Green light showed from Lester’s cellphone as he woke in the dark to find it vibrating on the pillow beside him. Flipping it open, he saw several missed texts. They were all from Amanda, wondering where he was and telling him to meet her and Mae at the town’s skating rink ASAP. She must have been trying to reach him for a while because the last one was just an angry face emoji, followed by a string of exclamation marks.

Swapping his sweat-soaked shirt for a clean one, Lester washed his face in the bathroom sink and headed downstairs. The house was still empty.

He grabbed a piece of cold fried chicken from the refrigerator and popped it into his mouth as he tried to remember the dream he’d been having. It hovered at the edge of his thoughts, but each time he attempted to bring it into focus, it disappeared. Was it something about warm bees, maybe? Giving up, he slipped on his coat and stepped outside.

The night was clear, and the earthy smell of decomposing leaves hung in the cold crisp air.

On the lower sports field behind Giles Hollow Elementary, The Council had converted an old barn into a place for kids to skate. Yet another gift to the town. They’d gone to great pains to keep its rustic exterior intact so as not to disrupt the quaint nature of the village. But beyond the old barn doors, everything was bright white and modern.

Lester felt the temperature drop even further as he stepped inside.

Amanda teetered atop a pair of skates, inching her way around the large oval of ice, gripping the sides for support. While out in the center, past the plexiglass barrier and shiny metal bleachers, Mae twirled rapidly on one foot. Bringing her arms in tight, she became a revolving blur.

Mae had an almost comical clumsiness on dry land, often bumping into things and knocking them over. But here, she moved like a dancer, and Lester watched as she launched gracefully from her spin. After executing a perfect figure eight, she coasted to a gentle stop in front of the waist-high door that led onto the ice.

“Hi, Lester,” Mae said cheerily, her breath showing in the air.

Lester marveled at how at home she seemed, gliding across the slick surface.

“I didn’t know you could skate,” he said.

“Yeah, since I was five. It was one of the things my parents thought I’d like about moving here. I think they imagined me gliding across a smooth pond surrounded by evergreen trees and snow, but this place is amazing.”

“Where the hell have you been?” interrupted Amanda, slowly making her way towards them. “After Saturday, you just vanished. No call. No Message. You could have been dead for all we knew.”

“Sorry,” Lester said, feeling guilty. He’d known Amanda his whole life. When she felt scared or concerned, she masked her fear with annoyance and frustration. He could tell she’d actually been worried.

“Listen up,” Amanda scowled. “New rule. No one disappears from here on out without letting at least one of us know. Clear?”

Mae and Lester nodded.

Amanda was right. Amid everything that was happening around them, they only had each other. It was essential to look out for one another. Especially now, in light of what Lester had learned on his trip to Salem.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“I went to see Mathis,” Lester said apologetically. “It wasn’t exactly planned.”

“What? Really?” Amanda asked, her angry expression vanishing. “How is he?”

“Actually. All things considered, he’s pretty good,” said Lester.

Sitting on the bleachers, he filled them in on what had happened since they’d separated on the way back from Amanda’s aunt’s house. He shared his conversation with Ben, the fight with his mother, and what he’d learned from Mathis.

“He really thinks there could be members of The Light in Giles Hollow?” asked Amanda.

“It would explain what we saw in the alley behind The Mortician’s Eye,” said Lester.

Amanda frowned. “I guess. But if that guy was their enemy, why didn’t he put up more of a fight?”

“I don’t know,” Lester said. “However, if Mathis is right, we’ve got more than just The Council to worry about.”

“Great. That’s all we need,” said Amanda. “And how are we supposed to know who’s on what side?”

“I don’t know. What do you think, Mae?” Lester asked.

“Sorry. What?” said Mae.

Since the completion of Lester’s story, Mae had been unusually silent. She’d been sitting quietly, gazing out at the lights reflecting off the ice. Now, pulled from her reverie by the question, she gave her head a quick shake as if clearing a troubling thought.

“Do you have any ideas on how we can tell The Light from The Dark?” Lester asked again.

“I’m not sure,” Mae said, back in detective mode. “Let’s see. Werewolves have an instigating injury, of course. Vampires can’t go out in the sunlight, and Zombies experience discoloration and fevers in the early stages. Though, later I’m guessing it wouldn’t be that hard to pick them out. You know, because their bodies continue to decay.”

“Will you be serious,” said Amanda.

“I am,” said Mae.

“What if there is no way to tell?” Lester asked. “Maybe all we can do is watch for any sign of suspicious activity.”

“Are you forgetting we live in Giles Hollow?” said Amanda. “Suspicious activity is kind of this town’s thing.”

“Wait a minute,” Mae said, snapping her fingers. “This morning, I overheard Mrs. Q and that new kid, Thomas, having a very odd conversation.”

“Honestly. You think Thomas is a member of The Light?” said Amanda.

“He did just move here, and he’s been acting a little weird ever since he arrived,” said Lester.

“First of all, Mae just moved here,” Amanda said. “And you’re not accusing her of being a member of The Light. Secondly, I think you’re jealous. Thomas is smart and funny, and people like him.”

“People like me,” Lester said, not sounding entirely confident.

“Not everyone,” said Amanda. “You heard Mae. Thomas is even friends with Mrs. Q.”

“That’s not exactly a mark in his favor,” said Lester.

“I’ve got to agree with Lester on this one,” added Mae. “She’s saiaku.”

Neither Lester nor Amanda needed to know Japanese to get Mae’s meaning. The disgust on her face said enough.

“You’re just giving Thomas a pass because you think he’s cute,” Lester said.

Amanda’s face, already pink from the cold, turned a deep red.

“I do not think he’s cute. You take that back!” she said, poking Lester hard.

“If you don’t think he’s cute, then why are you getting so upset?” said Lester, responding with a jab of his own.

“Guys. Stop,” Mae interrupted. “I just realized. Thomas can’t be one of The Light.”

“Why not?” Lester asked, shielding himself from a series of well-placed slaps from Amanda.

“He owns one of those really expensive new smartphones,” said Mae. “I’ve seen him use it. From what Mathis told you, if Thomas were a member of The Light or The Dark, he wouldn’t be able to.”

“Oh. Right,” Lester said, trying not to sound too disappointed. He had also seen Thomas on his phone.

“That doesn’t rule out Mrs. Q,” said Mae.

“She’s lived here since before we were born,” said Amanda. “If she’s part of The Light, she’s certainly taking her sweet time making her move.”

“Good point,” Mae admitted. “But I still don’t like her.”

The three friends sat on the metal bleachers in silence, each running a string of mental mugshots through their minds, wondering which of their neighbors might be secretly plotting against them.