Jessica Verday - The Hidden

The HIDDEN

A LSO BY J ESSICA V ERDAY

The Hollow The
Haunted

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the authors imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

SIMON PULSE
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Simon Pulse hardcover edition September 2011

Copyright 2011 by Jessica Miller

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. SIMON PULSE and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

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Designed by Paul Weil

The text of this book was set in Caslon.

Manufactured in the United States of America

2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication

Data Verday, Jessica.

The hidden / Jessica Verday. 1st Simon Pulse hardcover ed.
p. cm.

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Abbey knows that Caspian is her destiny and theirs is a bond that transcends even death, but as Abbey finally learns the full truth about the dark fate that links her to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, she suddenly has some very difficult choices to make.

ISBN 978-1-4169-7897-8 (hardcover)

[1. GhostsFiction. 2. SupernaturalFiction. 3. DeathFiction. 4. High schoolsFiction. 5. SchoolsFiction. 6. Irving, Washington, 1783-1859. Legend of Sleepy HollowFiction. 7. Sleepy Hollow (N.Y.)Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.V5828Hid 2011
[Fic]dc22
2011013704
ISBN 978-1-4169-8543-3 (eBook)

To Lee. You know why.

Contents

P REFACE

M y name is Abbey. And Im in love with a ghost.

Chapter One

B ROKEN

If I can but reach that bridge, thought Ichabod, I am safe.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

A ll I could hear was my heart beating. And all I could see were the Revenants looking down at me. As I stared up into Kames colorless eyes, I kept thinking, This cant be happening. This isnt real. It was going to happen like this ?

Will it happen now? I asked Kame. Are you here to help me die?

He didnt answer my question.

Is she okay? Cacey whispered. She doesnt look good.

Hysteria bubbled over, and I glanced down at myself. Blood covered my knees in dark, jagged lines, and my arm burned from where Vincent had tried to yank it out of the socket. My bedroom was in shambles. I dont look good? I said. I dont look good ? Then I put my head down as tears covered my cheeks. This is it. Sophie, Kame, Uri, and Cacey are here to collect me. To help me pass over.

I was never going to see my parents again. Or Ben. Id never have my own perfume shop, or graduate from high school. Id never buy a house and get a dog.

Id always wanted a dog.

But that didnt matter anymore. My time was up. Besides, Kristen was already dead. And I was the reason for that. At least Id get to be with Caspian.

Caspian , I said desperately, and sat straight up. Caspian!

The floor was covered in glass and bits of broken woodwhat was left of my perfume cabinetbut I didnt care. Vincent had thrown Caspian. Hurt him. And he needed me.

I tried to crawl. Tried to get to him, but strong arms held me still. A wave of nausea swept over me, and the room spun crazily. My hands were slick from gripping the floor. Little pools of blood surrounded me in squiggly lines and half-shaped circles, forming a macabre version of a childs painting.

Easy, easy, Kame said, his voice smooth and melodic, like the rush of soft spring air after a long-closed window has been opened. Lets look you over, Abbey.

He glanced at my hands and my knees, gently moved my head from side to side to check for other wounds. Beside me Cacey was blowing out the candles that Vincent had lit, before gathering them into a small pile. Uri and Sophie were removing the flowers from the bed. Tossing them into a garbage can.

Caspian! I said, seeing his still form by the fireplace mantel. Please check Caspian

Cacey crouched down next to him and pulled up one of his eyelids. Thats the trouble with Shades, she complained. Should I feel for a pulse? Hes already dead .

Cacey! Uri reprimanded her, pausing from tying a knot in the trash bag to look over at me. Tact? Shes been through a lot.

Sorry, sorry. Im just saying. She looked into his other eye and gave him a shake. I think hes still here.

Go check the bathroom for a first aid kit, Kame instructed Cacey. Sophie, find a phone. Call 911. We need to finish cleaning this up and get her to the hospital before

The sound of the front door banging open echoed beneath us, and Moms voice drifted up. Abbey? Are you home yet? We got the strangest note that said there was an emergency town council meeting, and

Her voice got closer as she climbed the stairs and moved toward my room.

Well, shit, Cacey said. Parents. What are we supposed to do about them?

Kame sprang into action, directing Uri to toss the trash bag out the window, and then he scooped me up without even a seconds hesitation. Sophie grabbed the phone and punched in 911. Then she said loudly, Im so glad we got here in time! Just hold on, Abbey. Hold on. Help is coming.

Mom burst into the room, and panic spread across her face. What happened ? she screamed, seeing the blood and broken glass. Abbey!

She rushed over and tried to pry me free from Kames grip. Whats wrong? What happened ? she asked, over and over again.

I couldnt answer.

Shes okay, Kame said calmly, catching her eye. Abbey will be fine and everything will be back to normal soon. His tone was soothing. Mom started nodding at him, but the concern didnt leave her face.

In the distance I could hear sirens. They sounded odd. Both loud and blaring, and then quiet and almost muted. Kames words started to fade in and out, with Moms voice in the background.

paramedics coming? I dont understand. Why would Could have been killed! Thank God you were

My head felt funny. My tongue was thick, and I tried to say something. Tried to say anything, but it wouldnt come out. Dark spots crept into the edges of my vision, and my chest tightened. I think Im

But even that thought drifted away. So I did the only thing I could do.

I closed my eyes and slept.

The next time my eyelids opened, I saw a blue plastic chair with Cacey slumped over in it, asleep. I looked down, and there was tubing sticking out of my hand. I was lying in a hospital bed.

My throat ached fiercely, and I tried to clear it. Cace, I croaked. Cac ey water