Anna stepped inside and glanced around. “It’s beautiful. Great.”

She turned back to look at her parents, standing on the doorstep. They smiled.

“Good,” mom said, “because we already bought it.”

Anna smiled and looked back inside the house. She took a few more steps in, barely hearing her parents tell the movers they were ready.

The wood shone in the light. Anna walked up the stairs and leaned against the railing to look down. The movers were carrying a couch inside. She turned and walked to the room at the end of the hall, running her hand along the railing as she went. She walked in.

This was her room; hers alone to shape and mold. In New York, she didn’t have her own room. She shared one with Jacob, her twin brother. That had been an old dingy room, and Anna always hated it. There was barely enough space for them to live in, much less to actually do anything. No privacy. But this room was perfect. In the left corner there was an alcove with a little window seat. It was a perfect place to read. She knelt on the seat and looked out the window.

“Anna! Where are you?”

Her reverie broken, Anna turned. She walked back into the hallway where her mom was calling.

“There you are! Here’s your stuff. You can start setting up; they don’t seem to need any help down there,” she said.

“Okay,” Anna said.

There were three boxes in front of her, neatly stacked. Anna began to move them into her room. As she unpacked, she wondered what school would be like. She was entering the twelfth grade and had just turned eighteen. Anna sighed and hoped it wouldn’t be hard to make friends. Ever since the ninth grade, that had been a problem for her.

Anna had graduated from her private Christian middle school and thought she was ready for the culture shock that was high school. The night before the first day she had fussed over what to wear over and over, looking at herself in the mirror. Jake made fun of her and lounged on her bed. Finally she made up her mind, and the next morning she was totally prepared.

She put on the chosen outfit, grabbed her lunch, and caught the bus with Jake. Anna walked into the school knowing exactly where to go. She had visited over the summer and even had a map. The night before, she traced over her route to each class. But she was the odd kid out and no one would talk to her. By lunch time she wasn’t even trying anymore. She was walking to sit down with her tray when the brat tripped her.

Anna felt and the food got all over her carefully chosen clothes. All the kids in the cafeteria began to laugh, and Anna tried not to cry as she gathered her things.

“Sorry,” the boy had snickered, not offering to help her at all. A girl came up and pushed the boy out of the way and reached down to help her. Anna found out her name was Mandy. That was the first friend she made in high school.

Anna pulled a picture out of the box in front of her. She and Mandy, arms around each others waists, smiled up at her. Anna laughed, remembering the day. She didn’t think things could possibly start off as bad here as they did then.

2

“Hurry up, Jake!” Anna called from the car.

“Coming, coming,” Jake yelled back as he came sprinting out the door. He opened the passenger’s seat, jumped in, and tossed his bag into the back seat.

“You’re going to make us late to the first day,” Anna growled as she threw the car into reverse. Jake shrugged and smiled.

“So?”

Anna grumbled and pressed harder on the accelerator, hoping not to see any cops. The last thing she needed was a ticket.

“You are such a pain sometimes.”

Jake laughed.

“That’s my job, sis,” he said.

“Yeah, whatever,” she muttered. “Just don’t say anything stupid today.”

Jake grabbed his bag and grinned as she pulled into a parking spot. He was opening the door before she even came to a full stop.

“No worries big sis. I won’t talk to you. Wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of your new friends!” he laughed.

Anna didn’t have time to respond before he jumped out and ran to class. She sighed. He always called her that, even though they were twins: she was born first. Even still, it was annoying.

Anna grabbed her book bag and looked at her schedule as she ran to the school. Homeroom was first. Spying the room number, Anna navigated through the school as fast as she could. There weren’t many students in the hallways, and the few that were stared at her as she rushed by. Anna paused, slightly bent over, to catch her breath and noticed some kids standing in a loose circle whispering quietly. She wondered if there was a rule about talking in the halls. Standing up straight, she debated whether to ask for directions. The kids looked at her and stared silently. Anna decided not to ask and turned down the next hallway, somewhat disturbed.

