[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
and then she was gone.
Dad remained just as tight-jawed as my mom, and Matt stared at the monitors, his attention flicking to
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
the turned off television. Dad followed his line of sight, and I waited for Dad to actually turn it on. Even in
the most dire situations, Dad could be caught turning on any turned off television.
I reached up to scratch my brow, and my parents flinched like they expected me to scream out in pain. I
felt the gauze in my hair, and it dawned on me that I had no idea what I looked like.
Mom, can I have a mirror?
Mom froze for a second, and out of the corner of my eye, Dad nodded his head at her. She grabbed her
purse and started pulling out the contents until she found her compact.
God, what s the matter? Do I look like I m a demon or something?
The person in the mirror hardly resembled me if I hadn t been smiling I would have thought it was a
trick mirror.
My mousy hair stuck out on part of my head, gauze covering most of it. My face gleamed red, and I
resembled a blotchy cooked lobster. Salve had been spread all over my face, and either salve or pus
gave my face a surreal sheen. I reached up, touching the skin, and I winced as I examined my face from
all angles. It didn t even look like there were any pores left.
I glanced at my mom. Are they going to have to graft anything?
Not as far as they can tell, Mom said.
I handed her the compact. Thank God I didn t get through the whole cleansing process. Every part of
me that wanted to bawl locked up at the sight of my mother and father Mom trying to look reassuring
and Dad trying not to cry.
I shuddered, not trying to think about what I looked like.
No wonder Jack hasn t come down to see me,I thought, then brushed the thought aside. I looked
horrible, destroyed. My heart, which up until a few minutes ago was happy to be alive, now shuddered at
what I had become because of this.
How long was I there? I asked, glancing from my mom to my dad, then at my brother. Eternity
seemed a close representation, but no one had bothered to tell me.
You don t know? Matt asked.
No, I said. I wanted to know how long he d had me, how long I was down there.
It s Monday, Matt said. Monday, he glanced at the clock on the wall behind him. Almost four
p.m.
So? How long?
My mom took my hand. Lynn, you were there since Friday, and the FBI found you early Sunday
morning. Roughly thirty-six hours.
I blinked. All this damage? All this torture, and he had only had me thirty-six hours? Thirty-six hours and
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
he almost destroyed me, my skin was almost gone. I closed my eyes, and this time the tears did flow
out I brought my hands to my face and cried, ignoring the stinging of the tears on my skin, the ache of
the pressure against my face.
My mom tried to comfort me, as well as my dad and brother, Matt sliding to the opposite side of Mom
and putting a hand on my shoulder. Dad stood at the foot of the bed, I could hear him sniffing as he tried
to cover his sobs.
If he wasn t already dead, I d kill him myself, Matt said, his voice shallow and almost unrecognizable.
My poor, poor baby, Mom said, weaving in and out of the wires to get close to me.
He s not going anyplace pleasant, my dad whispered behind his tears.
I glanced at him. Damn skippy he s not! Mom handed me a tissue, and I took it, careful as I blew my
nose.
Yeah, that FBI guy took him out, my brother said.
I helped, you know.
Yes, we do know, my dad replied, the sniffles gone. Mr. Edwards told us everything.
I raised my eyebrow at him. Everything?
My dad s head jerked a short nod.
Think you need some shooting training, Matt said with a cocky grin.
Oh, like you d do better.
Damn straight I would, Matt said, the instant brother-sister competition coming out.
Dude, I was under a bit of duress.
Matt laughed. Oh, okay& I guess I ll give you that one.
He said you were very brave, my mom said, stroking my hand.
That s good to know. How is he?
The doctors were able to patch up the leg, but he had four cracked ribs, and then his nose. He ll
probably have to have surgery on the nose to fix it.
It was pretty gross when he relocated it I shuddered again at the replay of the sound in my head.
Tough guy, Dad muttered.
A yawn took over, and I suddenly needed to go back to sleep. You know, I m really friggin tired.
My mom jumped up, and Dad and Matt started shuffling their feet.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Oh, yes, of course, my mom said.
Sure, you get some rest.
We ll stay here if you need anything.
I yawned again. I just need some sleep. You all go on home. I ll be fine. Come back tomorrow. A
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]