1
2
3
5
8
12
20
33
52
83
133
213
340
543
867
1384
2208
3346
3522
5443
5619
6449
6450
6451
6452
6453
6757
7581
8098
8422
8625
8752
8832
8882
8913
8932
8945
8953
8957
8960
8962
8963
8964
8965
▲
▼
| Link | Quote | Stars | Tags | Author |
| 5138a1b | We don't have time to argue," Daniel said. "I'll be fine--" "But we won't," Sam said. "We need you to get us out of here. It has to be someone else." "And you're volunteering, right?" Corey said. Sam opened her mouth, but nothing came out. "Thought so." Corey turned to us. "I'll go. Play the hero for a change." A forced smile. "I hear chicks really go for that kind of thing." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 99eb20e | I grabbed her and held her close, whispering, "Shhh," as I kept looking and listening. Kenjii nudged me, as if to say, I pulled the rope in. The end wasn't broken, as I'd hoped, but as I ran it through my fingers I saw red smears. I took a better look. Blood. Someone had been holding her and Kenjii had wrenched so hard she'd scraped the skin from his hands as she broke free. I hugged her. "They couldn't hold you, huh? Good girl." "Maya?" I.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d1fd4d9 | They couldn't hold you, huh? Good girl." "Maya?" I stood. It was Sam, coming through the trees. Daniel and Corey appeared behind her. Seeing the dog beside me, Daniel grinned. "We got one escapee, at least," he said. "Only one," I said as I tugged off the muzzle. "I found Hayley. She managed to communicate with me. It was a trap. There was no way..." I took a deep breath. "I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no." "Too bad ca.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d482759 | She could be tagged," I said. "And as we agreed earlier, not all of us need to get to safety. That means not all of us need to stay with Kenjii. I'll take her. You guys go another way." Once again, our great escape devolved into chaos, which could be summarized as: "You can't do that." "Yes, I can." "I know you're upset--" "I'm not upset. We have a problem and I'm solving it." Expand. Mix. Repeat until one party wears down and surrenders. T.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| cd5ab28 | Angst. Fear. Stark, gut-twisting terror. It didn't make for an easy sleep. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 6b8aede | As I turned around, I felt another brushing sensation, this one not nearly as intense but even odder. My tail. It was off to the side and I couldn't really get a good look at it. So how could I move--? My tail swung. Okay, that was easy. I took a closer look. It was thick and over half the length of my body. When I thought of moving it, it moved. Very convenient. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 91455e6 | The window's filthy. I can't see anything." "How about we try the door?" Sam said. She was walking toward it when Hayley grabbed her arm and pointed to a window sign warning that the place was armed with security alarms and cameras. "Um, yeah," Corey said. "Which will bring the local cops. If we're lucky." "At this point, I'll take any ride out of here," I said. "Even handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser." -- | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 00a7a8e | Beside the door stood a cooler. It was unplugged and filled with pop cans and bottles. A handwritten sign advised those looking for milk to check aisle two, for the powdered and canned variety. "No beer?" Corey said. "What kind of place is this?" | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| c742cd7 | Beside the door stood a cooler. It was unplugged and filled with pop cans and bottles. A handwritten sign advised those looking for milk to check aisle two, for the powdered and canned variety. "No beer?" Corey said. "What kind of place is this?" "The kind that knows better than to leave anything that'll make it a target for kids like you," I said. Corey grabbed a Coke. "Hey!" Hayley said. "If they aren't here to man the shop..." Daniel rea.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 150e02d | No beer?" Corey said. "What kind of place is this?" "The kind that knows better than to leave anything that'll make it a target for kids like you," I said." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 19c1d02 | Corey grabbed a Coke. "Hey!" Hayley said. "If they aren't here to man the shop..." Daniel reached into Corey's back pocket. He plucked out his wallet, took out a still-damp twenty and put it on the counter. Corey grabbed for it, but Daniel gave a look that made Corey withdraw his hand. "Fine," Corey said. "Drinks and snacks on me, apparently." