CHAPTER 72

KRISTINA'S POV

When I got close enough to peer through the glass I saw... nothing. He was wearing the same black hoodie, the same jeans, and those stupid goggles that had made everyone so mad at him last year. It was hard to believe that he was really standing outside.

"Nathan?" I whispered. "Who's there?"

There was no answer but some kind of tapping noise. And then more of the same. A soft, repetitive rhythm that reminded me of some sort of drum machine. It sounded almost musical. Like someone was beating on a metal plate with an iron hammer.

"Nathan?" I called again, stepping closer to the open window. "What's going on? Is somebody there?" The knocking started up again. "Hello?" I called again.

The stranger tapped his fingers against the wall beside the window, slowly at first but growing faster and louder. He knew I was awake now and I felt like jumping back under the covers when I suddenly heard his voice coming from inside the room. It was deep and slow, a monotone. His accen