Room 135. She found it! Anna took and deep breath and hoped the kids would be more lively in the classroom.

3

Anna always had problems making friends, but this was ridiculous. The kids here were…weird. None of them talked much, and when they did it was more of a mischievous whisper to a friend. This was usually followed by quiet laughter. Anna suspected her parents would tell her that all kids do that to new students, but this just wasn’t the same. Not to mention their creepy tendency to stare without blinking. It was unnerving, to say the least. Anna shivered. She wondered what Jake thought of this place.

She spooned some soup into her mouth and swallowed. She was sitting alone for lunch in the courtyard encased by the school buildings. The snow didn’t bother her. She looked at the kids in the courtyard. Even during lunch they were quiet. It was just bizarre.

Anna tried to imagine she was at her old school again, surrounded by her small group of friends. They joked, laughed, talked, teased, and played pranks. She missed them. A hand settled on Anna’s shoulder, and for a moment she thought it was Mandy. But she was miles from here. Anna turned and looked up quizzically at the unfamiliar face.

The hand belonged to a pretty girl. It was one of those girls that no one thought much of during adolescence, but became strikingly beautiful in years to come. She had short curly brown hair which almost brushed her shoulders. The clothes she wore were somewhat odd, however, and reminded Anna of the rainbow. She smiled at the girl.

“Can I sit here?” the girl asked.

“Sure,” Anna said. “But don’t you have other friends to sit with?”

The girl smiled and sat down.

“Well,” she started, “the children here are peculiar. But you seem good.”

Anna smiled again, still confused. What did the girl mean by ‘good’? It was an odd word choice.

“What’s your name?” Anna asked.

“Angie,” she replied. “And yours?”

“Anna.”

They smiled at each other and ate for a few minutes in awkward silence. Finally Anna looked up at Angie.

“Hey…I was just wondering.”

“Yeah?” Angie asked.

“Well…what exactly did you mean when you said I looked…good?”

Angie laughed.

“Oh. Right!”

A few moments passed and no one talked. Anna shifted uncomfortably.

“Sorry,” Angie said. “I was just trying to think of how to explain it…I guess I should start with my story. You’re new here, yeah?”

Anna nodded.

“This is my first day of school,” she said.

“I thought so. I am relatively new here as well,” Angie said.

Anna’s eyes widened.

“Really? How long have you lived here?”

“About a week. I guess we haven’t been here long enough for it to happen,” Angie said thoughtfully. Anna blinked. What did that mean?

“Long enough for what to happen?” Anna questioned.

Angie laughed again.

“Oh sorry. I keep skipping ahead.”

Angie glanced around suspiciously, her demeanor changing completely.

“You’ve noticed it too right? The kids here are different. There is something wrong, something…missing.”

Anna couldn’t explain it, but she knew precisely what Angie was talking about. There was something very wrong here.

“But it’s not just the kids,” Angie continued. “You haven’t lived here long enough to really see it, but it’s everyone. Teachers, parents, kids. Everyone. Everyone that is, except for new people.”

Then she smiled, as if they were talking about the weather. Anna looked around nervously.

“Should we be talking about this here?”

“It’s probably okay,” Angie said. “They don’t seem to listen any more than they talk.”

“Appearances can be deceitful,” Anna said.

“Touché,” Angie replied.

The bell rang and the girls stood up.

“Maybe I’ll see you later,” Anna said.

“Yeah,” Angie replied. They started to walk away in separate directions. Anna paused. Wait. Wasn’t there something else?

“Angie,” Anna called, turning around suddenly.

Angie stopped and turned, as if to say ‘what?’

“Um. Earlier you sounded like there was a story or something you wanted to tell me…” Anna ventured.

“Right. Tell you what. I’ll tell you some other time. Until then, try not to be alone. It’s not safe.”

Anna stared at her. “Sure,” she finally said. “I’ve got a brother.”

Angie smiled. “I know.”

With that, she turned and walked away. Weird girl, Anna thought. Why would she know I have a brother? She stood there watching Angie walk away for a few more seconds before turning to go to class.

