"Yup. Holiday wasn't happy about it. Yet supposedly they are like the head honchos around here. What they say goes. But I can tel you that Holiday stood up for you. She told them that you were innocent, but they just said they'd find out for themselves."

And exactly how did they plan to do that? Was it the CIA or FBI who were accused of torturing? Oh damn, she already had a headache-she didn't want to add "get tortured" to today's to-do list.

Del a's gaze shifted up over Kylie's shoulder. "Uh, don't look now, but I think Holiday's looking for you. And ... I think she's found you."

A second later, Kylie felt someone beside her. Only it wasn't Holiday. The cold slammed against her side and Kylie knew "he" was back. She drew in a deep breath, determined not to pass out, but barely managed to get the cold air down her throat. Forcing herself to move, she shifted her eyes ever so slowly, praying she wouldn't see him this time.

Someone wasn't listening to prayers today. But at the least there was no blood this time. Soldier Dude just stood there staring at her with his big blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to want to tel her something. But what? What could he want? She recal ed the word help splattered in blood the last time she'd seen him. Just what kind of help could he need from her?

The idea of asking him crossed her mind, but somehow she sensed that if she spoke to him, it would bring him closer. She closed her eyes and mental y pleaded for him to go away.

"And here she is." Del a's voice registered ever so slightly in Kylie's awareness. Opening her eyes, she saw Holiday move in between her and Soldier Dude.

"You ready?" the camp leader asked.

The cold faded and the goose bumps on Kylie's arms melted back into normal skin. Even the frigid air in her lungs warmed. A wave of relief washed over her.

"Oh," Holiday said, and took a step back. "Did I interrupt something?"

Kylie knew the camp leader didn't mean her and Del a. Blinking, Kylie gazed at Holiday and tried to focus. "Can't you tel him to leave me alone?"

"Doesn't work like that," Holiday said.

"What doesn't work like that?" Del a asked.

"Ready?" Holiday said again to Kylie.

"For what?" Kylie asked. Why did the FRU want to talk to her?

"Our meeting," Holiday said.

"Can I come?" Del a asked.

Kylie looked at her roommate and saw in her gaze that she was trying to help. An effort that Kylie appreciated more than her roomie could know.

"Can she?" Kylie asked.

"Afraid not." Holiday eyed Del a. "I think the vampires are holding a group session. You should be there." The camp leader's gaze shifted back to Kylie. "Come on." Holiday put her hand on Kylie's back and led her away.

But just what the hel Holiday was leading Kylie to was yet to be seen.

Chapter Twenty-one

"There're a couple of people who want to meet you." Holiday moved Kylie toward the main office.

"Who?" she asked, hoping that Del a was wrong.

"They're from the FRU."

She'd heard the acronym several times since arriving at Shadow Fal s Camp. This time, however, when the three letters formed in Kylie mind, a new thought hit. Freaks-R-Us.

"They're the people who support the camp," Holiday added as she guided Kylie up the steps.

"Why?" she asked, and stopped at the door. "Why do they want to meet me?" She wasn't even sure she was a freak. Holiday's gaze softened. "Mostly curiosity. They've never met anyone they couldn't read."

"I thought you said this was common with people who could see ghosts?"

Holiday appeared to be debating what to say. "It's not just because they can't read you, Kylie. It's because what they can see of your brain pattern isn't common."

Kylie's headache resumed its pounding. And the fear that she real y could have a tumor stirred in her chest. She envisioned herself with her head shaved and big ugly scars running across her skul . It was horrible.

But so was admitting that she was as much of a freak as the rest of them.

"You're special, and they sense this. So come on. It'l only take a minute and then we can have our meeting."

Holiday's hand on Kylie's back grew warm. Immediately, Kylie knew the camp leader had emotion-control ing abilities similar to Derek's. Al Kylie's reservations about having a brain tumor and about meeting the Freaks-R-Us squad dissolved as the warmth of Holiday's hand flowed inside her.

"Why are you doing that?" Kylie stepped away.

"Doing what?" Holiday asked.

"Trying to take away my fear?" She shifted out of Holiday's reach.

Holiday's eyes grew round. "Wow. You can sense this? That's amazing." She touched Kylie again. "That means-"

"Stop doing it." Kylie backed away again. She didn't care about amazing, or what it meant, at least not now. She cared about what waited for her on the other side of the door and about possibly having a brain tumor. "It makes me think maybe I should be afraid."

Holiday shook her head. "You don't have anything to be afraid of." She reached out again and Kylie looked at her hand. Holiday held up her palms. "Trust me."

"Sorry," Kylie said. "But I have a hard time trusting people who can manipulate my emotions." And yes, in a smal way she meant Derek, too. Holiday sighed. "Believe it or not, Kylie, I respect that. But right now, I need you to meet these two men. Nothing bad is going to happen. I give you my word."