I have trouble sleeping that night. I keep tossing and turning, replaying what happened, and still seeing the defeated look on Marcus’ and Tim’s faces.

  I know where Marcus was coming from. He knew I had secured a scholarship to college, not prestigious, but good enough to get me out of this dead-end town.

  Finally, when sleep does come, it’s not restful. I dream I’m back at the abandoned house. I go to the safe, pull open the door, and see it’s empty.

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  It’s difficult to see, so I take a closer look. I see something in the back, something written on the inside wall, but I can’t make it out. I lean forward when an icy fear grips me. Something is wrong.

  A loud ringing noise breaks the spell. I jack-knife into a sitting position. It’s my alarm going off.

  I reach to turn it off and see my hand is shaking. Was there something more in the safe? I have to go back and check it out.