Midnight Games(19)

He kissed her. “You love it,” he said.

“Well, I’m putting on my skates,” I told Nate. “Are you coming with me?”

He nodded.

I pulled him to a bench at the edge of the lake. We strapped on our skates, watching kids already on the ice. They appeared to float through the swirls of fog.

Couples skated together in graceful circles. One guy took a running jump, dove forward, and went sliding headfirst at full speed over the ice into a group of girls.

They scattered, squealing and laughing.

“That’s Dan Nickerson,” Nate told me. “He does that every year.”

“Cute,” I said.

Nate pulled me to my feet, and we skated out onto the lake. We made wide circles at first, skating slowly. I hadn’t been on ice skates in years, but it quickly came back to me.

Nate was a pretty good skater. But he kept grabbing my hand to steady his balance. We were far out on the lake. At least, it seemed far out. Squinting through the fog, I could barely see the tents and the kids on the shore.

Nate grabbed my gloved hand and held on. We slowed to a stop. He pulled me close and kissed me. I kissed him back. I let him know I was enjoying it.

How long did we kiss?

I don’t know. I pulled away from him when I heard someone shouting my name. Breathless, I turned and saw Jamie running across the ice toward us.

She was limping and sliding, waving her arms to keep her balance. “Dana? Is that you?” she called.

I broke away from Nate and took a few sliding steps toward her. “Jamie, what’s wrong?”

“Ada,” she gasped, struggling to catch her breath. She bent over, pressing her hands on her knees.

“What about Ada?” Nate asked.

“She’s here,” Jamie said, pointing to the shore. “She’s looking for you, Dana. She found out you’re here with Nate.”

I squinted at her. “Excuse me?”

“I mean, she’s out of control. So mad!” Jamie said. “I just wanted to warn you.”

“Oh, wow,” I muttered.

Jamie limped away, shaking her head.

I saw a blur of movement to her left. Through the curtain of fog, I recognized Ada, bent low, skating fast.

Nate shook his head angrily. “Forget it,” he said. “I don’t need this.”

“But, wait—,” I protested. “Don’t leave me here.” My heart started to pound in my chest.

He skated off, head down, taking long strides.

“That’s not fair!” I shouted.

Ada came roaring toward me. She wore layers of sweaters over tight jeans. Her long scarf flew behind her like a flag.

“Ada—stop!” I cried.

“You can’t have him!” she shouted. “You can’t come here and ruin my life!”

Sobbing, she bumped me hard. I toppled backward. But she grabbed me and held me up.

“Ada—please!”

She grabbed my shoulders and started to shake me.

“Let go! Let go!” I screamed, struggling to squirm away.

But she lowered her gloved hands and curled them around my throat. “You can’t! You can’t!” she uttered.

“Ada—stop!” I pleaded as her fingers tightened. I suddenly felt dizzy. I couldn’t breathe.

“Stop! You’re choking me!”





17

I opened my eyes. I blinked a few times, trying to focus.

I felt so dizzy. My ears rang.

Had I blacked out or something?

I took a deep breath and gazed around. I was sitting on the ice, with my legs spread. My throat ached. My heart pounded hard.

I shut my eyes again. Why did I feel so wiped? So weak, I couldn’t raise my arms?

When I opened my eyes again, I could see kids skating toward me, their faces hidden in the thickening fog. I heard shouts, but I couldn’t understand the words.

Confused, I tried to pull myself up. But I sank back onto the ice, my head spinning.

What happened to me?

Jamie’s voice broke through the ringing in my ears. I felt her gloved hand on my shoulder. I turned and gazed up into her worried face.

“Dana, we heard screams. Where’s Ada?”

Huh? Ada?

Jamie turned away from me. Her mouth dropped open, and she squeezed my shoulder so hard, I gasped.

I turned to see what she was staring at. And uttered a sharp cry.

Ada?

Yes. Stretched out on her back on the ice.

Ada . . . Ada in a dark pool of blood.

Ada with an ice skate . . . the blade . . . the blade . . . driven into her head. Standing straight up. Poking out from between her open, glassy eyes.

Without realizing it, I jumped to my feet.

I saw Jamie’s accusing stare.

I raised my gloved hands to the sides of my face and I started to scream: “I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it . . . !”