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 245408e | Drinks and snacks on me, apparently. Chow down, guys." "I'm a little more interested in finding a phone," I said. "And figuring out if that open front door means someone's here." "Nah," Corey said. "They were so eager to get out of this dump that they forgot to lock up Sunday night." "Hmm." I walked behind the counter. Tucked beside the cash register was a folded newspaper. Beside it rested a paper cup of coffee. I touched the cup. "Cold?" .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| aeff8d5 | He walked to the front door. When it didn't open, he put his shoulder into it and pushed. "Um, try the handle," Hayley said. "Um, there isn't one." Corey was right. It was the kind you pushed open from the inside, in case your arms were loaded with supplies. He hit it harder. It didn't budge. Daniel went over and they both heaved on it. The door groaned, but didn't open. "Is anyone else getting concerned?" Hayley said. My pounding heart sa.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| c7f3e5a | I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no." "Too bad can't talk," Sam said. I glanced over at her. "Um, we're all feeling bad about Hayley," Corey said. "Don't interrupt by wishing we could question the dog." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| d3997be | They couldn't hold you, huh? Good girl." "Maya?" I stood. It was Sam, coming through the trees. Daniel and Corey appeared behind her. Seeing the dog beside me, Daniel grinned. "We got one escapee, at least," he said. "Only one," I said as I tugged off the muzzle. "I found Hayley. She managed to communicate with me. It was a trap. There was no way..." I took a deep breath. "I wanted to try rescuing her anyway, but she said no." "Too bad ca.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 9939293 | Too bad can't talk," Sam said. I glanced over at her. "Um, we're all feeling bad about Hayley," Corey said. "Don't interrupt by wishing we could question the dog." "That's not what I meant. Hayley could tell you it was a trap. He can't." "Kenjii's a she," I said. "Whatever." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 16ad9a8 | My point is that your dog has conveniently escaped, just like Hayley did. You don't think that's a trap?" "If it is, then we've already been caught." I looked around. "Huh. I don't see the guys with guns yet." "Because they've put a tracking device on her. Or in her." I removed the rope. Then I took off her collar and handed it to Daniel to check while I ran my fingers over her, looking for tender spots. "It's clean," Daniel said, handing m.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 8e7cb4b | If she was still wearing the muzzle and rope, then they--" "--wanted it to look like she really escaped," Sam said. "There's blood on the rope," I said. "That means she pulled free from whoever had her." "Or they're very detail-oriented." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| de32dce | There's blood on the rope," I said. "That means she pulled free from whoever had her." "Or they're very detail-oriented." "Oh, please," Corey said. "Seriously?" I turned to Sam. "So what do you suggest?" "Tie her to a tree and keep going." I stared at her. "I hope you're not serious," Daniel said. "How about we tie to a tree?" Corey said." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 0d96767 | I didn't know what my tormenters wanted from me, but apparently "screaming like a girl" wasn't it, because they ramped it up to a form of torture seen only in sci-fi movies." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 486f3cc | Not going to make ours?" Moreno said. "I'm sure you can manage." "I burn everything. My people didn't cook over fire." "All people cooked over fire at some point," Antone said. "You know what I mean. Your family." "My family lived in a suburb of Phoenix. I learned campfire cooking in Scouts, like most boys in America." "Touchy, touchy," Moreno said. "I was just--" "Being an ass?" the woman said. Moreno muttered something, crushed his beer c.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 076cc5b | I went out the side door. Looked around. Circled the building. Nothing. I took a deep breath and walked to the road, shoulders up, gaze forward, tensing for the first shout. Or the first shot. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 038d687 | Okay, so we still go back--" Corey began. He stopped, wincing. "Headache?" I said. "Yeah, just hold--" He doubled over with a sharp intake of breath. I grasped his arm. "Corey?" "Bad one," he panted. "Okay, just--" He let out a howl, his head dropping forward, his hands clutching it. Then he retched. Another heave, and a geyser of Coke sprayed the bushes. I gripped his arm and tugged him until he was sitting, knees up, head between them, pa.