Sara (28 page)

She was muttering prayers, long-forgotten prayers from her childhood as she raced toward the corn, her mind racing. She ran as fast as she could, tears of terror running down her face.

But the cornfield seemed to stay just as far away as it was when she was at the hay bales.

She looked back over her shoulder and saw Sara hadn't moved. She was still standing where Laney had left her, her arms folded, almost glowing in the dark, the wind blowing the hair around her head so it almost looked like a halo.

She turned back to look at the corn rows and almost sobbed with relief when she saw that she had almost reached them, and then she was there. She pushed two stalks aside and stepped through them, almost stumbling, and—

Strong hands grabbed her.

She screamed.

And she was slapped, so hard her ears rang. Her right hand flew up to the cheek that had been struck and was still stinging.

“I'm sorry,” Glenn said. “But you were screaming right in my face. What the hell's going on?” He looked over his shoulder. “I saw your car parked on the road and stopped to make sure you were okay. And I heard you yelling.” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”

Her knees buckled and she threw her arms around him, sagging against his body in relief “I've never been so glad to see someone in my life.” She kissed his cheek. “Come on, walk with me to my car. We're not safe here.”

“You're shaking like a leaf.” He hugged her back. He was so warm—she hadn't realized how cold she was until that moment, and her teeth started chattering. “What do you mean, we're not safe here?”

Get away from him, Laney—remember what you found online! He's not here to help you!

But looking into his warm brown eyes, the concern written all over his face, she couldn't believe what she'd been suspecting.

Not Glenn.

She tried to pull away from him, but he held on to her. He was too strong.

“Let me go, Glenn.”

His face changed, a smile creeping across his lips. “Did you really think you were going to get away?” His eyes changed, and the Glenn she'd always known was no longer there.

She didn't know this Glenn, didn't recognize him.

“It really was you all along,” she whispered.
He's too strong for me, but I've got to get away, think, Laney, think.

“What are you talking about?”

She licked her lips. “Noah Greene. That was you, wasn't it? She does what you want her to, doesn't she? What is she, Glenn?”

“Are you listening to yourself?” He kept smiling at her, but it wasn't a pleasant smile—not the smile she was used to seeing on his face.

This was a predator's smile.

“You sound crazy, Laney.” His voice mocked her. “Noah had a car accident, everyone knows that. He wasn't wearing a seat belt and he got thrown and the truck rolled over him.” He made a tsking sound. “A tragedy, but he drank too much and was driving too fast. Never a good combination.”

She ignored what he said. “And you killed Zack.”

“Zack hanged himself.” His smile got wider. “I suppose you think I somehow drowned Randy Froelich, too? Wow, I had no idea you had such a low opinion of me.”

“Let me go,” she panted.

“Okay.” He let go of her and stepped back, holding up his arms. “Are you sure you're okay, Laney? You're talking crazy, you know. Maybe I should get you home.” He took a step toward her.

“You stay away from me!” Laney had never felt so cold in her life. “You, the two of you, you're in this whole thing together, aren't you?”

“Have you lost your mind?” Glenn stared at her. “What's wrong with you, Laney?”

“You—” She was gasping, tears forming in her eyes. “You killed all those kids in Farmington, didn't you? And everyone here, you and Sara killed Noah, and Zack, and Randy, and now she's killed Candy, and now the two of you are going to kill me, and she's some kind of monster—”

He grabbed her by the shoulders, and began shaking her. “Laney, get a hold of yourself. I haven't killed anyone, and Sara's not a monster! Can you hear yourself? You sound like you've lost your mind!”

“Let go of me!”
she screamed, and it seemed to echo through the dark night. He let go of her, and she staggered backward.

“You need help, Laney,” he insisted. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital?”

“Of course she does, dear.” Sara stepped out from the cornfield and smiled at Laney. “I was just telling her she sounded deranged. The things she accused me of? Tsk, tsk.” She shook her head and slipped her arm around Glenn's waist.

Laney shrank back from the two of them. “You two are evil—”

“Laney, Laney, Laney.” Sara shook her head, the silver hair floating around her head. “We're both sorry Noah died, of course, but I'm starting to think his death unhinged you a little bit. It's understandable, especially since the two of you fought the night he died, but it's just your own guilt, don't you understand?”

“I am not crazy.” Laney wrapped her arms around herself. She was so cold, she felt as though she would never be warm ever again, even if she managed to live through this night. “You threatened me. You were going to kill me!”

“You thought I was Candy.” Sara laughed softly. “I don't know what you and Tony have been cooking up in your heads about me, but it's crazy. Tony had a head injury and is not thinking clearly, and you've been pretty distraught since Noah died. That's all it is, Laney. You've got to accept and understand that.”

She sounded so plausible, so convincing.

Laney faltered. Maybe it
was
all her imagination. But the dreams—

“The dreams were just group self-hypnosis,” Glenn answered her. “Like hysterical girls during the Salem witch trials. You remember? You did your term paper on it for psychology last year.”

“How did you know about the dreams?” Laney began backing away from them. “I never told you, and I know Candy and Tony never did either. How did you know?”

“Of course Tony told me about the dreams,” Glenn replied. “He's my best friend. We tell each other everything.”

“He didn't tell you about this.” Laney could feel the fear creeping up her spine again. The hair on her arms was standing up.
They are going to kill me.
“How did you know?”

Sara shrugged. “Glenn, I tried. I know how much she means to you. But she's going to have to die now.”