4

Angie was right. It wasn’t just the students. Whatever ‘it’ was, the teachers had it too. Anna had been too creeped out by the students to even notice. She looked at the teacher, Mr. Delaney. He always seemed to stare at her when he didn’t think she was looking. Mr. Delaney taught history. Funny how all history teachers seem to be men, Anna thought.

She looked down at the worksheet they were supposed to be doing, and out of the corner of her eye she saw him stare at her again. Anna was beginning to feel sick. This place was just too weird. She looked at the clock. Three minutes and she could go home.

‘Try not to be alone. It’s not safe.’

Angie’s words had been replaying in her head ever since their conversation at lunch. It was killing her to know how Angie knew about Jake. Not for the first time since they moved to New Mexico, Anna wanted to go home, back to her friends in New York. They would know what to do.

Anna looked at the Mr. Delaney again and he quickly looked away. She looked in the other direction and realized the whole class was looking at her. Anna swallowed her fear and looked back at her untouched worksheet, fully aware of all the eyes on her.

The bell rang.

“Saved by the bell,” Anna whispered, and jumped up. She ran out of the room as fast as she could.

Someone grabbed her arm tightly and pulled her back. Anna turned around and almost had a heart attack. It was Mr. Delaney. He smiled.

“Don’t worry, Anna. It won’t be long now.”

Anna tried to breathe, but was having problems doing so. She yanked her arm out of his grasp, remembering Angie’s words again, and rushed away.

The teacher just smiled. The children filed around him, giggling quietly.

Anna reached the car and threw her bag in. She jumped in the driver’s seat and almost pulled away when she remembered Jake. For a moment, she was angry. She was scared and tempted to leave.

But there he was, running to the car. Anna felt a wave of relief. He got in the car quickly and looked at her, wide eyed.

“You noticed too?” she asked, starting to pull away.

“How the hell could I not?” he asked.

Anna didn’t know why this made her feel so much better. If anything, it only validated her fears. That was better than being insane though.

5

Anna finished telling Jake what happened to her and sat down on the bed.

“What about you? Did anything weird happen?”

Jake leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.

“Only the whole day.”

“Jake.”

“Alright. Yeah,” he said. “Mostly the same, minus the psychopath teacher talking to me.”

He opened his eyes and focused on his shoes. They were both silent.

“Maybe you should make a complaint about the teacher,” he suggested suddenly.

“Jake. If Angie is right, which I believe she is, then that won’t make a difference. Even if the principal is normal and switches me, the next teacher will be the same as the last.”

Jake sighed.

“Yeah. I guess so,” he muttered.

Another minute of silence passed.

“Alright. What about this? We go find this Angie you speak of with such admiration, and we ask her what to do. Maybe she knows something she isn’t telling you,” Jake said, partially sarcastically.

Anna nodded and then said with a grin, “Wow Jake. You actually came up with a good idea! I’m impressed.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jake muttered. “Very funny.”

Anna laughed and they both went to the stairs where their book bags were thrown hastily across the landing.

“Do you have the school directory?” Anna asked.

“Now why would I have that?” Jake asked.

Anna looked at him and groaned.

“Oh come on! They gave them to us today Jake!”

“And that is what you are for, my dear sister.”

“What will you do without me in college?” Anna asked, rummaging through her book bag.

“I’ll worry about that if we ever get there,” he said.

Anna stopped searching the bag and looked up.

“Don’t say that.”

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Anna moved a few more things around and then spotted the directory. “Found it!”

“You know what I just realized?” Jake asked.

“What?”

“Did she give you her last name?”

There was a few seconds of silence.

“Shit.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Now what?” she asked.

They stared at each other. The front door opened and mom stepped in, noticing them on the stairs.

“Hey guys,” she said. “How was school?”

Anna and Jake exchanged looks.

“Good mom,” Anna said.

“What are you doing?”

Anna drew a blank. “Uh, well, actually, I made this…interesting friend, Angie. I was looking up her number to call her when I realized that I didn’t get her last name.”

“She isn’t by chance wearing rainbow colors is she?”

