Page 19 (1/2)

"Stay here," I told him "Breathe deeply When I clap my hands, you will awaken"

I didn’t clap yet I went to the trailer door, threw it open Autumn looked up at me, embarrassment in her face overshadowed by desperation "Help me," she said

When I pedaled away fro that lasted all of a minute or so The hypnoses would prove successful, I was sure Jesse would stop taking V, and Autuain And neither one would reed , and I figured I was doing soood She was harder to put under than her brother, but once she went, she went deep

Why, then, did I feel so guilty, after that first minute passed?

In --and father’s words: With knowledge coation to use it justly

And I answered theuilt persist?

I rode through town, a sudden wind rising to whip my hair out behindfro across the street The sky had turned the color of wet ashes Two youngafter me, but I couldn’t tell if it was "Bitch!" or "Witch!" Once I turned the corner onto our road, the wind seeet there

I left the paved street and pedaled up the road leading to our gate I foundhard But the world was silent No sounds of birds, or insects, or overhead planes As suddenly as it rose, the wind had died off, and the trees were still My bicycle tires rubbed softly against the dirt I pushedto pushof Fire"

I rounded the last bend, re myself of all I had to look forward to The Yule feast was only a few days off, and Mãe and Dashay were already baking gingerbread, and Dashay had ar The house would be fragrant with ginger and vanilla and Sangfroid and pine froet today My first real holiday, I thought

Then I saw the beige van It was parked facing our gate (on which I could see the faint outline of the word KILLER, even though Dashay had painted over it)

I braked the bike so hard that I nearly fell Then I regained balance, jerked the handlebars, and took off in the opposite direction My heart pounded, and I can’t tell you all I felt The sense of revulsion was alhit hard to breathe

When I heard the van begin to move behind me, I panicked I swerved the bike down a side street and into the yard of the first house I saw: sreen, set back from the road I jumped off the bike, let it fall, ran up the steps, and pounded on the front door

A wo a white apron stained with red blotches opened the door, and before she could say a word I pushed past her, into the house, and slammed the door shut My hand shook as I set the dead bolt

The wo, but I turned toward the front , and through its lace curtain and grayscreen I saw the van roll up It stopped The driver lowered his tintedHe s rows of blackened teeth I felt his eyes--the white eyeballs with no irises or pupils--pinpoint h the space and screen and curtain like a laser

I slued to catch oodness Who’s that in the van?"

"Is he gone?" I tried to stand, but " She wrapped her ared me to an upholstered chair Then she looked outside "Yes, he’s gone"

My arrabbed me "Don’t worry It’s not what it looks like" She had a dish towel draped over one shoulder, and she used it to wipe away the streaks "I just froid"

I took a deep breath and lay back in the chair "Thank you for letting rinned "I didn’t have much choice, did I? You tore in here like the hounds of hell were after you" I recognized her voice, and she began to look like someone I knew I’d seen her at Flo’s Place, or at the supermarket Probably both places

"I’," I said "I’ll be okay in aout there alone" She was a small woman with curly, dark hair and a heart-shaped face, but her voice carried authority "He ht corateful for her kindness She insisted that I drink a glass of Picardo and tonic, that I eat a slice of red velvet cake, still warm from the oven, and then that I call home

"Ariella, where are you?" Mãe’s voice had an unusual silky quality to it She sounded happy, without a care in the world

Once I’d told where I was and why, she said only, "I’ll be right there," in herworry

I hadn’t even finisheda dress? I wondered The dress was boatnecked, ainst it her auburn hair shone Is she wearingme in "So you saw it, too?"

Nancy said, "A Chevy van Tan colored"

"And the driver?"

"Souy," Nancy said "Spooky eyes You’d better call the police"

Mãe rested her hands on my shoulders, as if to steady theht, but he’s real