“What are you two?”

“Does it matter now?”

Laney turned and shoved her way through the rows of corn, then took off running. She could hear them behind her—it sounded like they were right on top of her.

She ran as hard as she could, trying to get away, stumbling over the uneven ground.

They caught her at the hay bales.

It seemed like it took forever for me to maneuver my way out of the hospital to the parking lot. All I could think of was that the girls were in serious trouble. I cursed every second I waited for Mr. Lockhart to get his car. I tried to stay calm, knowing that panicking and freaking out wasn't going to get us there any faster. Mr. Lockhart pulled his big Suburban around to where I was standing. He leaned across and opened the door for me. On one foot, I placed the crutches in the car and then pulled myself up into the passenger seat.

I'm getting better at using these stupid damned crutches
, I thought as I fastened my seat belt. Mr. Lockhart took off before I was finished buckling it, and I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the car window. As soon as I closed my eyes—

—I was standing in a field. The wind was blowing and it was really cold. The field was empty, just hard dirt with the occasional stack of hay bales. Off to my right was a cornfield, and as I turned my head, I could see there were a couple of rows of corn behind me as well. Just beyond those rows I could see the roof of a house. There were no lights on there, but I knew somehow it was the Sterling place.

I walked around the hay bales and stopped in horror when I reached the other side. Candy lay on top of a hay bale, her ankles and wrists tied together, a handkerchief tied around her mouth. Tears were streaming out of her eyes, and I smelled gasoline. Two empty cans were turned over on their sides just a few feet from where she lay, and I realized the hay bale was drenched with it.

She looked right at me and didn't react. She couldn't see me.

I opened my eyes. We were on Sixth Street, heading out of town. “We need to hurry,” I said. “Candy's in serious trouble.”

“I can't risk getting pulled over,” Mr. Lockhart replied. “If you're right, we have to get there as fast as we can—but we can't risk getting a ticket. If you're right—your friends need us right away.”

I watched the street lights passing by. We passed the McDonald's, Arby's, and Pep Boys. We got caught at the light at Prairie, and Mr. Lockhart swore under his breath. I was ready to climb out of my skin myself.

I closed my eyes again and let my head tilt back against the headrest.

I could hear voices, and the corn stalks brushing against each other in the wind.

“What are we going to do with them?” It was Glenn's voice, coming from the other side of the hay bales. Candy's face—the look on it broke my heart, but I wasn't really there, there wasn't anything I could do to help her. I moved around the hay bales and froze at what I saw.

Glenn was standing there in a pair of jeans and his letter jacket. He was watching as Sara tied Laney's wrists together. Laney was already gagged, and her ankles were also tied together. Sara looked up at him once she finished knotting the rope and smiled—but it was a terrible smile, one that made my blood run cold and my heart almost jump out of my chest.

“The gasoline is already set,” she said, standing up and effortlessly lifting Laney up onto one of the bales. “Once we ignite it, that will take care of both of these bitches. And then we can take care of Tony.”

“Do we really have to do anything to Tony?” Glenn scratched his head. “He's a good guy, Sara. Really. And he got pretty banged up in the accident.”

“He's lied to you.” Her voice dripped with scorn. “He didn't really accept you, you know, he just pretended for his own reasons. Remember—he was afraid to sleep in the same bed as you, even though he always did before you came out. He was worried you'd go so crazy with lust that you wouldn't be able to keep your hands off him. That's what he really thinks.”

Glenn lowered his head and nodded, but before he did I could see the hurt look on his face, and it tore my heart apart.

I wanted to apologize for being such a jerk, to let him know he was my best friend and I loved him, to let Candy and Laney go and we'd figure out a way to get out of this mess, to get rid of Sara, even if Mr. Lockhart said she was a part of him, his creation, maybe from his darker side, SHE was the one who was killing, SHE was the one who was pushing him and whispering in his ear, convincing him that his friends needed to die…

“Tony?”

I opened my eyes and saw the sign reading
Carterville 16 Miles
with an arrow pointing to the right. Mr. Lockhart was slowing down to make the turn where the old abandoned drive-in movie theater sat.

“Yeah?” I replied, shaking my head.

“You okay? I think you fell asleep there for a minute or two.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I was dreaming.”

I held on to the armrest as he made the sharp turn. He'd slowed down, but not enough, and the big SUV tilted a bit to my side. I swallowed, but before I could get really scared we settled back down all four wheels and he was picking up speed again. “We'll be there in just a couple of minutes,” Mr. Lockhart said, “so just relax.”

“I wish it was that easy,” I said through clenched teeth. The anxiety was building up in me. Every second that passed was another second the girls were in danger. I could still smell the gasoline.

We can't be too late—we just can't.

The Suburban sped on through the night. The wind seemed to be picking up—it was a lot colder than it should be for early September. I shivered and wished I had a jacket with me. Like he'd read my mind, Mr. Lockhart turned up the heater, and I settled down in my seat.

“You know where the Sterlings live?” I asked as we passed the Carterville city limits.

“Ash Lane, right?” Mr. Lockhart replied, glancing over at me. “The one that turns into County Road 312?”

I nodded. “They technically live in the county, but the house is just right outside of town.”

I looked out the window. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought Carterville was a ghost town. There were no signs of life anywhere. My cell phone started ringing. I pulled it quickly out of my pocket.
Laney Calling
was written in blue letters across the screen. I flipped it open. “Hello? Hello?”