Okay, this is set as if there was no such thing as Chloe Saunders. Tori-Sarah and Rae-Liz are the roommate arrangements. Also Peter is still at Lyle House, though he will be leaving very soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Darkest Powers trilogy. Kelley Armstrong is the lucky lady who does.

Why me? Why me? I thought as I made my way up the cobblestone path that lead to the overly decorated dollhouse in front of me. "Lyle House" for mentally disturbed teens. Was I a mentally disturbed teen? I didn't think so but apparently my parents did. I had argued against it but my parents word against mine? ha. Lets just say I didn't win.

"Sarah," my mom called from the car as she unloaded my bags, "I'm sorry. Just be a big girl and stay out of trouble. Everything will work out. You'll find the answers you need soon enough."

I just hope soon isn't too soon. She thought.

Yes, I can read minds. I can hear the thoughts of everyone within a 5 mile radius but I also heard all the back talk and being a girl with no friends, I heard it alot. I had always been the "Loser" or the "dork" of my school just because I got good grades and liked to read. The only guys that would flirt with me would be from the chess club and the only girls that would talk to me were the popular people and only to rub what a loser I am in my face. I was also called a freak for knowing what people wanted to do or say before they did or said it. My mom didn't know about this but my Dad did.

He's a mind reader, too. He would never tell me that but I read it in his mind.

I also see things that aren't there. That's why I think I might be crazy. At first it was really scary because all of these non-existent people would pop up and start scaring me but after awhile I learned that they can't hurt me. They can't even touch stuff or they go right through it. My mom always acts guilty when I tell her I see things and it makes me curious but she's good at blocking her thoughts as if she practiced especially for me.

I am being sent to Lyle House because I can see and hear things that aren't there. Sometimes I get a weird feeling that they are actually there and I wonder why my parents would lie to me. Fear. They were scared of someone or something. I could tell by the look in their eyes when they got the call offering me the free stay at Lyle House.

"Hello." Said an old woman. Well she's not that old, maybe only 50 but, still. She seemed really cheery and annoying, "I'm Miss Talbot and you must be Sarah, our new guest."

"Well, duh," I whispered so quietly I was 100% sure she didn't hear me and nodded.

"Welcome to Lyle House. You must be tired. I'll show you up to your room and someone will give you the grand tour tomorrow."

Oh joy I thought bitterly.

"Here, let me take those," Miss Talbot told my mom and she handed over the bags, "You can say good-bye now," Miss Talbot told my mother politely, but I didn't miss the hint of annoyance in her tone.

My mom hugged me and said good-bye before she hopped in the car and sped away.

"You're room is right this way," said Miss Talbot as she led me into the house.

It was the same as the outside. Happy, bright, cheery and flowery. Man, 3 days in here and I'm going to become a happy zombie. I shivered involuntarily. Just the thought of zombies had my skin crawling.

"You will be sharing a room with Victoria Enright. There are three other girls and four boys. The boys' rooms are on the left side of the building and the girls' are on the right."

"Okay," was all I could say. This place was coed, too! I don't think I can do this anymore.

Once I was in my room I sat down on my bed. I wasn't tired but I was exhausted. I didn't want to close my eyes knowing that I was going to have wake up and actually live this nightmare but I also didn't want to stay awake to live through the humiliation right now. At least I was alone and it was quiet. Anyways where is everybody? It doesn't really matter as long as it's quiet. Suddenly I heard a blender going downstairs and I covered my ears. It was then I realized I had a headache. Probably from all the stress and humiliation today.

I made my way downstairs and through the route to the kitchen that I remembered I saw while Miss Talbot was talking. As I entered the kitchen I saw Miss Talbot blending something in the blender while talking to another lady about 30 with long black hair. She looked very strict and mean. It also looked like she never smiled.

"What can I do for you?" Miss Talbot asked when she saw me.

"I have a headache. Do you have anything I could take for it?"

"Sure we do," She said as she walked over to the cupboard and pulled out an unlabeled bottle of pills that looked like Tylenol or Advil.

She quickly took one out and handed it to me along with a glass of water. I took it and with a quick thank-you I headed back upstairs.

By the time my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.