised about that. Today, not so much.
If a minor showed up in the hospital in this kind of shape, the authorities would immediately be called. It would probably lead to an investigation of New Horizons and maybe even arrests. Bad news for Mr. Martin.
And at the very least, Matthew’s parents would be called, and Mr. Martin would spin it just so, and Matthew’s dad would find out all the reasons why his son was on the verge of being kicked out of the camp. Bad news for Matthew.
So, for both their sakes, they’re keeping the whole thing under wraps.
The next day, while Barbara and Kaylee tend to Matthew in the infirmary, the other counselors keep us occupied. The boys play another baseball game; Brianna leads Bible study; the girls take turns practicing threading the sewing machine. There’s no downtime, and meals are rushed. It’s like they’re trying to prevent us from actually having time to think about what happened last night.
Like that’s even possible. I’ve been threading sewing machines for years, but now every time I try, I break the thread or prick my finger. I can’t concentrate.
Carolyn and I share a lot of looks. All this waiting and worry has got to be even worse for her because she still doesn’t have any idea why Mr. Martin did this to him.
That night, as we’re getting ready for bed, I finally get the chance to talk to her.
“Lexi,” she whispers as soon as I come over to her area. “We have to do something! We have to go check on him.”
“I know,” I say. “But how?”
“We could ask.”
I give her a yeah, right look.
“Okay, okay. We’ll have to sneak out then. After everyone’s asleep.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. We have to make sure he’s okay.”
“But what if we get caught?” I ask, unsure.
Carolyn bites her lower lip, thinking. “I don’t know. All I know is that I can’t just stay here doing nothing.”
I sigh. “I know. Okay, let’s do it. Eleven o’clock? Everyone should be asleep by then.”
She nods. “Eleven.”
Even though the lights are turned out as usual at ten, I can’t sleep. I’m too worked up worrying about Matthew, replaying the whole thing in my mind, nervous about sneaking out. If we get caught, that’s it. We’ll be shipped back home before the sun comes up.
And then where would I be? I was ready to give up the fake-being-straight-for-Mom plan when I thought I would have Carolyn to help me through it, but she’s made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want me. So I would be kicked out with nothing to show for my time here at New Horizons—not turned straight, no chance to go forward with the fake-it plan, and no girlfriend. I’d be right back where I started.
But Matthew is my friend. I need to make sure he’s okay. I need to let him know we’re here for him.
And there’s also the tiny issue of guilt. All of this is because of me. Because Matthew wanted to give me the chance to spend the day with the girl I liked. This is my fault. I can’t turn my back on him now. No matter the consequences.
I watch the digital alarm clock next to Deb’s bed.
10:58.
10:59.
11:00.
The room is very still, the girls’ breathing deep and rhythmic.
As quietly as I can, my heart hammering in my chest, I slip out from under the sheets and grab my sneakers from under the bed. I tiptoe across the room, past a snoring Deb, and meet up with Carolyn near the door.
Are you sure you want to do this? I ask her with my eyes.
The moonlight streaming through the window catches her face. She nods once.
I twist the doorknob slowly and silently, and we leave the dorm. The door closes behind us with a muted thud.
We stop at my rock to brush the dirt and grass from our feet and slip our shoes on.
“Barbara or Kaylee will probably be down there, you know,” I say. Even my whisper sounds loud in the dark woods.
Carolyn nods. “I know. We’ll have to peek through the window when we get there to see if they’re awake.”
“And if they are?”
“We won’t be able to go inside. But at least we’ll be able to see Matthew through the window. Hopefully it’ll be a good enough view to be able to see how he’s doing.”
“Okay,” I say. We resume walking.
Then Carolyn says, “About the other day…”
I flinch. Why is she bringing that up now? Don’t we have enough tragedy to deal with at the moment?
“I really don’t want to talk about it,” I say. It comes out harsher than I mean it to.
“Oh,” Carolyn says. “All right.”
“It’s just…with everything going on with Matthew…”
“No, I understand. Sorry.”
The field looks different at night. It looks smaller somehow, and the moonlight casts unfamiliar shadows across the grass.
The infirmary is the only cabin with a light on.
“I guess they’re awake,” I whisper.
“Yeah.” She looks at me. “Well, it’s now or never.” And she takes off across the field.
I follow close behind, being careful not to step on any crunchy leaves or twigs.
We’re about halfway across the field when a thought occurs to me.
“Wait.” I grab Carolyn’s arm and she stops short. I can’t help noticing how soft and warm her skin is.
“What?” she whispers.
“Let me go to the window first.”
“Why?”
“What if Kaylee or Barbara happens to be looking out the window when our faces pop up in it? We’ll be in a lot of trouble.”
“Yeah, but we knew that was the risk.”
“But it doesn’t have to be both of us who get in trouble,” I say. “If the only face she sees is mine, I’ll be the only one who gets caught. You’ll be safe. I can give you a signal to go hide before they come outside.”
Carolyn stares at me. “But why should it be you who sacrifices yourself? This was my idea—I should be the one to take the fall.”
I shake my head and allow myself to look into her eyes. They’re twinkling with the reflections of the stars above. “I think we both know I’m not exactly getting anything out of the program. If one of us has to go home, it should be me.”
She hesitates.
“So we’re agreed then,” I say. “Good. Now come on.”
I’m almost at the infirmary window when the door swings open and Carolyn and I find ourselves face to face with Brianna.