Chapter 41
Caroline stormed into the house past Mom and ran straight up the stairs, face like thunder, feet hard on the wood. Anna frowned, Grandma’s moment forgotten. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Who knows?” Mom closed the door, shutting out the invasive heat. “She’s been like that since she got in the car. A joyful reminder of all those moody teenage years about to arrive.”
“She’s never moody.”
“Well, maybe you can get something out of her.” Mom kicked off her shoes and came through to the living room, flopping onto the sofa. “Because I can’t. And to be honest, I just want an hour or so staring at the TV before having a shower and starting on dinner.”
“Sure.” Anna climbed the stairs, the temperature rising in the house with every inch, and knocked on Caroline’s door. “It’s me, Callie. Can I come in?”
There was a pause before she heard a muted “yes.” Caroline would never say no to Anna. That big-sister adoration was a real thing. Maybe in a couple of years she’d see through it, but for now, Anna could still do no wrong.
“What’s up? You and Holly have a fight?”
“No. Not really.” Shoulders slumped, Caroline was sitting on the side of her bed, her backpack tossed on the floor. Anna saw a woven straw bracelet tied around her wrist, the skin red.
“What’s that?”
“Oh, nothing.” Her little sister didn’t meet her eyes. “Just, like, a protection charm. We’ve all got them.”
“Protection from what?”
“The Farmhand.” She looked almost defiant.
“That story is baloney.” Anna came closer to look at the bracelet. “And that straw is going to rub you raw if you leave it on.”
“I’m not taking mine off until Holly takes hers off.” She sniffed. “Especially now.”
“Why especially now?” Anna joined her on the bed, sitting cross-legged, and tugged on the sleeve of Caroline’s T-shirt, forcing her attention. “Talk to me.”
“I just … You’ll call me stupid if I tell you.” Her brow furrowed. “I know you will.”
“I promise I won’t. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.
” She meant it too. It couldn’t be the thing bad.
Nothing like that would ever happen to Caroline.
She was charmed. Everyone loved her. She was a good girl.
Even if her friends had argued, they’d make up with her soon enough.
Caroline was too easy to like. To love. Everything was easier for Callie. Always had been.
“It was Adelaide’s fault. She was in a mean mood. I think she’s jealous that Holly likes me so much. Jess said she can be like that.”
“Who’s Adelaide?” Anna asked.
“Holly’s first friend from way back when they were in kindergarten, but I think Holly only has her around because of that. Because she feels sorry for her. Holly’s changed, you know? She’s not like Adelaide anymore.” She glanced up at Anna as if maybe she wouldn’t understand.
“Yeah, that happens.” Anna remembered it all too well. The school ecosystem. “Poor Adelaide, though.”
“I know. I feel sorry for her. And I really try to be nice. To include her. Honest, I do. Even when Holly doesn’t want to. She was only with us at lunch because I said it would be mean to leave her on her own.”
“I’m guessing maybe that backfired?” It wasn’t enough that she was a golden girl; she had to be sweet with it. If anything worried Anna about Caroline—other than her burgeoning beauty—it was her sweetness. The world did not treat kindness kindly.
“I had an upset tummy and had to use the school restrooms and she said I made the bathroom stink, but I opened the window and I know it was fine when I came out. And then when Jess said she thought she’d seen someone in her yard at like midnight, Adelaide got meaner because I freaked out a bit.
You know, because of the Farmhand thing.
” Again, another wary glance at Anna as if she wouldn’t understand.
As if Anna was too tough for this stuff.
Anna felt a ripple of unease. Maybe Caroline didn’t just adore Anna. Maybe she was a bit scared of her too.
“Go on,” Anna said. “What happened?”
“She was teasing me and we were saying we weren’t scared of it, but she didn’t believe us.
She dared us to say Farmhand in the mirror, like you did.
She said we should all do it. We put our names on bits of paper into Jess’s softball cap and Holly picked mine out first.” She paused and let out a shaky breath.
“And so I did it. I didn’t want them to see how scared I was, and anyway, I figured I was going first. They were going to be doing it after me.
Being last would be the worst one, because that’s who he’d come for, right? ”
“Smart. Good horror movie logic.” Anna gave her sister a half smile, but Callie didn’t smile back.
“But they didn’t do it. They all chickened out.
And now Holly says that at her birthday sleepover on Friday it would be more fun if we all slept in tents on our own instead of a group one, like a rite of passage to prove we’re not kids anymore ’cause she’s going to be a teenager.
She said we have to leave our phones in the house and zip our tents up at nine forty-five.
And I know it’s because they’re scared the Farmhand will come for me and they don’t want to get got too.
I pretended I was fine with it, but I’ll be so terrified I’ll probably die. ”
“You could always say you’re sick,” Anna suggested, but Caroline shook her head. “We don’t even own a tent.” They were never the outdoorsy kind of family other than school trips.
“They’d see through that and then I’d be a joke.” Caroline sniffed again.
“You’ve got a few days. Maybe you can get friendly with someone else who’s going and sneak in their tent when everyone’s asleep.”
“I don’t think so. They’ll never let me forget it if I do that.”
“Then, you know what, Callie?” Anna looked her sister dead in the eye.
“You’re going to have to tough it out. Fake it till you make it.
You’ll be fine. You can be as scared as you want on the inside, but don’t let them see it.
One night and then you’ll be a fucking prom queen in their eyes—because the only reason they didn’t say Farmhand in the mirror too is because they were chicken. ”
“Yeah, because they don’t want him coming for them!” It was almost a wail of despair and Anna had to bite her tongue to stop herself from saying But he isn’t real! That wasn’t going to work with Caroline. She was too far into her fear.
“You’re too young for the Farmhand anyway,” she said, taking a different tack. “The girls who died were basically adults. Not kids. You guys are safe.”
“You think?”
Anna nodded, keeping her expression serious. “I more than think. I’m sure.”
Caroline’s breathing grew more even. She’d work herself up again by Friday, no doubt, but for now she seemed—if still doubtful—reassured. “Maybe you’re right,” she said as Anna’s phone buzzed in her pocket.
“I’m always right.” Anna smiled. She checked her phone—a text from Melissa. New calf born last night! Amazing! You should come see!
Anna looked at the text and then at her little sister. Mom wanted some peace and quiet, and Caroline needed a distraction.
“You want to get out of here for a bit?”