“I’m taking Lawrence with me.”
“You’ll leave right now and keep your damn mouth shut.
That’s what you’re going to do.”
In spite of my shaking knees, I stand straight. “I won’t let you
hurt him.”
“Suit yourself.”
Before I can even take a step back, he’s lunged for me. I land
hard on my side. My key ring cuts into me, sending shooting
pain down my leg.
“Mama taught me to never hit a girl,” Ned says, clamping
his hand over my shoulder to hold me down. “But you see, she
didn’t realize how often that’s necessary.”
Panic radiates through me. My body’s trembling with fear.
My leg throbs where the keys dig into my flesh.
Wait.
My key ring.
In a split second, I have the swirling memory of the morning
Lawrence and I spent on the beach. I see myself explaining
each item on the key ring, laughing at his wonder. The elephant. The flashlight.
The pepper spray.
Bursting with adrenaline, I push onto my back, freeing up
the pocket. Ned pins me down, but with my free hand, I have
just enough momentum to rip my key ring from my shorts.
The keys and knickknacks jingle loudly. The flashlight glows
red. Ned straightens, staring at the key ring.
“What in the—?”
His surprise gives me enough time to snatch the pepper spray.
I grab for the tab and rip it free. Squeezing my eyes shut, I press
down. All I hear is the hiss of the canister emptying.
Then a pained howl.
My eyes fly open again. Ned has reeled back. He’s pawing at his
face, shrieking. I scramble to my feet. I can’t believe it worked.
Movement catches my attention again. The strange woman
is bent over Lawrence, frantically trying to revive him. She’s on
our side. That’s good. We don’t have much time. Ned will only
be incapacitated for a few minutes tops.
I race toward them. Not even noticing me in her panic, the
woman cups Lawrence’s face in her hand.
“Lon? Wake up! We have to go!”
There’s about the way she spoke his name. About the way
she’s holding his face.
She looks up with a start.
It’s a girl my age, not a woman. She’s beautiful, with a
short black bob and dark, sad eyes. All at once, I know who
she is.
“Fay.”
She stares at me, speechless, and then she closes her eyes.
“You’re Cassandra.”
I fall to my knees at Lawrence’s other side. “Look,” I say
urgently. “We both love Lawrence, and right now he’s in
danger.” I set my hand over hers. “I’m sorry, Fay. I truly am.”
“Don’t be.” She straightens. “What should I do?”
“Run and get help. The party’s still going on?”
“Yes.”
“Then go get everyone you can find. Tell them Ned’s snapped.
Tell them he’s trying to kill you. Say anything that will get a
group of them here.”
She nods in agreement and I watch her run back to the party,
filled with a sudden rush of hope.
“What did you do to me?” Ned roars. He splashes water on
his face, but the salt probably only heightens the sting.
Lawrence is completely out, but I can feel a heartbeat. He’s
not dead. He’s not going to die. We’re going to beat this.
I circle my arms around his chest, but he’s heavier than I
expected. Gritting my teeth, I begin to drag him to the bushes.
If I can just get to the bushes…
“Girl!” Ned screams. “Where are you?”
I pull Lawrence another half inch. Why is he so heavy?
“I may not be able to see you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t
snap your neck.”
I have to stay strong. Come on, come on. Move, Lawrence.
Ned staggers toward me. “Where are you, you filthy little slut?”
I can’t let myself entertain what will happen if Ned gets his
vision back before Fay returns. Keep pulling, Cass. Pull like
your life depends on it.
Lawrence’s eyelids flutter. Gasping for air, he jolts his head up
and looks at me.
“Cassandra!”