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worried?”
    “Well, they placed that warning out for the animal. They don’t know how dangerous it might be. They told everyone to keep off the streets, especially if they were by themselves. And it happened so close to us, you just never know…”
    “Know what?”
    “Know what might have happened! You walked alone here this morning, and home from school yesterday, right?”
    “Oh my God, that’s right.” The full gravity of the danger she’d been in finally hit Nora.
    “That’s why we were worried something might have happened to you. You didn’t come to last class yesterday, after all, and after I started getting the updates from my dad, I just didn’t know…”
    “Wow. Well, thankfully, nothing happened.”
    Hunter’s absence took on a much more ominous meaning, and the idea of sharing what had happened after school yesterday briefly flickered through her mind. “That’s right. Thankfully, nothing happened.”

Chapter Six
    ~An Unexpected Offer~
     
    With the rabid animal warning still on everyone’s minds, Nora’s mother drove her to school Monday morning. “No walking anywhere by yourself, and don’t forget, I’ll pick you up after school.”
    “I know, thanks, Mom.” She got out of the car and walked into the empty hallways of the school. She was one of the first students there—her mom had dropped her off early so she would have time to get to work.
    As Nora walked to her locker, the echo of her steps bouncing around the empty hallway sent a chill down her spine. She shivered involuntarily and hurried on. Memories of what happened here last week flashed in her mind, but she shoved them down harshly. She didn’t want to stir up any repressed emotions.
    The farther away she was from this spot, the better.
    She entered her first period math class and found she was the first student to arrive. Mrs. Millburn glanced at Nora, but otherwise didn’t comment. Nora sat down and waited for the rest of the class to fill up.
    Half an hour later, the last students were rushing through the door. And still, there was no sign of Hunter. Nora hoped she wasn’t responsible for his absence, after what she’d said the other day. Or, worse yet, that the animal had gotten to him. Although, after the display against Brady and his friends, Nora figured he could take care of himself.
    But the calm confidence he displayed facing the bullies was at odds with the way he acted normally. Something about Hunter was off, and it intrigued Nora.
    The second bell rang, announcing the start of class. Mrs. Millburn went to the front of the room and greeted everyone with an effusive, “Good-morning.” Nora looked at the empty desk behind her. It looked like Hunter wouldn’t be here again today.
    The door at the front of the room opened, and a tall guy stepped in. He held his head high. A sleek black trench coat sat on his shoulders, opened to the chest to show a vibrant red shirt underneath. His straight, dark hair was combed back and up, and…wait. Nora rubbed at her eyes, thinking they were deceiving her. Was that Hunter ?
    “Sir, I…” Mrs. Millburn began. Then her eyes widened, when she realized what Nora had realized herself. It was Hunter . “Ah – ahem. Mr. Geralds? If you would, ah, take your seat, we can continue.”
    That was it. No reprimanding him for being late, no demand for an apology or excuse. Mrs. Millburn never acted that way!
    Hunter nodded to her and walked to his seat. Strode toward his seat was more like it, making strong eye contact with everybody on his way. Well, then. Nora had certainly not been expecting this.
    As he passed her, their eyes locked, and he whispered in a stage-whisper. “We’ll talk after class.” Everybody around her heard, but nobody dared comment. Nora just nodded quickly. Satisfied, Hunter walked on.
    And it wasn’t just his manner of dress that was different, Nora realized. His milky-smooth skin had become more vibrant. It was still white, but shone with a renewed