Got a crush on Cabel, the maybetrouble, maybe-savior guy who had his eye on Janie?

Dont worry your secret , is safe with us! If you loved Wake from Janies perspective, wait till you hear Cabels point-of-view in a FREE online story by Lisa McMann!

P Keep reading for a .S. sneak peek of the first chapter of Wake!

Prepare yourself for GONE, the final book in the trilogy!

After youve read Wake, dive into Fade!

Coming February 2010! For downloadables, chapter excerpts, daily updates from the author and more, , visit LisaMcMann.com

Pulse

Simon & Schuster Publishing

TEEN.SimonandSchuster .com

CabelsStory/McMann

October14,2005,10:05a.m. Goodluck,hesays,hisvoiceharsh.CabelStrumhellershoveshiswaypast

classmatesandoffthebus,andentersthehotelinStratford,Canada.Fuming.Still shakingalittle.Eyestotheground,notwantingtoaccidentallylookather,seeif shescoming. Hegoesstraighttohisroomandflopsonthebed,staringattheceiling.Three otherguysletthemselvesin.Theyrummagearoundtheroomforafewminutes,but Cabebarelylooksatthem,barelyacknowledgestheirpresence.Theydonttalkto him,either.Whatelseisnew? Oncehisweekendroommatesaregone,offtoseethefirstplay,Cabelrolls overonthehotelbedtothinkaboutthings. AboutJanieHannagan,andwhatexactlyhappenedonthebusforthepast fourhours. Aboutwhatthehelliswrongwithher,andhowshemanagedtogetinsidehis dream. Heslamshisfistinthepillow.Cantgetthenightmaretostop. Cabelstandsonthestepsatthebackdoorofhishouse,handontheknobofthe opendoor,lookingin.Thenheslamsitshutandmarchesthroughthedry,yellowgrass. Hisdadburstsoutthedoorafterhim,yelling,standingonthestep,carryingabeerand acigaretteinonehand,acanoflighterfluidintheother.Hisdadscreamsathim,and Cabelturns,frightenedofthetoweringman.Hefreezesashisfatherapproaches.The manspraysCabesclotheswiththelighterfluid.

CabelsStory/McMann SetsCabeonfire. Cabelflopsaroundonthegroundinflames,screaming,painsearingthrough

him,thefireblisteringhisskin.Andthen,withafuriousroar,hetransformsintoan enormousmonsterwithknivesforfingersandhelungesforhisfatherwithonlyone goalinmind. Killinghim. ThatshowitstartsthenightmareCabehashadforyears.That,orsome formofit.Itchangesabiteachtime.Cabelcantimagineaworsenightmare. Butthatsnoteventhepartthatsbotheringhim.Notnow.Hespackedaway allthoseemotions,thankyouverymuch.Thatnightmarehecanhandle. Butwhathappenedonthebus?Thatwasjustcrazy.Becausethistime,asleep sittingnexttoJanie,heactuallywatchedhimselfhavethenightmare.Asifhewere anonlookertosomeoneelsesdream. AndJaniewasthere,too,behindtheshedinthebackyardwithCabel. Watching. WatchingCabelsdreamplayoutasiftheywererightthere,init. Andthenafterward,whenhewokeup,seeingtheshockinherfacetooit waslikeaconfession,andshedidnttrytodenyit.

CabelsStory/McMann Heknowsher.Knowswhereshelives.Casually,notweirdlikeastalkeror

anything.Theydriddenthebustogethersincemiddleschool,backwhenCabewasa gradeaheadofher.BackbeforehisdadmessedupCabeslife. ButCabedoesntwanttothinkaboutthatnow.Doesntwanttothinkabout hisdadeveragain.Hesdonewiththat.Donewithhim. Still,thenightmarehehadonthebusisfresh.Hedidntthinkhewasstill havingthatone.Butnowheknowshehasbeen. Andhesnottheonlyonewhoknowsthat. Themonstermanroarsandrunsawayfromthehouse,backtowardtheshed. Theresagirlbackthere.Janie.Thegirlhealwaysdreamsabout. Themonstermangrowls.Heseesher. Shesqueaksandcloseshereyes,herbackpressedupagainsttheshed,asifshes tryingtomeltintothesiding. Andthenthemonstertransforms,backintoCabel.Helooksatthegirl,sosorry, soverysorryforscaringher.Wantinghertoseehimlikenobodyelseeverdoes.The guythatnobodyreallyknows.Whensheopenshereyesandseeshim,shestepstoward him. Hetouchesherface. Leansin. Kissesher. Shekisseshimback.