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| bc740a5 | Oww...," he said. "There'd have been a bigger if he hadn't swerved," I said. "That would not look good on your obituary. Survived a helicopter crash, armed kidnappers, and three days in the woods, only to get mowed down by a passing redneck." "From now on, we'll flag down cars from the shoulder." Daniel looked at Corey, who was rubbing his sore butt. "Or maybe the ditch." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 25ac59c | The next vehicle didn't come for a long time. It was a car full of guys not much older than us. "Quick, girls," Corey said. "Give them some incentive. Take off your--" He glanced at Sam. "Maya, take off your shirt." Sam clubbed him in the arm, hard enough to make him yelp. We waved and yelled. They waved back and kept going. Idiots." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 78933d6 | Finally, we found someone who had stopped. It wasn't for us, but only because he hadn't made it that far. We rounded a bend to see a gray-haired guy getting out of his van, having pulled to the side to take a piss. He was still about fifty meters away. We picked up speed and yelled, but he was already heading into the woods. "Must have a shy bladder," Corey said. True. With these back roads, most guys settled for walking around their vehicl.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| df8d61c | When I pointed the gun at him, he laughed. "Do you even have a clue how to fire that?" I lined up the sight on a tree fifty meters away, and I pulled the trigger. Splinters flew from the trunk. The man paled and grabbed for Sam, but she'd already staggered out of reach. "You won't shoot me," he said. "No?" I aimed at his chest. "Whatever you had in mind for us, I think it deserves a bullet or two." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| e3d8dbf | We just need help. Like my friend said--" "Town's that way." He pointed south. "About twenty kilometers." "Which is a very long hike, sir." Daniel met the old man's gaze as he kept walking forward. "We're really tired and we don't have any food or water. If we could just ride in the back--" The man pulled a switchblade from his pocket. "Don't come any closer, boy. Not you either, girlie. I got robbed on this road once. Not going to happen a.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 438ebec | Please, sir," Daniel said. "We aren't--" The man darted to the driver's side and leaped in as Daniel raced around the van. The man slammed it into gear. The van lurched forward. I grabbed Daniel and yanked him out of the way as the van swerved onto the road. Corey came out from behind the bushes as we walked back. "Next time, we consider my plan?" "I think so," Daniel mumbled. "At least he told us there's a town along this road," I said. "S.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 2748f59 | I screwed up," I said. "I'm sorry." "You got the truck," Corey said. "Seems like it worked to me." "Yes, please make her stop," Sam called from the truck. "She's been apologizing since we got away and it's really getting on my nerves." "Sam was shot," I said, lowering my voice. "I really screwed--" "Make her stop!" Sam yelled. "I got shot a little. He got shot worse. We now have a truck. Mission accomplished. It was your plan, Maya, but we .. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 32f6b5b | Mom?" Corey called. He cut himself short and swore. "I probably shouldn't do that. Scare the crap out of her." He took a step toward the kitchen, then paused. "Or maybe I yell. Warn her before her dead son appears from nowhere." He glanced at us. "Arghh! I'm overanalyzing. When this is over, I need a long break from you guys." "And we'll need one from you," Sam said. "Just relax," I said. "Call her. Find her. It doesn't matter. You're abo.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 855f1df | When Moreno went for a second beer, Antone said, "Enough. I don't mind you guys having one drink, but there's a reason I'm drinking water. We need to be alert here." "Against what?" Moreno said. "Killer bunnies?" "Don't dignify that with a response, Cal," the woman said." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 2f518bc | When Moreno went for a second beer, Antone said, "Enough. I don't mind you guys having one drink, but there's a reason I'm drinking water. We need to be alert here." "Against what?" Moreno said. "Killer bunnies?" "Don't dignify that with a response, Cal," the woman said. A cough sounded from one of the tents, and they all glanced over. "Penny, go see if she wants another sausage," Antone said. "I'd like to see her eating more." "I have a Sn.