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Evie woke, disoriented. She was in her own bed, but squished over to one side, clutching Bearington Bear. She hadn’t taken him to bed with her since she was little.
Then she remembered—Miss Iris was gone. And her dad was in the hospital. She squeezed Bearington tightly.
Rachel’s dad was in the hospital, too. Rachel was staying with her; that’s why she was sleeping funny. Evie stretched out her arm. Then where was Rachel?
Evie sat up, heart racing. Had the man taken Rachel again? She tried not to panic, scanning her dark room. And then she saw her, standing by the window. Rachel’s pale nightgown made her look like a ghost.
“Rachel?” Evie whispered.
Her friend didn’t respond.
“Rachel?” she repeated.
This time, Rachel glanced over her shoulder at Evie. The girl lifted her hand at t