CabelsStory/McMann Ugh,hesays,rememberinghowthenightmareends.Squeezeshiseyes

shut,tryingtofigureitout.TryingtounderstandhowJanieHannaganmanagedto seeallofthat. Shesafreak,hesaysslowly.Psychotic.Whatifshesanalien?Cabe shakeshishead.Hesseenenoughweirdstufftoknowthatweirdstuffreally happens.Notmuchsurpriseshimanymore.Andafterwhatjusthappened,thinking Janiemightbeanalienorattheveryleast,psychic,isntmuchofastretch.Isshe dangerous,though?Hethinksshemightbe. Hefeelstheparanoiacoming,letsitwashoverhim.Wasshespyingonhim? Howlonghassheknownthathedreamsaboutsuchawfulthings?Andthathe dreamsabouther?Itsembarrassing.Andnow,quitepossibly,afterfourhours ridingtogetherinthefreakingmiddleofthenight,sheknowsthedreamsand nightmaresofhalfthepeopleonthatbus. Butwhyaretheyobliviouswhenhesnot?Whyarenttheyconfrontingher? Ishejustimaginingthis? Hecantfigureitout. Hesawheronthatbus.Forhours,onandoff,sheshook.Outofcontrol,likea multitudeofseizures.Shedbeggedhimtokeepquietaboutitafterthefirstepisode, madehimpromiseherhewouldntgethelp,wouldnttellasoul,nomatterhow manymoretimesithappened.Hesawhowshewastooweaktogetfoodwhenthey stoppedatMcDonalds.Watchedherhelplessly.Shelookedterrible.Wouldanybody subjectherselftothatonpurpose?

CabelsStory/McMann Butshegotinsidehispsyche,wherenobodyelsecouldevergo.Wherehe

doesntwantanybodytogo.Anditsscary.Whatisshe? Hehasntfeltthisvulnerableinalongtime. Cabelshakeshishead. Hethinksaboutthefirsttimeshenoticedhimattheneighborhoodbusstop onthefirstdayofjunioryear.Itwasfunnythentheydriddenthesamebusfora fewyears,buthedneverseenherevenglancehisway. HedheardwhatCarrieBrandthadsaidtoJaniebackthenwhiletheywaited forthebustocome.Lookie,itsyourboyfriend.AndCarrielaughed.God,thatwas embarrassing.JanieshushedCarrie,butthenshestartedlaughingtoo. Cabesatbehindthemonthebustoschoolthatday.Pretendedtosleepsohe couldoverhear.Incasetheyweregoingtomakefunofhimevenmore. Buttheydidnt. NotJanie.Noteveragain. HecaughtJanieseyeonceortwiceafterthat,andshedidntlookawayin disgustoranything.Buttheydidntspeak. Whenthehomecomingdanceapproached,Cabethoughtfleetinglyabout askingher.Ha.Yeah,right.Nowayshedgowithhim.Hewasatotalloser.Theonly groupthatacceptedhimwastheGoths.Andtheytakeanyone. Healmostdidntevengotothedance,buttheguysweregoingtohangout, sowhatthehell,right?Heneverevenwentinsidethegym.Hejustloiteredoutside

