So do you guys feel like 'people' in general just try to mush all the holidays' towage the end of the year together? I know I do it was even Halloween yet and I was in Wal-Mart and saw Christmas stuff out. That so ridiculous! And on the day after Halloween I saw some guy putting up a Christmas tree. I mean I know thanksgiving is only two weeks away from Halloween but there's no need to just mush it with charismas and forget about. Sorry for my ranting, I know a lot you probably don't care or don't want to hear it. Anyways enjoy!

I do not own Darkest Powers

CPROV

"Hay Liz," I said my smile widening. "Liz?" Tori said glancing around as if she would she here. "There," I said and pointed. "Hi Liz," she said. All of her bad moods gone. "Tell Tori I said hi, and that I love her top." Liz asked.

When I told her she told Liz thanks and started asking her questions. I had replayed the answers for her. Simon said Hi to Liz too and Tori wacked him on the head and they started to argue. Meanwhile Derek and gotten up as was digging the bedside table dour.

He pulled out a small sticky note pad and a pen and gave them to me. "For Liz," he mumbled. "Good idea," I said and nodded. I laid them down next to where Liz was sitting well floating really, and we continued reading.

I woke to the CLINK-CLINK of metal hangers. A blond girl flipped through clothes that I'm pretty sure were mine, hung up yesterday by Mrs. Talbot.

"Liz," Tori said with a slight smile at the mention of her old friend.

"Hello," I said.She turned and smiled. "Nice stuff. Good labels."

"Some," Tori said and gave me a pointed look which I rolled my eyes at.

"I'm Chloe." "Liz. Like Lizzie McGuire." She waved at an old and faded magazine cut-out on her wall. "Except, I don't go by Lizzie, 'cause I think it sounds kind of-" she lowered her voice, as if not to offend the picture Lizzie "-babyish."

"Lizzie," Tori said a huge smile on her face trying to keep her laughing detained. "Tori," Liz wined to my left. "It's not that funny." I laughed and told her what Liz had said.

She continued talking, but I didn't hear it because all I could think was, What's wrong with her? If she was at Lyle House, there was something wrong with her. Some "mental condition".

Everyone was giving me a look and I laughed nervously. "Sorry Liz," I said. She smiled at me; "Don't sweet it Chloe. I'm sure we all thought the same thing when we first came to Lyle House." She glanced at the others, "Well maybe not."

She didn't look crazy. Her long hair was brushed into a gleaming ponytail. She wore Guess jeans and a Gap T-shirt. If I didn't know better, I'd say I'd woken up in a boarding school.

"That would be buzzier," Simon said. "Not really," Derek said. "Anywhere is better than Lyle House." Simon thought about, "It wasn't that bad."

She kept talking. Maybe that was a sign.She seemed harmless enough, though. She'd have to be, wouldn't she? They wouldn't put anyone dangerous in here. Or really crazy.

"Of course not Chloe," Tori said in false tone. "They just put big guys with anger management problems in there." We all stared at Tori in silence. Though she didn't know how Derek had ended up a Lyle House like I did she still hit a nerve. Derek got up heading for the door, "I need some air. Keeping going without me." When I started to fallow Simon waved me down, "He'll be fine." Not Nice Tori. Liz wrought on a sticky not and stuck on her forehead; I had to agree.

Oh no, Chloe. They don't put any really crazy people in here. Just the ones who hear voices and see burned-up janitors and fight with teachers. My stomach started to ache. "Come on," she said. "Breakfast's in five minutes, and they get real snippy if you're late." Liz put out a hand as I opened a dresser drawer. "You can wear you pajamas down to breakfast. The guys eat lunch and dinner with us, but they have breakfast later, so we get some privacy."

"You guy had to get up early then up to eat? Well earlier then us." Simon said to himself deep in thought.

"Guy?"

"Simon, Derek, Peter."

"The house is coed?"

"Uh-huh." She pursed her lips in the mirror and picked off a dry flake. "We all share the bottom floor, but the top is divided."

