Chase
I spring up and snatch Tara back from the door. “Don’t!”
Lit by the green glowstick still around my neck, her face takes on an ethereal quality, as if the color of the springs was being reflected on her cheeks. She is full of moonbeams.
Allie Jo rushes up to her and shakes her head. “Stay here.”
Tara’s eyes glow from behind.
All of a sudden, her uncle lets loose with a barrage of pounding. The thick door shakes. Then he whams the door with something heavy. The wood cracks, splinters.
I throw the bar off, time my move, and smash the door into him.
“Run!” I shout, sprinting up the service stairs. Tara’s even faster. As we get to the first-floor landing, I turn the knob, but the door’s locked. I beat it with my fists.
“Clay!” I shout. I know he’s got to be close by. “Clay!”
Allie Jo screams.
I turn around and see he’s got Allie Jo by the arm on the lower landing. She tries to wrench out of his grip, but he’s too strong. Tears streak down her face. In the dim light of the stairs, I see his fingers digging into her flesh.
I take a few steps down.
“Don’t do it.” His voice comes out low and menacing.
“Let her go,” Tara says.
“It’s been a long trip lookin’ for you,” he says to her, not distracted by Allie Jo’s struggling. “I’m not leaving without you.” Then he looks at Allie Jo and gestures his head at her. “Or maybe I’ll take her.”
I look around for something to throw at him. There’s only one thing.
I spring from the steps like I’m doing an ollie. Snapping up my legs, I crash into him and we fall backward. My cast cracks against the floor, sending a surge of pain up my arm.
He stands and when I clamber to get up, he slams me down. I collapse in a heap by his feet. My vision blurs. I’m stunned, like when I hit my head falling off the skateboard.
“Leave him alone,” Tara says.
I try to focus, but there’s two of her. They move closer.
“That’s right, girlie,” he sneers. “You come with me.”
“No.” The Taras set their faces. They look like Amazons, with their short, blond hair.
“Oh, I think you will.” From under his shirt, he pulls out some kind of wadding.
It grazes me as he holds it up. It’s nice and furry, soft. I want to pull it around myself.
The Taras gasp. “My skin!”
My head floats in circles. I squint to turn her back into one person.
She grits her teeth. All that stands between her and the water is her skin.
I summon up all my energy and smash his knees with my cast. He crumples to the ground. I snatch up the skin.
“The springs!” I yell.