CabelsStory/McMann

thebackdoorwiththeguys,smoking,andthinkingabouthowheshouldquitnow thathewasgettinghislifefiguredout.AndwonderingifJaniewasinside. Whenthedoorflewopen,nobodysawitcoming.Thedoorknobguttedhim beforehisfootcouldstopit.Tookhisbreathawayforaminute.Searingpain.He doubledover.Hisfriendslaughed.Whynot?Itwasfunnyforthem,hesupposed. Buthiseyesstayedonherassheflewoutofthereasifonamissioninthe dark,coolevening,headingdownthesamestreetCabehadwalkeddozensoftimes ayear,everytimehemissedthebus. Shewobbledonhighheelslikeshedneverwornthembefore.Itwasalong walkhome,andnotverypleasantitwasgettingcoldandthefartherawayfrom school,theworsetheneighborhoodgot.OnceCabegothisbreathback,heeyedhis skateboard.Maybenowwashischance.Headjustedhisbeanie,shovedhisbangs upunderitalittlesohecouldsee.Litanothercigaretteandsmokeditslowly,his fingersshakingjustalittle. Yougoingafterher?oneoftheguys,Jake,askedhim. Maybe,Cabesaidcoolly.Hetookanotherdragandletitoutslowly,then crushedthebuttwithhisshoeandgrabbedhisboard.Yeah. Imcoming,anotherguysaid.Curfew. Metoo,saidanother. Cabetookabreathandfrownedinthedark.Whatever. Beforehecouldchangehismind,hetuckedhisboardunderhisarmandthey setout.

CabelsStory/McMann Ittookseveralminutestocatchuptoheronfoot,andforashorttimehe

thoughthedlosther.Shedabandonedthehighheelsbynow,buttheneighborhood wasdeterioratingrapidlyastheymovedtowardthecrappysideoftown,where bothCabelandJanielived. Hesawhertenseupasthethreeapproached.Thetwoguyslaidtheirboards downandshefroze.Cabelcursedunderhisbreath.Hedidntmeantofreakherout. Jeez!shesaid.Recognizinghim,thankfully.Scareagirlhalftodeath,why dontyou.Shelookedpissed. Cabeshrugged.Outwardlycool,inwardlyamess.Hisguttwistedand churned.WhatthehellamIdoing?Butitwastoolatetogobacknow.Hetried desperatelytothinkofsomethingtosay.Theotherguysskatedupahead,givinghim somedistance. Longwalk,hesaid.Cringedathowlameitwas.You,uhhisvoice crackedokay? Fine,shesaid,clippingtheword.You? Cabelgulped.Hetookadeepbreath.Noideawhattodonext.Buthecould hardlystandtowatchherwalkbarefoot.Shewaslimpingalready. Geton,hesaid,andputtheboarddownontheground.TookJaniesshoes fromherhand.Youllripyourfeettoshreds.Theresglassanshit. Janiestopped.Lookedathim.Andhecouldseesomethinginhertoughgirl face.Vulnerabilityorsomething.Itmadehisstomachtwist. Idontknowhow,shesaid.

CabelsStory/McMann Hegrinned,then.Relieved.Shedidnttellhimtogetlost.Definitelyastepin

therightdirection.Juststand.Bend.Balance,hesaid.Illpushyou. And,afterstaringathimforalongminute,shedidit.Unbelievable.Heplaced hishandgentlyonthesmallofherback,hopingthatwasokaywithher,butnot abouttoask.Pushedher,andafterafewwobbles,shefiguredouthowtostand withoutfallingandtilttheboardtosteerashepushedherthroughthecrappy streetsofSouthFieldridge. Hehadntfeltthisgoodabouthimselfinalongtime.Andeventhoughhe couldntthinkofanythingtosay,itwasokay,thereinthedark.Thetwoofthem, awkward,silent.Thewarmthofherbackonhishandinthechillyevening.Thefact thatshetrustedhim.Thatshewasntafraid.Thatshedidntrunawayscreaming. Shelethimtouchher,forcryingoutloud. Incredible. Hehardlynoticedwhentheotherguystookoff,headingtotheirrespective homes.Itwasallhecoulddotokeephisconcentrationonavoidingstonesandglass. Whenhepushedherupherdrivewaytothestep,heknewitwasover.For themoment,atleast.Butitwasenoughfornow.Itwashope. Janiehoppedofftheskateboardandopenedthescreendoor. Hesethershoesonthestep,hesitatedforamoment,thenpickeduphis boardandlefthertherewithoutaword.Justanod.Totallyataloss. Hewasattheroadwhenheheardit.Thanks,Cabel.Hervoicewasthin,soft intheair.Thatwassweet. Freakingmusic,itwas.Enoughtomakeaguyalittlebitcrazyinside.