"Which was stupid," Tori muttered to herself. Why Tori? Planning to sneak over to meet someone? Simon maybe? Liz wrought on another stick note. Tori read this and made a face. "Uh absolutely not." I laughed to myself they still had no idea that they were related.

She leaned out the door and showed me how short the hall was. "They get to the other side. There's not even a joining door. Like we'd sneak over there at night if we could."

She giggled, "Well, Tori would. And I might, if there was someone worth sneaking over for. Tori has dibs on Simon." She scrutinized me in the mirror. "You might like Peter. He's cute but way too young for me. He's thirteen. Almost fourteen, I think."

Tori snickered and I glared at her. "Sorry Chloe," Liz said with a giggle. "It's fine," I said, felling mutual. Thing like that used to happen all the time.

"I'm fifteen." She bit her lip. "Oh, geez. Um, anyways. Peter won't be around much longer. I heard he's going home soon." She paused. "Fifteen, huh? What grade?"

"Ninth."

"Same as Tori. I'm in tenth, like Simon, Derek, and Rae. I think Simon and Rae are still fifteen, though. And did I say I love your hair? I wanted to do that, with blue streaks, but my mom said…"

"Liz," Tori shaking her head. "You're babbling." Liz smiled sheepishly at me and wrought to Tori. Can't help it!

Liz kept up the commentary as we headed downstairs, moving on to the whole cast of charters. There was Dr. Gill, the psychologist, but she only came in the afternoon hours, as did the tutor Ms. Wang.

I never liked her. Liz wrought on a sticky note and laid it in-between the group. "Why?" Simon asked. Because she wasn't very nice. "True," Simon said.

I'd met two of the three nurses. Mrs. Talbot-the older woman, whom Liz proclaimed "really nice," and the younger Miss Van Dop, who was, she whispered, "not so nice."

The third nurse Mrs. Abdo, worked weekends, giving the others a day off. They lived in and looked after us. They sounded more like housemothers I'd heard boarding school kids talk about, but Liz called them nurses.

Tori scrunched up her noise as if she had some bad experienced with the nurses. I was the only one who seemed to notice.

At the bottom of the stairs, the overpowering stink of lemon cleaner hit me. It smelled like Gran's house. Even Dad never seemed comfortable in his mother's immaculate house, under the glare that said you'd better not expect any birthday money if you spelled your soda on the white leather sofa.

"That would suck," Simon said. Ditto; Liz wrought.

One look in this living room, though I breathed a sigh of relief. It was as clean as Gran's-the carpet spotless the wood gleaming-but it had been worn, comfortable look that invited you to curl up on the sofa.

"And that's how they get you." Simon said making his voice deep. "You are so weird." Tori said staring at him as if he'd grown a second head. Simon just shrugged have no comment and opened a pack of crackers.

It was also painted the favorite color of Lyle House-a pale yellow this time. Pillows covered the dark blue sofa and two rocking chairs. An old grandfather clock ticked in the corner.

Every end table held a vase of daisies or daffodils. Bright and cheerful. Too bright and cheerful, really, like this bed-and-breakfast near Syracuse Where Aunt Lauren and I sated at last fall—so desperate to be homey that it seemed more a stage set then someone's house.

Hate that feeling. Liz wrought and I nodded. "Yeah it's just a creepy feeling." The others agreed.

No different from this, I guess—a business eager to convince you it wasn't a business, to make you feel at home. To make you forget you were in a place for crazy kids. Liz stopped me outside the dining room so we could peek inside. On one side of the table sat a tall girl with short dark hair.

"That's Tori. Victoria, but she likes Tori. With an i. She's my best friend. She gets moody, and I've heard that's why she's here, but I think she's fine." She jerked her chin toward the other person at the table—a pretty, copper skinned girl with long curls. "That's Rachelle. Rae. She has this 'thing' for fire."

Tori opened her mouth but I stopped her. "Tori don't, I know how you never liked Rae but you need to cut her some slack. She wouldn't believe me when I told her Liz was dead; she was too brain washed by the Edison Group."

"But she betrayed you." Tori snapped her tone filled with bitterness and I flinched. "She thought she was doing the right thing."