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 92639cb | Penny, go see if she wants another sausage," Antone said. "I'd like to see her eating more." "I have a Snickers bar in my bag," the woman--Penny--said. "I'll take her that. Kids always like candy." "Not sure that applies to teenage girls, but you can give it a shot." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 12feb73 | Everything comes so easy for you, doesn't it, Maya? School, boys, friends, sports. Even your precious animals. You can't just take care of them like any normal person. You have to be some kind of animal whisperer. Magical healer. So damned special. Like Serena, captain of the swim team and the best singer on the freaking island, and how much does she practice? Sings in the shower. Paddles around the lake. Do you know how hard I work? It's n.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 739c496 | I see things and sometimes I recognize them, but they're..." He searched for the words. "In the wrong place. Out of context. That's it. Out of context." "Like what?" He hesitated, then shook his head. "Nothing imp--" "Like , Corey?" "Rafe." He said the name quickly, as if getting it out before he could decide not to. "I saw Rafe and I saw you. Only it's...not any place I've seen you two together." "Someplace you don't recognize." "No, it's.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| bb18858 | But if I tell Daniel..." "He'll worry it's a neurological problem." "Neuro...? Right. Brain. You could just say brain, you know." "Neurological covers more than just the brain. It--" He held up his hand. "If there's one bonus to this disaster, it's not having to go to school for a while. Don't spoil that for me. Please." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| fcdf0e5 | We tramped over, and as we stepped from the thick trees, we all stopped and stared. Then Corey raced forward, arms raised. "It's a road. Oh my God. A road!" He dropped to his knees by the roadside. "Oww." Daniel helped him back to his feet. "The knee is good," I said. "But the knee is not completely healed. Be careful." "It's a road," Corey said, pointing. "A dirt road," Hayley muttered." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 2ddb84e | Let's hope they didn't take the alcohol, too," I said as I stood. Corey shook his head. "I think I'm okay--" Another wave of agony doubled him over, retching. "I'll grab a beer from--" Daniel began. "No, I'm okay. Really. Just get dressed before you scare the girls." He waved at Daniel, bare-chested after taking off his soiled shirt. "Help yourself to my closet." "You wear a medium. I don't." "That's just because I like my shirts fitting be.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| f71133f | I think I'm okay--" Another wave of agony doubled him over, retching. "I'll grab a beer from--" Daniel began. "No, I'm okay. Really. Just get dressed before you scare the girls." He waved at Daniel, bare-chested after taking off his soiled shirt. "Help yourself to my closet." "You wear a medium. I don't." "That's just because I like my shirts fitting better." "Tighter," I said. "And, again, I don't," Daniel said. "I'll wash this one." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 639d004 | If a drink will fix this--" I began. "No." "You're refusing a drink?" Sam said. "From what I hear, that's a first." He flipped her off." | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 56c495b | We'd gone about five kilometers when we rounded a bend to see a tiny roadside store with a gas bar. "Yes!" Corey said, pumping the air. "We are now, officially, rescued." "You think?" Hayley said. "I'm not seeing any vehicles." "Because it's out in the middle of freaking nowhere. They're probably lucky if they get three cars a day." "No, I mean transportation for the person running the place." Corey peered at the empty lot surrounding the s.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 6285ee0 | We'd gone about five kilometers when we rounded a bend to see a tiny roadside store with a gas bar. "Yes!" Corey said, pumping the air. "We are now, officially, rescued." "You think?" Hayley said. "I'm not seeing any vehicles." "Because it's out in the middle of freaking nowhere. They're probably lucky if they get three cars a day." "No, I mean transportation for the person running the place." Corey peered at the empty lot surrounding the s.. | Kelley Armstrong | ||
| 8f8e4ea | But it should have a phone," I said. "Or maps to show us where we are. Also, there must be cottages nearby if there's a gas bar." "Ha!" Corey said, spinning and pointing at Hayley. "Ha!" He took off at a lope. We followed. Corey stopped a few feet from the door. "Open weekends after Labor Day," he called. "What's today?" "Not the weekend," I called back." | Kelley Armstrong |