CabelsStory/McMann Cabelthinksaboutthatdayalotlately. Hesitsbackuponthehotelbedandthengoesintothebathroom.Splashes

wateronhisfaceandjustleansoverthesink,hisheadbuttingupagainstthemirror, thinking.Thinkingabouthow,backthen,hehadnoideajusthowcomplicatedthis thingwasgoingtoget. 3:13p.m. WhiletherestoftheseniorsofFieldridgeHighareatthetheatrewatching Camelot,Cabelwandersthehotel,thenheadsoutsideandwalkstothenearby shoppingmall.HetakesinamovieitsatoughcallchoosingbetweenCapoteand ReturnoftheLivingDead5,butafterthenightmareonthebus,horrorisnot soundinggoodtoday. Hegrabsdinneratthemallsfoodcourtandhangsaroundthemusicstore untilhegetskickedoutforlookinglikeanogoodteenager.Whatisitwithadults anyway?Theyresoscaredandsuspiciousallthetime.Hell,Cabethinks,werejust tryingtogetby,likethem. HewandersdowntotheChaptersbookstoreandbrowsesthescifiand fantasysection.ThinksthiswholethingwithJanieandthenightmaresfeelsalittle scifi,too. Andthenhepauses.

CabelsStory/McMann 10 Looksaroundthestore,andmovestotheselfhelpsection. Whenheseesashelfofbooksondreams,hegrabsafew,findsachair,and

settlesin.Hoursgobyashereads,studies.Fascinated.Atclosingtime,Cabel purchasesthebooks.Hewalksthroughthedarknessbacktothehotel. Hepretendstobeasleepwhentheguyscomeinafterelevenfromthe theatre.Doesntwanttoansweranyquestionsaboutwherehesbeenallday. Besides,hisbrainisfull.Hesexhaustedandstillconfused.Troubled.Buthisangeris fading. ItdoesntseemlikeJaniecanhelpit,orshewouldhavetriedtohideitonthe bus.Thatstheconclusionhecomesto,anyway. Hedriftsofftosleep. October15,2005,4:03a.m. Cabelsinashoppingmall.Inthecentercourtyard,thereisakioskwithashort lineofpeople.Hegetsinlinebehindtheothers.Seesagiantwoodenboxonthefloor. Twopeopleclimbinandliedown.Thevendorrunningthekioskclosesthetopon them,andthenpushesabutton.Theboxslowlydescendsintothefloorasthelineof peoplewatchinsilence. Whatshappening?Cabelwhisperstothepersoninfrontofhim. Itsagame,thegirlsays.Sheturnstolookathim,andCabelrealizesitsJanie. Likeavirtualrideorsomething? Sortof.

CabelsStory/McMann 11 Cabelshrugsandwatches.Theboxsurfacesonceagainandthelidopens.Only

onepersongetsoutasobbingwoman.Shepointstotheboxandcriesout,Hes dead! Immediatelytheparamedicsarethere.Theyremovethedeadmanandthe kioskworkersignalsforthenextpeopleinlinetogetintothebox. Thisisnotcool,CabelsaystoJanie. Itiswhatitis,Janiesays. Thenextcouplegoesdownandwhentheysurface,themangetsout.Heis sobbing,pointing.Shesdead!hecriesout.Peoplehavetohelphimwalkaway. Cabelssweatingnow.Comeon,Janie,hesays.Letsgo. Wecant,shesays.Ifyougetintheline,youmuststayfortheride.See?she pointstoasignthatsaysexactlythat. Soonitistheirturn. Please,Janie,Cabelpleads.Comeon!Wecanjustgo.Doyouseewhats happening? Wecantcontrolwhatshappening,Cabel,shesays.Shelooksathimwith sorrowinhereyes.Theresnocontrollingit.Itiswhatitis. ThekioskworkersignalsJanieandCabeltoenterthebox.Upclose,Cabelcan seeitslined,likeacoffin. No,Janieno.Wedonthavetodothis! JaniegivesCabelasorrowfullook.Shehesitates,andthenshesays,Itsokay. Youstay.Illgo.AndthenshesqueezesCabelshand,brusheshischeekwithher fingertips.Smilesasad,crookedsmile.

