Caught Between Worlds (The In-Betweens Book 3) Read online

  CAUGHT BETWEEN WORLDS

  THE IN-BETWEEN SERIES BOOK #3

  by Alison L. Perry

  Copyright © 2020 by Alison L. Perry

  All rights reserved.

  License Notes

  All rights reserved. This book or any other portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a review.

  The story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Editor: Nikki Busch Editing

  Cover designed by Vila Design

  eBook ISBN 978-0-9985168-6-8

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Newsletter

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

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  CHAPTER ONE

  The wail of an ambulance sang in the night as it pulled up to the emergency room doors. The flashing red and blue lights danced across the white walls of the waiting room, giving me a headache. A tangy hint of blood drifted in the air. The sliding glass doors opened and another gurney rushed past us. I recognized one more classmate, unconscious and bleeding, as the EMTs wheeled him by. How many more would there be?

  Cam Michaels, my boyfriend, squeezed my fingers with his uninjured hand. We hadn’t spoken since we’d arrived and taken our place among dozens of other kids and parents waiting for news of loved ones. The explosion at the Homecoming game had left everyone in various stages of shock. My own close friends were in the section of the stands hit hardest. Once Cam and I realized what had happened, we’d broken speed records getting to the hospital. I spent the drive mentally wishing it had been me in the stands instead of them. Since I was a vampire, I was better equipped to take damage and survive. Of course, I couldn’t say that in front of Cam. He still didn’t know my true nature.

  The sounds of quiet sobbing and hushed voices filtered into my ears, but I couldn’t cry. I was too numb, my only thoughts on my close friends, Harper Hendrickson and Maddie Rosen. What condition were they in? Were they even alive? This was my fault. Maybe if I’d listened to Kade, this wouldn’t have happened. Why did I brush him off? Better yet, why did I let my anger take over that day I told Kitty and Angie I’d run for Homecoming Queen, too? If I’d kept my temper in check, we wouldn’t be here now. I buried my face into Cam’s arm, guilt and worry churning in my stomach. The whoosh of the sliding doors caught my attention again, and I looked up to see who it was this time.

  Molly Churchill, my best friend and fellow vampire, walked in, her mouth tight, her normally sparkling eyes dull and ringed with creases. I got up and threw my arms around her. She hugged me to her tightly and I buried my face in her shoulder.

  “Thank you for coming,” I whispered at last.

  “Where else would I be? They’re my friends, too, sweetie.” She pulled me in even closer. “They’ll be okay. You know Harper heals fast.”

  A deep sigh escaped me. “I know she does, but I have no idea the extent of her injuries. It might be something she can’t come back from. Nobody is telling us anything.” My breath hitched. “But Molly… Maddie.” I said nothing else—didn’t need to. We both understood the fragility of the human body. All three of them had been in the center of the blast, but Maddie was the only one completely at its mercy.

  She stepped back and played with an earring tangled in her hair. “I know, but we have to hope.”

  “Yeah.”

  “What happened? I mean, obviously an explosion, but why?”

  Suddenly, I remembered she didn’t know about the latest with Pen and my dad and the drama unfolding around us. It made me tired to think about explaining it, but it needed to be done. Worry and fear swirled inside me. “You might want to brace yourself.”

  The look she gave me was nothing short of irritated, but not her usual brusque irritated. This was worried-irritated. Scared-irritated.

  “Just spit it out. I can handle it.”

  She was right. If anybody could deal with secrets and conspiracies, it was probably her.

  I sighed again and lowered my voice so only she could hear. “In a nutshell, my dad was part of a secret program at The Nursery. They were trying to improve vampires by combining special human and vampire blood with the blood of the vampire parents and using it as the serum they gave us during Incubation. But instead of creating a vampire without any weaknesses, it caused freakish results. Meaning me and a lot of other test subjects. Harper was another one. And now, the Firsts are trying to kill everyone who was used in the testing so they can erase the whole disaster from history.” I exhaled slowly and watched the expressions flitting across Molly’s face: shock, confusion, and finally, outrage.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she spluttered.

  “I wish I were.” I shrugged. “But in a way, it’s kinda nice to know there’s a legitimate reason for me being… well, me.” It was nice. Maybe 2 percent nice. But I didn’t mention the 98 percent part of me that was hurt. Mad.

  I lapsed into silence, sinking back down on the couch where Cam sat. He automatically took my hand and I stared at the ceiling, studying a small crack in the tile above us. Molly popped a piece of gum into her mouth and paced the floor, her jaw moving furiously as she worried. Another whoosh, but this time it was from the medical area. A lady in blue scrubs—a nurse or surgeon, I guessed—stepped out and approached a middle-aged couple. She said something in a low voice and I watched as the two sagged against each other in what looked like relief. The man smiled, and despite my own worries, I was happy to see someone getting good news.

  Cam murmuring to me broke my concentration on the couple. “Do you know if Maddie’s or Harper’s parents are here? I don’t know what they look like.”

