Page 61 of Black Hollow: Awakening

Liam didn’t argue the point, just looked at him expectantly. As Will gazed into those warm, hazel eyes, it was genuinely hard for him to stick to his guns.

“Okay,” he finally relented with a heavy sigh. “Fine.”

Liam led him to an empty classroom on the second floor. Blake was already waiting there.

“What’s this about?” Will asked defensively, holding on to a sliver of hope that Alden had gathered the courage for a proper apology for his scandalous behavior.

“I wanted to talk about yesterday’s phone call,” Blake stated instead.

“God…” Will hissed in annoyance. “I’m leaving.”

“Wait! I realize how this looks, but I’m sure you called me.”

“Okay.” Will tried once again to explain the situation, hoping it would get through to Alden this time. “There are two possibilities. Either I actually called you for some unknown reason and then magically erased all traces of the call from my phone and yours, or… you were mistaken. You dreamt it. You misheard. It was part of your fantasy. Whatever.”

“Right, because I have nothing better to do than fantasize about you calling for help,” Blake scoffed, infuriated.

“Apparently, and that worries me a lot.”

“There are other possibilities.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know,” Blake replied helplessly, and Will rolled his eyes. “But they exist. Some phenomena are hard to explain, but that doesn’t change the fact that someone called me yesterday, and it was definitely you.”

“For God’s sake! Where did you even get the idea it was me? Besides supposedly recognizing my voice, did this person introduce themself? Hey, Will Morgan here? Because if they didn’t, I don’t know what this is about, and if they did, you should be even more aware that it was some kind of joke.”

“I answered. I heard you scream my name. I didn’t know what was going on, so I asked who was calling. You said Will and you told me I was right.”

Will was struck dumb.

“Uh-huh,” he finally muttered. “Now I’m sure it was your fantasy.”

Liam snorted under his breath.

“…then you said a bunch of other things,” Blake continued with unshaken gravity. “I was trying to figure out where you were, you were talking about trucks and a warehouse, you were rambling, yelling that he was chasing you, that I had to help you…”

“He who?” Will asked, not understanding.

“I don’t know!” Alden hissed. “But it happened, I’m not making it up.”

“And then what?”

“Then…” Blake hesitated noticeably. “The call dropped.”

“Okay. So why exactly did you drag me here?” Will asked, confused. “I already told you I didn’t call you. I don’t know anything about a warehouse. I don’t know who he might be, unless Dan has awakened some murderous instincts, which, I guess, can’t be ruled out… Anyway, you weren’t talking to me. Maybe there really is an explanation. Maybe it’s the result of some magic trick, but you should discuss that with Norma and Abby, because I really don’t know anything about it. Or you could look for a witch you first charmed and then pissed off with your assholery.” Alden’s face twisted, clearly irritated by the comment. “Besides… No offense, but if I needed paranormal support, I’d call Norma or Liam.”

The conversation ended there, because Blake couldn’t find any arguments to support his claims. It wasn’t that Will didn’t believe him. He believed that something had actually happened, but it certainly had nothing to do with him. Alden had to accept that eventually.

During fifth period, they had shop class together. Mr. Lorne was reading out the project assignments. Will wasn’t really listening. He was still thinking about Dan.

“…pair number thirteen, Blake Alden and William Morgan.”

Will snapped to attention when he heard his name, and then it hit him that it had been said right after Blake’s. Their eyes met. Neither of them was happy with the pairing.

When the class was over, Will caught Blake in the hallway.

“Looks like we’re doing a project together,” he began, wanting to figure out how to divide the work.