CabelsStory/McMann 12 Cabelwatchesherstepintothecoffin.Wait!Whatwillhappen?Buthe

alreadyknows. Janiewaves.Itsokay,shesays,sincere.Itwouldhavebeenmeanyway. ThekioskworkerclosesthelidonJanie. Cabelisfrantic,watchingtheboxbeinglowered.Stop!hecries.Stop!Letme in! Butitstoolate.Cabellungesfortheboxasitdisappearsintothefloor.Cabel fallstothetile,unabletospeakorscreamorcry.Finallyhegasps.Coward!hesaysto himself.Janie,no!Comeback!Imsorry! Thewaitisendless,butfinallytheboxreturnstothesurface.Thelidopens. Janieisdead. Cabelrollsoverinthebed.No,hewhispers. 4:55a.m. Hesitsup.Sheesh,hesays,awakenow.Helooksattheclock,disoriented. Forgetsforamomentwhereheis.Theotherguysintheroomaresleepingsoundly. Cabeltakesadeepbreathandsettlesbackdownonthepillow.Hefeelshisheartstill racing.Tellshimselftocalmdown,andafterawhile,hedoes.Buthecantgetback tosleep.Finally,hedozesoffagain,restless. 8:24a.m. CabeignorestheothersastheygetreadyforafinalsessionofShakespeare beforeeveryoneheadsbacktoFieldridgeHigh.Whentheyaregone,hetakesalong

CabelsStory/McMann 13

showerandslowlygetsreadyfortheday.Thinking.ThinkingaboutJanie.Aboutthe dream.Aboutallsortsofthingsandhowtheyrelatetohislife...andtoJanies,too, probably.Shame.Disappointment.Loneliness. Hepullsupthecomforterandsitsdownontopofit,tryingtofigureherout. Andknowingthateventhoughhedoesntunderstandher,heneedstoknowwhat happened...andwhatcouldhappen.Theresnowayhecanjustlethergoorkeep silent,likehedidontheskateboardnight.Nowayhecanlookatheragainwithout demandinganswers. 11:31a.m. Cabehopsupoffthebed,hungryandresolved,andgrabshisjacket.Slipshis shoeson.ThinksaboutwhatJaniemustbegoingthroughrightnow,thisminute. Wondersifsheskippedthemorningplaytocatchuponsleep.Heimaginesher, stuckinaroomwiththreeothergirlsandtheircollectivedreamsallnight.Hessure Janiereallyneedsfoodbynow. And...well. Itsnotgoingtodeliveritself.

start from the beginning

heres the first chapter of wake . . .

. . . to prepare you for the third book in the trilogy,

Gone
coming 2010

SIMON PULSE
NEW YORK LONDON TORONTO SYDNEY

December 9, 2005, 12:55 p.m.

Janie Hannagans math book slips from her fingers. She grips the edge of the table in the school library. Everything goes black and silent. She sighs and rests her head on the table. Tries to pull herself out of it, but fails miserably. Shes too tired today. Too hungry. She really doesnt have time for this. And then.
Shes sitting in the bleachers in the football stadium, blinking under the lights, silent among the roars of the crowd.

LISA M

MANN

She glances at the people sitting in the bleachers around herfellow classmates, parentstrying to spot the dreamer. She can tell this dreamer is afraid, but where is he? Then she looks to the football field. Finds him. Rolls her eyes. Its Luke Drake. No question about it. He is, after all, the only naked player on the field for the homecoming game. Nobody seems to notice or care. Except him. The ball is snapped and the lines collide, but Luke is covering himself with his hands, hopping from one foot to the other. She can feel his panic increasing. Janies fingers tingle and go numb. Luke looks over at Janie, eyes pleading, as the football moves toward him, a bullet in slow motion. Help, he says. She thinks about helping him. Wonders what it would take to change the course of Lukes dream. She even considers that a boost of confidence to the star receiver the day before the big game could put Fieldridge High in the running for the Regional Class A Championship. But Lukes really a jerk. He wont appreciate it. So she resigns herself to watching the debacle. She wonders if hell choose pride or glory. Hes not as big as he thinks he is. Thats for damn sure. The football nearly reaches Luke when the dream starts over again. Oh, get ON with it already, Janie thinks. She

WAKE

concentrates in her seat on the bleachers and slowly manages to stand. She tries to walk back under the bleachers for the rest of the dream so she doesnt have to watch, and surprisingly, this time, she is able. Thats a bonus.