Anna stared at her mother. “Why do you ask?”

“Well,” mom said, “I saw this girl sitting in the park. She was wearing weird clothing.”

Anna stood up so rapidly that she almost fell down. Jake stood up next to her smiling.

“Mom, you are amazing!” Anna said, hugging her. “Come on Jake. Time to go.”

They ran out the door. Mom moved to the window to watch them go.

“Strange kids,” she muttered.

6

“Do you even know where the park is?” Jake asked.

“Shut up.”

Jake held his tongue for another ten minutes as they wandered. “You have no damn idea where we are.”

“Shut up!” Anna yelled. “We’ll find it.”

Jake sighed.

“Besides,” she said, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because, smart ass, you said let’s go and acted like you knew.”

Anna opened and closed her mouth a few times and then turned away angrily.

“Whatever. Let’s just keep looking.”

Some adults walked by and stared at them. Anna shivered under their stare and looked away.

“I’d say we ask for directions, but…” Jake trailed off smiling.

Anna laughed. “Yeah.”

“You know what? I should just call mom,” Anna said suddenly.

Jake looked at her with a look that said, ‘why didn’t we think of that ages ago?’

Anna pulled out her cell phone and called. Jake watched her talk and hang up the phone.

“Okay,” she said. “Follow me.”

“How well did that work last time?”

“Oh shut up Jake.”

He laughed.

7

“There it is!” Anna said excitedly, pointing toward the park ahead.

“Finally,” Jake sighed.

“Oh, it wasn’t that far,” Anna said.

“It was with you leading the way,” Jake responded.

“Hmph.” Anna ignored him and walked faster towards the park. Jake had to jog to keep up. Anna could already see the person they were looking for; Angie was hard to miss. They walked up behind her, where she sat on a bench.

Angie seemed to know who they were without looking. “Hey Anna, Anna’s brother.”

Jake was taken even more off guard than Anna was by this greeting. “Hi Angie,” Anna said, puzzled.

“Um…hi,” Jake said.

They walked around to face her. Angie smiled. “How did you know it was us?” Anna asked.

Angie’s smile widened. “I heard you coming, and remember, the other kids and adults here don’t really go out of the way to socialize.”

Anna’s mouth formed an o in understanding. She suddenly felt stupid for asking such an obvious question. Angie looked at Jake and laughed. Anna glanced at him and sighed. She elbowed him in the stomach.

“You’re staring, Jake.”

Jake closed his mouth and smiled. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Angie responded, the smile still on her lips.

Anna sighed and noticed Jake was blushing ever so slightly. She folded her arms, watching to two of them stare at each other. She coughed, successfully getting their attention. “Anyway.”

“I suppose you have questions,” Angie stated.

“Yes. And something happened to me at school today, after lunch.”

Angie nodded, waiting for her to continue. Anna told her about going to classes after lunch, but especially the last class. Sixth period. She explained the students’ odd behavior and the Mr. Delaney’s creepy stare. She repeated with dread what he told her after class, feeling nonsensically scared, as if she were reliving the memory. When she finished, Jake was looking at his feet. Angie looked thoughtful but not surprised.

“Scary, huh?” Angie said finally.

Anna nodded violently.

“So now you see what I mean when I say that it’s everyone, right?” Angie asked, somewhat unnecessarily as far as Anna was concerned.

“Yes. I believe you,” Anna said.

Angie nodded and bent down to examine a flower on the ground. She toyed with the flower for a few moments. Anna and Jake watched her idly.

“Did something similar happen to you?” Anna pressed.

“Something similar,” Angie confirmed.

Anna waited for another minute in awkward silence. “What do we do?” she asked at last. Angie smiled.

“Aren’t you skipping something?”

“What?” Anna asked.

“How can we find a solution if we don’t know the problem?” Angie asked rhetorically.

“Oh.” A few moments passed. “Do you have any theories?”

Angie stood up and faced them again, twirling the flower in her hand.

“One,” she said.

Anna and Jake were silent, waiting.

“What do you know about cult hypnosis?”