Page 24

Only a few feet away from the glass door, I could see everything. Her skin turning red as the rain relentlessly pelted down. Her hair coming out in clumps. Blood mixing with rainwater.

I immediately ran forward with a shout, but Tam put a restraining arm around my stomach, holding me back. Once I was secured behind him, he grabbed the sweatshirt off of my head and secured it over his own. My pulse was hammering.

“Be careful!” I cried, knowing and fearing what he was about to do.

Before he could exit, however, a familiar Jeep pulled up. I recognized Elena’s face instantly.

Her horror-struck eyes went from Bikini’s unrecognizable body to us. Indecision marred her pretty face.

“Elena!” Tam yelled. His arm wrapped around my shoulders, now pulling me with him instead of away.

I could see the moment Elena’s decision was made. Guilt briefly flashed in her eyes, there and gone too quickly for me to be certain I had gauged it correctly. Tam noticed it too.

“Elena!” he screamed, lunging forward. But her car was already pulling away, followed quickly by the two vans. The last one happened to go right over Bikini’s body, the wheel…

I vomited onto the floor.

Bikini was dead. The rain was poisonous.

And we had been left behind.