1:01 p.m.
Janies mind catapults back inside her body, still sitting at her usual remote corner table in the library. She flexes her fingers painfully, lifts her head and, when her sight returns, she scours the library. She spies the culprit at a table about fifteen feet away. Hes awake now. Rubbing his eyes and grinning sheepishly at the two other football players who stand around him, laughing. Shoving him. Whapping him on the head. Janie shakes her head to clear it and she lifts up her math book, which sits open and facedown on the table where she dropped it. Under it, she finds a fun-size Snickers bar. She smiles to herself and peers to the left, between rows of bookshelves. But no one is there for her to thank.

Evening, December 23, 1996

Janie Hannagan is eight. She wears a thin, faded redprint dress with too-short sleeves, off-white tights that sag between her thighs, gray moon boots, and a brown, nappy coat with two missing buttons. Her long, dirtyblond hair stands up with static. She rides on an Amtrak train with her mother from their home in Fieldridge, Michigan, to Chicago to visit her grandmother. Mother reads the Globe across from her. There is a picture on the cover of an enormous man wearing a powder-blue tuxedo. Janie rests her head against the window, watching her breath make a cloud on it.

WAKE

The cloud blurs Janies vision so slowly that she doesnt realize what is happening. She floats in the fog for a moment, and then she is in a large room, sitting at a conference table with five men and three women. At the front of the room is a tall, balding man with a briefcase. He stands in his underwear, giving a presentation, and he is flustered. He tries to speak but he cant get his mouth around the words. The other adults are all wearing crisp suits. They laugh and point at the bald man in his underwear. The bald man looks at Janie. And then he looks at the people who are laughing at him. His face crumples in defeat. He holds his briefcase in front of his privates, and that makes the others laugh harder. He runs to the door of the conference room, but the handle is slipperysomething slimy drips from it. He cant get it open; it squeaks and rattles loudly in his hand, and the people at the table double over. The mans underwear is grayish-white, sagging. He turns to Janie again, with a look of panic and pleading. Janie doesnt know what to do. She freezes. The trains brakes whine. And the scene grows cloudy and is lost in fog.

LISA M

MANN

Janie! Janies mother is leaning toward Janie. Her breath smells like gin, and her straggly hair falls over one eye. Janie, I said, maybe Grandma will take you to that big fancy doll store. I thought you would be excited about that, but I guess not. Janies mother sips from a flask in her ratty old purse. Janie focuses on her mother and smiles. That sounds fun, she says, even though she doesnt like dolls. She would rather have new tights. She wriggles on the seat, trying to adjust them. The crotch stretches tight at midthigh. She thinks about the bald man and scrunches her eyes. Weird. When the train stops, they take their bags and step into the aisle. In front of Janies mother, a disheveled, bald businessman emerges from his compartment. He wipes his face with a handkerchief. Janie stares at him. Her jaw drops. Whoa, she whispers. The man gives her a bland look when he sees her staring, and turns to exit the train.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa McMann was born and raised in Michigan and lived there all her life. Until 2004, when she and her family moved to the Phoenix area. Now she writes. From a green chair. Overlooking the Superstition Mountains. Sometimes she wears a cowboy hat. Shes not really a cowboy. She just likes hats. Most of Lisas short stories are published online and in print, like the one about homelessness. It won a cool Templeton Award. You can read more about Lisa and find her blog through her website, at www.lisamcmann.com. Or better yet, be her friend on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/lisamcmann) or Twitter (http://twitter.com/lisa_mcmann).