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Ava Perez is determined to move past the fear of Friday night and focus on something she can understand: saving the WillowBend Wetlands.

With Maddie and Olivia beside her, Ava begins organizing an ambitious restoration project involving cleanup crews, invasive species removal, native plants, water testing, and possibly even local news coverage. For a few hours, she almost feels like herself again.

Almost.

Because the image of that closet door still haunts her.

At school, Ava’s growing momentum collides headfirst with Hannah Whitman. One slammed laptop, one hard shove, and one trip to the principal’s office later, Ava discovers Hannah is not finished with her.

Outside the school, Hannah and her crew corner Ava with no teachers and no clear way out.

Then something impossible happens.

A dark, unnatural blur tears across the pavement and sends both girls crashing to the ground. Hannah sees it too, leaving WillowBend’s untouchable queen shaken, humiliated, and suddenly losing control of her own loyal followers.

But the strangest reaction belongs to Maddie.

While Olivia wants to know more about the mysterious figure, Maddie refuses even to call it a ghost. She looks frightened, guarded, and haunted by something she is not ready to reveal.

Whatever was awakened has followed Ava into the daylight.

And this time, it protected her.

In This Chapter

• Ava launches her plan to restore the WillowBend Wetlands
• Maddie gets drafted into the Eco Warriors
• Hannah pushes Ava too far
• Ava lands in the principal’s office for the first time
• Hannah’s crew traps Ava outside the school
• A living shadow intervenes
• Hannah’s grip on her followers begins to crack
• Maddie’s reaction raises a disturbing new question

The Question

Did the shadow save Ava because it is protecting her?

Or because it has already claimed her?