The Haunted_Edit Copy 4-9-17 final final 5 Upload

The breath shakily emptied from my lungs as I let go of his
hand and took a step back, making sure to keep Gunner behind me.
“Tucker ... you need to go to the hospital. Like right now. That looks
bad.”
Tucker’s chest was heaving like he was in pain, but his face
was strangely clear of any signs that he might be experiencing some
massive degree of agony. He closed his mouth and nodded. “Okay.”
“He might be in shock,” Gunner said, peering over my
shoulder. “You should drive him.”
I didn’t really want to be alone with him, but my brother had
a point. I pulled my keys out of my pocket and backed up more so I
could take the long way around the couch. I stepped on Gunner’s
foot but he just bounced to the side so he’d be out of my way.
“Come on, Tucker.”
He placed the lighter on the coffee table and stood up,
keeping his arm bent at a weird angle like a dinosaur. Part of me
wanted to rush to him and clean it myself and make it better. The
other part of me wanted him to keep it far, far away from me. My
stomach pitched when I saw the blistered skin up close. He
continued walking past me out the door, holding it open long enough
for Trouble to dart into the front yard for a quick pee break.
“Call me if you need anything, Gun.”
“Chelsea, has Tucker been acting ... weird lately?” Gunner
asked, gazing past me out the door.
I paused with one hand on the knob. “Uhh ... yeah. He’s been
a little out of it.”
“Did you guys run into anything bad in the paranormal
realm?” His eyes turned to me at the same time a chill rushed
through me. What kind of dots was he connecting?
“Yeah.” I gripped the doorknob like it would support me if I
lost my balance.
“I think you and I need to talk when you get back. He’s, um,
acting really weird.” Gunner’s hands were knotted together like a
ball of yarn.
I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Sure. When I get
back.”
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