Shine: The Knowing Ones Read Online Free Page A

grasping at her chest. She sat in bed heaving. She glanced around the room—darkened silence. Nothing out of place, no light. She looked to her bed. Anna sprawled the mattress in the center, sound asleep. Vig lay next to her—squished, half on and half off of the bed, most of his covers stolen by Anna. Sam drew in a deep breath and placed a hand to her forehead, torn between the baffling dream experience and the urge to laugh.
    She turned to her alarm clock.
    Three minutes past nine.
    She squinted.
That’s not right.
She sat up for a closer look, rubbing her eyes and peering at the screen.
    Twelve thirty-four a.m.
    Sam stared. As delirious as she was, she
knew
the clock had read three minutes after nine. She sighed. She couldn’t do it anymore. Not tonight. She lay back down, closing her eyes.
    As she drifted into a fitful night’s sleep, the time three minutes after nine drifted through her mind like an ominous phantom.

CHAPTER FIVE
    S am woke to bright sunlight filtering through shuttered windows. She lay in bed, the events of the past night and the ominous dream still heavy in her mind. She lifted a hand to her neck, checking for pain, but felt none. With a furrowed brow she turned her head from right to left, then reached for her compact mirror in her purse by her bed. She pulled the small black lid open and lifted her chin angling the mirror so she could see. The bruising was gone. Every bit of it as if nothing had happened. She lay against her pillow, baffled.
    After some contemplation she pushed the covers back and climbed out of bed, setting the mirror aside and placing her feet on the floor. She stood, crossed the room and pulled the blinds open bathing the room in brightness.
    Anna writhed, grabbing a pillow. “Ugh.” She pulled the pillow over her head and rolled to the right, sending Vig from his precarious position on the edge of the mattress to the floor.
    Thunk!
Sam jumped, throwing her hands over her mouth as Vig jolted into the wall releasing a string of profanities. Sam erupted with laughter, reaching down to him. “Vig,” she said between guffaws, “are you okay?”
    Anna, still oblivious said, “It’s like five a.m. Does your room always get this much sun?”
    Sam doubled over in laughter as Vig pushed himself from the carpet. “Anna,” she gasped, “You just slammed Vig into the wall.” She dropped to the bed laughing as Anna pulled the pillow from her face and looked over. Vig had righted himself, now leaning shirtless againstthe wall glaring in her direction, dark eyes glinting under thick mess of disheveled brown hair. Anna exploded laughing. Sam fell forward in hysterics both girls beside themselves.
    Vig stared, expression blank. “I’m glad you both find this so funny,” he said.
    Neither Sam nor Anna could breathe to respond. They rolled on the mattress in hysterics as Vig reached for his jeans, muscled shoulders bunching as he pushed himself to his feet, and pulled them on over his boxers.
    Between gasps Anna said, “I’m so sorry, babe.” She continued laughing, tears spilling from her eyes.
    Gripping his waistband he turned and stared. “You’re crying,” he said. “You’re laughing so hard you’re crying.”
    Sam rolled to a sitting position. “We’re sorry,” she gasped.
    “I can tell.” He crossed the room and went out into the hall.
    “Viggie, we’re sorry,” Sam called after him. His reply was the sound of the bathroom door closing. Sam looked at Anna and they started laughing all over again.
    Finally gaining composure, Anna asked. “How are you feeling? How’s your neck?”
    Sam sat forward, pushing her long brown hair out of the way. “Look at this,” she said.
    Anna leaned in and stared—no bruising. Anna lifted her eyes in disbelief. “They’re gone.”
    Sam shrugged, lifting her hands. “Weird, right?” she said. “I dunno, maybe that’s normal.”“I seriously doubt it,” Anna said.
    Sam stood, shaking her head. “Whatever.”
    Anna