I stared at the girl. Thing for fire? Did that mean she set fires? I thought this place was supposed to be safe. What about the boys? Were any of them violent? I rubbed my stomach.

"Someone's hungry, I see," chirped a voice. I glanced up to see Mrs. Talbot coming through what I guessed was the kitchen door, milk pitcher in hand. She smiled at me. "Come in, Chloe. Let me introduce you."

"Mrs. T. was always a little too nice, if you know what I mean." Simon said; I nodded. "She was so old she probably had no idea about the Edison Group." "And if she did," Tori said. "She did a good job of hiding it."

Before breakfast, Miss Van Dop gave us our pills, then watched as we took them. It was creepy. No one said a word, just held out their hands, gulped their pill down with water, and returned to their convocation.

I shuttered. "It was always so strange. If I were still there I don't even think I would still be used to it." The others just shrugged, "It was just something we had to deal with."

When I stared at mine, Miss Van Dop said the doctor would explain everything later, but for now, I should just take it. So I did.

"Always following the rules." Tori said with an eye roll. A stick note came at here. Tori be nice. "I am nice," she said with a snort.

After we'd eaten, we trooped upstairs to dress. Rae was in the lead, followed by Liz and Tori. Then me. "Rachelle?" Tori called. Rae's shoulders tightened and she didn't turn. "Yes, Victoria?"

"Yes, Victoria?" Simon mimicked. Tori grabbed a pillow and started to beat him with it. She only got a few hits in before Liz ripped the pillow out of her grasp.

Tori climbed two more steps, closing the gap between them. "You did get the laundry done, right? It's your turn, and I wanted to wear that new shirt my mom bought me." Rae turned slowly. "Mrs. T. said I could do laundry today, since we had to take off while-" her gaze lit on me, and she offered me a tiny, almost apologetic smile "—Chloe got settled."

"She used you as bate against Tori, harsh." Simon got a lot of glared from Tori. I just shrugged.

"So you didn't do the laundry."

"That's what I said." "But I want-"

"Your shirt. Got that part. So wear it. It's brand-new." "Yeah, and other people probably tried in on. That's gross." Rae threw up her hands and dispersed down the hall. Tori shot a scowl over her shoulder, as if it were my fault.

As she turned, something flashed between us, and I stumbled back a step, grabbing the railing. Her scowl twisted. "Geez, I'm not going to hit you." Over her shoulder, a hand appeared, pale fingers wriggling like worms.

Everyone made a face expect for Liz who went "Ewe." "See that would freak even me out," Simon admitted.

"Chloe?" Liz said. "I-I-I-" I peeled my gaze from the disembodied hand. "I t-tripped."

"Listen—girl-"A man's voice whispered in my ear. Liz came down the two steps between us and laid her hand on my arm. "Are you okay? You're all white." "I j-j-just thought I h-h-heard something."

"Chloe you should have just told us." Liz said, "We could have helped somehow." I smiled sadly at here. I had a fear that there was going to be plenty of moments like that in the future and I won't have a good friend like Liz there when it does.

"Why is she talking like that?" Tori asked Liz. "It's called a stutter." Liz squeezed my arm. "It's okay my brother stutters, too." "Your brother is five, Liz. Lots of little kids do it. Not teenagers." Tori peered down at me. "Are you slow?"

Tori that was rude. "I could help it the way she reeled back away from me." Still…

"What?" "You know do you ride the looong bus-" she pulled her hands apart, then brought them together again "—or the short one."

Now Simon was glaring at Tori too. "Alight, I'm sorry." She said. Derek muttered something under his breath too low for me to hear. I slipped my hand into his; squeezing his gently.

Liz flushed. "Tori, that's not-" "Well she talks like a little kid and she looks like one so…"

"I have a speech impediment," I said, enunciating carefully, as if she were the slow one. "I'm working to overcome it."

"That's it don't take any of her crap Chlo." Simon said, talking to the book. Chloe can stick up for herself. I've seen it. "Well it just seems lie-" Just be quite so she can read, Liz interrupted. "Keep going," she told me.

"You're doing great," Liz chirped. "You said that whole sentence without stuttering."

