My head ached. I was lying on my back. I could feel the cold, wet ice through my shirt and pants. I gazed up. Kids had gathered around me, staring down at me. I squinted, trying to focus. I felt so groggy. The rink seemed to be spinning around me. “Where is she?” I murmured. “Where did she go?” The faces jutted toward me. I stared at them but I couldn’t make out who anyone was. A girl loomed over me. I struggled to sit up. But my head felt heavy. I couldn’t move. “Ben? Are you okay?” My vision slowly cleared. Rikki stood over me. “You’re okay?” she repeated. “Wh-what happened?” I choked out. “You slipped,” she said. “I was kidding around with you. And you slipped and hit your head. You were knocked out.” I stared up at her. My mind was still spinning. Did I imagine the whole thing? Her glowing eyes? Her inhuman, rasping voice? It had all seemed so real…so terrifying. “Glad you’re okay,” Rikki said. She faded into the crowd of kids. Summer appeared.
