“Nooo!” Della wailed.
I finally understood. I stepped up to the tree beside Briana. “Briana is my buddy!” I declared. “And I’m coming back next summer to warn the next girl!”
“No! No! Nooooo!” Della raged. “You can’t do that! I’ve waited so long! So lonnnng!”
She let go of the tree limb and shook her fists at Briana and me.
Lost her balance.
Her hands flew up as she started to fall.
She grabbed for the limb. Missed.
And dropped silently to the ground.
Then she was gone.
Vanished.
With a weary sigh, I climbed to my feet. I shook my head. “Is she gone for good?” I murmured.
Briana shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope so.”
I turned to Briana. “You-you saved my life!” I cried. “Thank you for following me. Thank you for saving me!”
With a happy cry, I stepped up to her. “Thank you! Thank you!”
I wrapped my arms around her to hug her.
And my hands went right through her body.
I gasped. I grabbed her shoulder. But I couldn’t feel a thing.
I jumped back in shock.
Briana narrowed her eyes at me. “Della killed me last summer, Sarah,” she said softly. “On the last day. But I didn’t want to be her buddy. I just never liked her.”
She floated forward, raised herself off the ground, hovered over me.
“But I need a buddy,” she whispered. “Everyone has to have a buddy. You’ll be my buddy-won’t you, Sarah?”
I saw the hissing snake in her hand.
But I couldn’t move.
“You’ll be my buddy-won’t you?” Briana repeated. “You’ll be my buddy forever.”