"Girls?" Mrs. Talbot peered around the hall doorway below. "You aren't supposed to fool around on the stairs. Someone could get hurt. Class in ten minutes. Chloe, we're still waiting for notes from your teachers, so you won't be in class today. When you're dressed will discuss your schedule."

Simon made a face, "Lyle House did have too many schedule. I think it was just to keep us busy." We gave him a 'no duh!' look and Tori just snorted.

Lyle House liked schedules the way a boot camp like discipline. We rose at 7:30. Ate, showered, dressed, and were in class by 9:00, where we did independent work assigned by our regular teachers, supervised by the tutor, Ms. Wang. Break at 10:30 for snack—nutritious, of course. Back to class from 1:00 until 4:30 with a twenty-minute break at 2:30.

"Why did we even have snack brakes anyways? I'm mean were not in kindergarten." Tori said suddenly frustrated. I don't know about you guys but I use to get hungry in the middle of the day. Simon nodded. "Plus it was a good thing because they didn't really give us lunch."

At some point during classes—the timing would vary—we'd have our individual hour-long therapy session with Dr. Gill; my first would be after lunch today. From 4:30 until 6:00, we had free time…kind of. In addition to classes and therapy, we had chores.

"I never really did mine." Tori said examining her nail as if she were too good to do chores. No, you made me do them for you. "Sorry Liz," Tori had a look of gilt on her face. It's okay, Tori. I forgive you. Tori's face brightened as if she'd just won something fantastic.

A lot of chores from the looks of the list. These had to be done during free time before and after dinner. Plus we had to squeeze in thirty minutes of physical activity every day. Then after a snack, it was off to bed at 9:00, lights—out at 10:00.

We're not kids but they treated us like we were. "Speak for yourself," I said. "You're weren't getting 12 and under menus handed to you before you came there." Both Tori and Simon snickered at me. Derek rubbed soothing circles into my palm as he tried not to smile and I glared at him playfully.

Nutritious snacks? Therapy sessions? Chores lists? Mandatory exercises? Nine o'clock bedtime? Boot camp was starting to look good. I didn't belong here. I really didn't.

"None of us did," Liz whispered and I really wish she wasn't transparent because I wanted to give her a hug.

After our talk, a phone call was sent to Mrs. Talbot scurrying off, calling back to promises to return with my job list. Oh joy. I sat in the living room trying to think, but the unrelenting cheerfulness was like a bright light shining in my eyes, making it hard to concentrate. A few days of yellow paint and daisies and I'd turn into a happy zombie, like Liz.

My turn for the nasty looks. I put my hands up in defense. "Let me finish please there's more."

I felt a pang of shame. Liz had made me feel welcome and been quick to defend me against her friend.

Liz smiled at me, "And I would do it again. Don't tell Tori this but-" She cupped a hand over her mouth and wisped. Even though it didn't matter because I was the only one who could hear her but I wasn't going to be the one to point that put. "—she's terrible at meeting new people."

If being cheerful was a mental illness, it wasn't such a bad one to have—certainly better than seeing burned-up people. I rubbed the back of my neck and closed my eyes.

"Hop you're not picking up on Derek's habits," Simon joked. Derek scowled

Lyle House wasn't so bad, really. Better than padded room sand endless hallways filled with real zombies, shambling mental patients so doped up they couldn't be bothered to get dressed, much less bathe.

We all agreed. Anything was better than that. I suddenly got a strange image of me and my friends in strait jackets. All of us locked up in separate padded rooms. I shuddered.

Maybe it was the illusion of home that bothered me. Maybe, in some ways, I'd be happier with ugly ouches and white walls and bars on windows, so there'd be no false promises. Yet just because I couldn't see any bars didn't mean it was as open as it seemed. It couldn't be.

Derek nodded his head in approval. "Very true. I'm glad you thought of that." Simon stared off into space for a second. "Huh, I never thought of that." Tori snorted, "Wonder why?" Tori!