  I shook my head. “No, I’ve never had the chance to meet them.” My voice was dull, empty. Why is it taking so long to hear something?

  Another pair of parents rushed by us as they beelined for the information desk.

  “My daughter! Is she here? Maddie Rosen?” The woman’s voice was shrill and I stiffened at the audible fear. “They… they said she was brought here in an ambu—” Sobs took over before she could finish.

  “Shh, honey, it’s okay. We’re going to find out she’s just fine.” Maddie’s father addressed the woman behind the counter. “Isn’t that right? She’s fine, right?”

  I stood and walked over, their emotion washing over me like a suffocating wave. When I reached them, the clerk was flipping through charts. She paused at one and muffled a distressed sigh. Her posture told me plain as day the news wasn’t good.

  “Yes, she’s here.” She straightened her shoulders and looked directly at us. “She’s in surgery. I don’t have a time frame, but I’ll find a doctor and have them come talk to you.” She hesitated for a moment. “I’m sorry.”
r />   Maddie’s mom crumpled in her husband’s arms, her shoulders shaking. My heart froze, but I forced myself to ignore it.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Rosen?” Their heads swiveled toward me and I nearly broke at their expressions. “My name’s Sadie. I’m a friend of Maddie’s. I wanted you to know how special your daughter is and I’m—we’re—here and want to help in any way we can.” It seemed like a hollow thing to say. What could I possibly do for them when Maddie was on an operating table? But I couldn’t leave them here not knowing others were worried about their daughter, too.

  Mrs. Rosen blinked at me, her eyes traveling up and down my body. “Sadie. You’re the girl Maddie was helping with Homecoming.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She gave me a watery smile and reached out to touch a finger to my gown. With all the chaos, I’d almost forgotten I was wearing it. I blinked tears out of my eyes as I looked down at the dream dress Maddie had created for me. I sniffed, awash in the memory of seeing the original Maddie had found. I’d been horrified at the garish pink color and miles of ruffles and bows. Yet somehow, Maddie had worked magic on it, turning it into a beautiful gown that I was proud to wear. But now… now it was covered in dark splotches from the ash and smoke caused by the explosion. Part of the shimmery silver layer of cloth—what had turned it from a horrible bubblegum pink to a soft blush—was torn and hanging in tatters, splashes of bright pink showing through. It was a vivid reminder of how shocking the night had turned.

  “She did a lovely job on your dress. I know it’s hard to tell now, but I saw it when she first finished it.” Her voice broke and tears flowed down her cheeks.

  I leaned in to hug her thin frame. She shook in my arms and I ached to cry with her. Instead, I made soft hushing noises. “Shh, it’s okay. I’m worried, too, but Maddie’s a fighter. I’ve known her long enough to know that. She’s going to be okay.”

  She nodded into my shoulder and Mr. Rosen gently took her from me. “Let’s go sit down while we wait for the doctor. I’ll get you some tea to help you relax.”

  “I’ll get it,” I volunteered. “That way you can stay with her.” He nodded, appreciation lighting his eyes, and settled in next to his wife.

  I met Cam’s eyes from across the room and waved him over. His long legs ate up the space between us.

  “These are Maddie’s parents.” I motioned slightly toward them and Cam nodded. “Would you go with me to get them something to drink?”

  “Sure.”

  I turned to the couple. “We’ll be right back,” I said softly. Too preoccupied to notice, they didn’t respond.

  Cam linked his hand with mine and led me through another set of doors in search of the cafeteria. I stumbled slightly, still wearing the high heels of the night, so he put an arm around my waist and hugged me to him as we walked. Letting him guide me, I stared at the scuffed floor, lost in my thoughts, when I heard my name.

  “Sadie!”

  Harper stood in front of me, bruised and banged up, but alive. Relief gushed through my veins, breaking through the emptiness I’d been feeling. I pitched myself toward her and she caught me in a fierce hug, both of us crying as we clung to each other. Cam cleared his throat and I looked up at his face.

  He smiled gently. “I’m gonna go get the tea while you stay with Harper.”

  “Thank you.” My voice was quivery to my own ears, but I knew he understood how much I appreciated the gesture. He hurried off and I turned back to Harper.

  “Are you okay? What did the doctors say? How do you feel?” As I fired questions at her, I examined her body, running my hands over her arms to make sure she was truly standing there. I touched her cheek where a deep gash had been closed with a butterfly bandage. I could already see the new skin forming, her rapid healing powers hard at work.

  “I’m okay. A little sore. Tired. But I’m okay.”

  The corners of my mouth sagged as I thought about the explosion. An explosion that hurt my friends, that could have killed them. Sudden fury churned in my gut. This was done on purpose. I knew it.

  “Hey, what’s wrong? Sade?”

  I took a breath, hating what I had to tell her. “I’m so thankful you’re okay.”

  “But?”

  “But Maddie didn’t fare so well. I mean, it’s understandable she’d get the worst of it out of you three.”

