Page 102 of Dream Lake

“Alex,”came Tom’s voice, harsh with fear.

At the same moment, Alex saw Emma’s slight form wavering unsteadily toward the center of the road. She looked uncertain, wide-eyed, her skin brilliant in the stark glare of headlights. The car was coming around the curve. By the time the driver saw her, it would be too late.

Zoë, who had just returned from the lake, approached the opposite side of the road from Alex. Her face contorted with horror as she saw Emma standing in the path of the oncoming vehicle.

Alex sprinted toward Emma, a rush of adrenaline making him lightning-fast. He reached her, shoved hard, and felt a massive impact that knocked him to the ground. Everything spun, the world turning too fast, his flesh translating to fire. But the scalding premonition of pain vanished instantly. He wasn’t hurt. He’d just had the wind knocked out of him.

It took him a few seconds to recover himself. Dazedly he sat up, looked around, and saw with relief that he’d succeeded in pushing Emma out of the way. She had stumbled against Zoë, who had caught her. They’d fallen to the ground, but Zoë was already helping Emma up.

Everything was all right. Everyone was fine.

That was a close one,he was about to say, when Zoë looked at him and gave an anguished scream. She began to sob,Alex, no, no… running toward him, tears streaming down her face.

“It’s okay,” Alex said, amazed that she would be so concerned for him. A rush of overwhelming tenderness swept over him. He stood and began to walk toward her. “The car just bumped me. I’ve got a couple of bruises, nothing more. I’m fine. I love you.” He couldn’t believe he’d just said it, for the first time in his life. And it was so damned easy. “I love you.”

“Alex,” she choked. “Oh, God, please,no…”

And she rushed right past him.

No, not past.Throughhim.

Startled, he turned to see Zoë dropping to the ground, huddling over a crumpled shape on the road. Her shoulders shook violently, and she crooned a few broken words.

“That’s… me?” Alex asked in bewilderment, backing away. He looked down at his arms and legs. They weren’t there.Nothingwas there. He was invisible. His gaze returned to the two figures on the road… the body Zoë was crouching over. “That’s me,” he said, his emotions racing across the spectrum from joy to despair.

He wanted to cry, he could feel the agony of sorrow, but his eyes remained dry.

“You never get used to grief without tears,” came a quiet voice beside him. “Who’d have thought one of the things you miss the most is crying?”

“Tom.” Alex turned and seized his forearms desperately. He was shocked to be able to feel the texture and strength of a human form. “What do I do now?” he asked.

“Nothing.” Tom stared at him with grim compassion. “All you can do now is watch.”

Alex’s gaze returned compulsively to Zoë. “I love her. I have to be with her.”

“You can’t.”

“Goddamn it, I didn’t get to say good-bye to her!”

“Easy with the language,” Tom said. “You’re not one for hedging your bets, are you?”

“There are things she needs to know. My life can’t be over yet. I didn’t have enough time with her.”

Tom looked exasperated. “What do you think I’ve been trying to tell you, you lunkhead?”

“If there is a God, I’d like to tell Him to—”

“Shut up.” The ghost shook free of him impatiently. “I just heard something.”

All Alex could hear was Zoë’s broken crooning.

Tom stared distractedly up at the sky, wandering away a couple of steps.

“What are you doing?” Alex demanded.

“Someone’s trying to tell me something. I hear a voice. A couple of voices.”

“What are they saying?”

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