I walked in front of the window. Closed, despite the sunny day. There was a hole where there'd probably been a latch for opening it. I looked out. Lots of trees, a quiet street, more older houses on big lots. No electric fences. No sign on the lawn proclaiming LYLE HOUSE FOR CRAXY KIDS. All very ordinary, but I suspected if I grabbed a chair and smashed the window, an alarm sound.

"I saw the alarm when I first arrived. It's kind of hard to miss." Derek said. "Hay," I wined. "Give me a brake I was all doped up when they brought me in." "I know I saw you through the upstairs window." Hi cheeks darkened. "You looked cute." "Awe, thank you." I said and kissed him on the cheek. The others gaged and Derek showed them his middle finger.

So where was the alarm? I stepped into the hall, glanced at the front door, and saw it, blinking away. No attempted to hide it. A reminder, I guess. This might look like your house, but don't try walking out the front door.

"Exactly," Derek murmured. "I wonder if anyone has actually ever tried to walkout?" Simon asked himself. Me too. Liz wrought.

What about the back? I went into the dining room and looked out the window into a large yard with as many trees as the front. There was a shed, lawn chairs, and gardens. The soccer ball was on one wooden chair and the basketball hoop over a cement pad suggested we were allowed out—probably for that "thirty minutes of physical activity."

"I hated the thirty minutes of physical activity." Liz muttered to herself. "Why?" She made a face, "Because you got all sweaty." I chuckled.

Was it monitored? I couldn't see any cameras, but there were enough windows for the nurses to keep an eye on anyone in the yard. And the six foot-high fence was a good deterrent.

Simon chuckled, "Yep, it's not like it was that obvious that they were trying to keep us locked up." Tori looked at him, "You make no since what so ever." He's has a point though; Liz wrought to Tori.

"Looking for a way out?" I spun to see Miss Van Dop. Her eyes glittered with what looked like amusement, but the look in her face was solemn. "N-no. I w-was just looking around. Oh, and while I was getting dressed, I noticed I don't have my necklace. I think I might have left it in the hospital, and I want to make sure I get it back. It's kind of special."

I fingered my pendent. "Defiantly special," I said and grinned. "Wasn't it red first?" Liz asked. I nodded, "Yeah, it was."

"I'll let your father know, but he'll have to hold it for you while you're here. We don't like our girls wearing jewelry. Now, as for looking around…" In other words, nice try on the distraction, but it hasn't worked. She pulled a dining room chair and motioned for me to sit. I did.

"I'm sure you saw the security system at the front door," she said. "I—I wasn't-"

"She you're not trying to escape Chloe," Tori said to the book with an eye roll. "She was testing you. Making sure you know all the rules."

"Trying to escape. I know." The smile touched her lips. "Most of our residents aren't the sort of teenager who run away from home, unless it's to make a statement. They're bright enough to know that whatever is worse than what's in here. And what's in here isn't so bad

Tori snorted, "I believe it was." "Well," Simon said. "Not really. The only bad part about was the crawl space." I shuttered and Derek put his arm around me. Tori just looked guilty.

Not Disney world but not prison either. The only escape attempts we've ever had are from kids trying to sneak out to meet friends. Hardly serious, but parents expect better from us; and, while we pride ourselves on providing a homelike environment, I think it's important to point out the limits early."

And she's making sure of that. "They always did that, at least from what I remember." Simon said and Derek nodded.

She waited for a response. I nodded. "The windows are armed with siren, as are the exterior doors. Your aloud out back only, and there is no gate. Because of the alarm, you must notify us before going out, so we can disable it and, yes, watch you. If you have questions about what you can and cannot do, come to me.

"Sounds more like a demand to me." Liz said to herself.

I won't sugarcoat it for you Chloe. I believe honesty is the first step to establishing trust, and trust is critical in a place like this." Again her gaze pierced mine, probing, Making sure I understood the other side of that statement—that honesty went both ways and I was expected to keep up my end. I nodded.

"Okay," I said. "Who wants to read next?" "I will," Liz offered. "Uh, Liz I glad you want too but I think that I'd be the only one that would hear you." Her face scrunched up. "Good point; make Tori read." Tossed the yellow pad to Tori, "Liz wants you to read." She groaned.

Suggestions? Comments? Complaints?