  “What are you telling me, Sadie?” Her voice shook a little.

  “She’s in surgery. That’s all we know. Her parents got here a few minutes ago and the desk clerk didn’t have any updates to give them other than she’s being worked on right now.”

  Concern flitted across her features. Maddie and Harper had been friends long before I ever entered the picture. As devastated as I felt, I knew it must be a hundred times worse for her.

  “Her mom’s in the waiting room?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I need to go to her.”

  “Sure, of course. Let’s go.” I reached to take her arm but stopped before I touched her. “I don’t want to hurt you…”

  “You’re not. Actually, I already feel much better since we’ve been standing here.”

  I turned that information over in my mind. Pen, an ancient vampire and member of the Firsts, had recently confirmed my suspicion that Harper and I were linked in a special way. My normally disastrous vampire qualities seemed to improve when I was with her, and she experienced similar benefits, too. Like super healing, for one.

  We exchanged a glance, each knowing what the other was thinking. Even though there were still tons of questions about the peculiarities of our relationship, we were grateful for it tonight. Without our connection, I doubted she’d be standing here before me at this moment. In all probability, she’d be lying on a gurney with doctors working on her. Or worse. The thought reminded me that Maddie was being worked on, her life hanging in the balance.

  As we made our way back toward the emergency room waiting area, a thought struck me.

  “Will your parents be in there? I didn’t know what they looked like, so I wasn’t able to talk to them… if they’re here, that is.”

  “No. They’re out of town. My dad had a special business trip planned in New York City and Mom went with him for the shopping.” Her tone held a hint of bitterness. I didn’t want to read too much into it, but my stomach clenched in a ball of sympathy.

  In a weird twist of irony, my phone rang, the caller ID lighting up with my home number. “Oh boy,” I muttered, bracing myself.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “Sadie! Is that you?”

  “Um, yeah. That’s why I called you Mom.” I rolled my eyes at Harper and she giggled a little.

  “We were watching the news and saw what happened. Are you okay? Were you near the blast? What happened? Are you okay?” I sighed at the hysteria spewing through the phone. She was repeating herself, worked up into a full-blown tizzy.

  “Mom, calm down. I’m okay. I was on the football field. Nowhere near the stands. I’m at the hospital waiting for news about some of my friends who got hurt.”

  “Were there any fatalities?”

  “I don’t know. Don’t you think that’s kind of a callous question?”

  “Don’t take that tone with me, young lady. It’s a normal thing to think. Your father and I are beside ourselves. I don’t know if I can keep having this conversation with you. Ever since you started human high school…”

  “That has nothing to do with it!” I couldn’t keep my snappish tone at bay. If she decided human high school caused all of this, I was doomed. I took a deep breath to calm myself. “I’m sorry, Mom. But I don’t think going to Jefferson High is the reason I got hit by a car a few weeks ago. And I’m sure the explosion tonight was an accident.” The lie slipped out easily.

  “Well, of course it was an accident! Why would anyone want to blow up a school?”

  Crap! I shouldn’t have gone there.

  “You’re right. I didn’t mean someone did it on purpose. I’m a little flustered is
all. There’s a lot of chaos going on.”

  “I want you home soon. I won’t be satisfied until I see for myself that you’re not hurt. You know you have a harder time—”

  “I know, Mom. But I already told you I wasn’t near it.” Frustration bloomed. “I’ll be home in a while, okay? I wanna make sure my friends are fine first.”

  “Well, now, I hope so, too. Don’t be too long. I love you, honey.”

  “I love you, too. Tell Dad I’m okay.” I sighed as I hung up. Sometimes talking to my mom was exhausting.

  Harper looked half amused and half wishful. “She in a panic?”

  “She’s always in a panic.” I tucked the phone back into the small wristlet dangling from my arm. “C’mon, let’s go find Maddie’s parents.”

  We linked arms and headed back the way I’d come. The swinging doors swished right before we reached them, Molly breezing through, an almost palpable energy surrounding her.

  “There you are. The doctor just talked to Maddie’s parents. She’s going to be okay.”

  I blew out a huge breath. Suddenly I felt like I could float on the ceiling. The weight of Maddie’s unknown status had been crushing me more than I’d realized. Harper sort of went limp inside the grip I had on her arm. “Thank God,” she whispered.

  “Cam was there when they got the news and Maddie’s mom was so relieved, she started hugging on him, too.” Molly’s voice held a hint of laughter and her bright eyes glinted in the overhead lights. “He looks a little distressed.”

  “Oh boy. I’d better go save him.”

  We pushed through the doors and I stifled a laugh at what I saw. Maddie’s mom was talking a mile a minute while she held on to Cam’s arm. She used her other hand as she talked, punctuating her words with crazy gestures, causing both of them to jiggle with her animation. Cam’s eyes were a little wild and I couldn’t hold back the giggle as I walked up to them. His eyebrows drew together when he saw my smile. Uh oh, I’m in trouble.

  Harper pushed past me. “Mrs. Rosen.”