This Town Is a Nightmare

Chapter 1

Beacon dropped his skateboard onto the cracked New York City sidewalk and pushed off. He weaved through the crowds, past brownstones and steel skyscrapers, churches and theaters and police stations. Cars zoomed past on the street. Horns honked and people yelled out cuss words. Chilly air blew across his face, carrying the scent of hot dogs and fresh-­poured concrete.

Beacon loved this board. He relished the rise and fall of the path under his wheels. He lived for the speed, came alive when he sailed past commuters and sliced across roadways. It didn t matter where he was when he was on his board. He was home.

He whizzed around a busy street corner and saw a flash of white-­blond curls standing at a set of traffic lights. His heart lodged in his chest. Jane Middleton couldn t be here, in New York City . . . right?

He looked back, searching for Jane. But the girl had vanished. If she d ever been there to begin with.

Beacon had become a paranoid mess ever since his family had gone on the run from the Sov. Every scritch behind him was a predator; every blond-­haired girl was his enemy ready to take him down. He was getting really sick of the constant fear, but unfortunately, it didn t seem to be going anywhere.

Hey, watch it!

Beacon turned back around just in time to avoid slamming into a construction worker. He jerked out of the way and stumbled off his board, rolling onto the concrete. The sidewalk traffic flowed around him as if he were just a lamppost and not an injured twelve-­year-­old boy.

I m okay, nobody panic, Beacon muttered. He pushed himself up and wiped off his jeans.

And found the exact place he d been looking for.

The flashing neon sign across the street announced Ed s Fast Cash Pawnshop. There were about eight dollar symbols on the sign, which was what propelled Beacon to pick up his board and cross the street, even though his stomach felt like it was filled with slippery eels.

As

M. K. Krys (as Michelle Krys) is the author of Hexed, Charmed, and Dead Girls Society. When she's not writing books, Michelle moonlights as a NICU nurse. She lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, with her family. You can visit Michelle online at michellekrys.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.