Thresholds Read Online Free

year or give her a break. She’d seen it happen to new kids at her old school. This was the first time she was the new kid. The first time she didn’t know a soul at school.
    Then she thought: Hey. I’m not alone.
    She didn’t even know these kids, but she was already in a group.
    She felt warm and happy.
    For about two seconds.
    “Hey! Tovah! How was summer camp?” Gwenda cried, and ran off to talk to a short girl with masses of dark crinkly hair.
    Rowan stalked past Maya toward the front entrance, not looking at anybody.
    She glanced at Benjamin. Was he going to take off, too? “Gee,” she said, “is he always that friendly?”
    Benjamin smiled. “You bet.”
    She pulled out her class schedule. “I have Mr. Ferrell for homeroom first period. Room M44.”
    Benjamin said, “Me, too.”
    “What does ‘M’ mean?” she asked.
    “M is the main building. This place is kind of a maze. Follow me.” Benjamin headed toward the front entrance.
    “Cool,” she said. A boy she already knew was in her homeroom, and he lived right next door. Plus, he’d agreed to be her native guide without her even asking.
    They pushed inside and entered a long, low-ceilinged hall where the odor of disinfectant and various people scents clashed. Kids crowded the hallway, talking fast and hard. Banks of lockers lined the walls, interspersed with doorways. Fluorescent lights ran down the center of the ceiling and made everyone look like they were in a bad movie.
    An ear-battering bell rang down the hallway, cutting through conversations. “First bell. Five minutes,” Benjamin said. “This way.”
    Unfortunately, Benjamin was short, and he was going fast. She lost him after one turn.
    She jumped up and down, trying to see over people’s heads. No luck. She couldn’t find him in the sea of heads and backpacks.
    She touched a tall girl’s sleeve and said, “Room M44?”
    “That way.” The girl pointed to another hallway. “Take a right.”
    “Thanks.” Maya rounded the corner and jumped up to search for Benjamin’s dark head again. When she came down, she slammed into a guy she hadn’t even noticed. She grabbed his arm to keep herself from falling.
    She stared up into his dark blue eyes. He had short, wavy, auburn hair and a spatter of dark freckles across his face. He was a head taller than she was, and pretty muscular. This was easy to tell, because his gray T-shirt didn’t have any sleeves.
    He smelled . . . strange. Sour, like maybe he’d just been sick. Shadows framed his eyes, and his skin was pale under his freckles. He radiated heat.
    Her hand tingled and pulsed against the bare skin of his upper arm.
    “Chikuvny,” whispered the boy.

FOUR
    “Huh?” Maya said .
    “Chikuvny,” he said.
    Benjamin had asked her if she were chikuvny . What the heck was it, and what made these guys think it had anything to do with her? “Sorry, no,” she said.
    “Where is the portal?” the boy asked. He gripped her wrists. His hands felt fever hot. His intensity scared her.
    “What portal? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    “I must find the portal.” Sweat streaked his face.
    “You’re sick,” she said. “Maybe you should see the nurse.” She glanced around. She wished she had a map of the school. She had no idea where the infirmary was, or anything else.
    “No. No nurses. No doctors,” he said. “I only need a portal.”
    “And I need to find M44. Do you know where that is?”
    He shook his head.
    “I have to go,” she said, trying to break his grip. He was way strong for a sick guy.
    He didn’t let go of her wrists, just stared into her eyes.
    She looked away. Kids were clearing the halls, funneling into classrooms.
    Should she yell for help?
    Sick Boy finally released her.
    She rubbed her wrists and ran down the hall, then glanced back. He stood there, swaying like he was going to fall, still staring at her.
    She was sure he needed help. She had no idea how to get it for him, and she didn’t want