Infamous: the page-turning thriller from New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël

“And the others—Aster, Ryan, and Tommy—are they out too?”

Her dad shrugged. “I got the call to come get you, that’s all.”

Layla slid her fingers beneath her sunglasses and rubbed the delicate skin around her eyes. The good news—it wasn’t Madison—was delivered in potentially bad news—it could still be Paul, who was connected to Madison—and Layla had no idea how to read it. All she knew for sure was that for the moment she was free. She just hoped it would last.

The rest of the ride home was spent in silence. H.D. had never been one to dodge the important conversations, but for now, Layla figured he was giving her space. The talk would come later.

Her dad pulled into the driveway and waited for the garage door to roll open as Layla nervously scanned the street, searching for signs of paparazzi. Deeming it clear, she seized the moment to slip free of the car and tilt her face directly into the sunlight.

“What’re you doing?” Her dad’s worried tone prompted her to laugh.

“Making good on my promise,” she said. “I’ll never take my freedom for granted again.”

She lowered her gaze to meet his. The beginnings of a smile were lifting her lips when her phone chimed from inside the plastic bag she carried, and the latest text, in a long stream of them, popped onto her screen.

There was an image of a cartoon cat, this one with a deep, jagged gash that stretched across his throat. Just below were the words:

You’re more stubborn than most

And though I don’t like to boast

I meant what I said

And now, because of you, someone is dead

While you were away

I took the liberty of having my say

M’s diary is now live on your site

Just a matter of time before the world sees it and bites

Will they bite you?

I haven’t a clue

Though I can’t take all the glory

Seeing as how I used your own story

But before you feel bad

Or even start to get mad

Don’t forget it’s your refusal to play

That brought you to this day

If you want this to end

Then consider me your best friend

Only I hold the key

So whatever you do, do not disappoint me

Further instructions will come

And I’m warning you to keep mum

If you share any of this with your gang

I promise, someone will hang.

Her heart pounding, Layla scrolled to her blog. An unvoiced cry died in her throat as she skimmed the post she’d written and had been dumb enough to leave in the draft folder instead of deleting.

BEAUTIFUL IDOLS

Through the Looking Glass

By Layla Harrison

Her stomach churned. It was all there, every word. Her gaze fell to the most incriminating part. If it turned out to be a hoax, and the entry wasn’t really pulled from Madison’s childhood diaries, Madison, or even Madison’s estate, could sue her for slander.

But of course, just as she feared, the words were now posted for the whole world to see.

. . . without further ado, I present to you the first installment of Madison Brooks’s journal.

Make of it what you will, but please note that I did not make this up, this is not a work of fiction, and it came to me via a reliable source.

As always, feel free to exit through the comments section on your way out.

October 5, 2012

I’m so over it!!!!

So over absolutely EVERYTHING!

Including my so-called friends, my family, my stupid fake boyfriend, but mostly, this stuffy, boring, stick-up-its-ass town.

Layla could hardly breathe as her gaze skimmed the words.

The Ghost saved me—spared me from a future too horrible to contemplate. . . .

I guess you could say I owe him my life.

Then again, he owes me his too. . . .