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“Seriously. ” I wriggled and dragged my feet. Near the water with these two was the last place I wanted to find myself, but they had me sandwiched between them, heading closer to the breakers. “Get…off. ”
I looked right and left, suppressing the frantic sensation jangling its way up my legs to my brain. Steady, I told myself. I assessed. Ronan was no longer in sight. A few girls were beachcombing in the distance, and even if they had been nearby, they’d probably just watch anyway, cheering on Isabella and her friend.
“Looking for someone?”
“Yeah. ” I gave a sharp twist to my shoulder. My arms were going to have some major bruises. “Someone else for you to bother. ”
Isabella leaned disturbingly close. “But we want to bother you. ” The smell of her breath, like stale coffee, turned my stomach.
Revulsion gave me a burst of strength, and I managed to slip my arm from her hand. “Get off me. ”
But her grip found me again, and I felt the pop of my skin as her nails sliced into my hand. I was stronger since my arrival on the island, but they’d been drinking the same blood I had. They were stronger, too.
The tide lapped at our feet now. I’d forgotten I had the kelp clutched in my hand and dropped it, quickly grinding it into the wet sand with my foot. If I couldn’t have it, they couldn’t either.
But Spidergirl had spotted it. “Whatcha got?” She let go of me to lean down and scoop it up.
I kicked at her head, but Isabella hauled me back before I could connect. “What is it?” Izzy demanded.
“Give me a sec. ” Spiderlegs shook off the largest clumps of grit. The kelp was mangled, all squashed and covered in sand. She held it up, pinning a look on me like she was accusing me of something. “What the hell is this?”
“I bet you can eat it,” Isabella said, one part of her mind still focused on our assignment.
Her friend stood and shoved it close to my face, demanding, “Can you eat this?”
I did my best not to flinch away. “How the hell should I know?”
“Oh, I think you know. ”
A catty smile curled onto Isabella’s face. “Let’s find out. ”
Spidergirl’s jaw dropped with concentration, making her look like one long, stretched-out crazy person. She grabbed the back of my head, and her eyes were manic and laser focused as she shoved the kelp at me, grinding it into my face.
I was certain it was edible. It didn’t mean I wanted to eat it. I clamped my lips shut.
“Make her open her mouth. ” Isabella sounded positively gleeful. Their hands were all over me, and my body exploded into action, struggling to get free.
The other girl barked, “Help me,” and they tried to shove it between my lips, but I swung my head from side to side, evading them.
I felt a foot hooking mine. Isabella tripping me. I went to my knees in the water and felt my eyes bug wide. The freezing water stole my breath instantly. She leapt onto my back. “Push her in. ”
I panted through my nostrils, acclimating. I made my body grow still—not because I was giving up, but because I needed a plan. The cold would sap my energy. When I acted, it needed to be for good.
Izzy stood over me, trying to wrench my head down, riding me like a kid on a pony. She singsonged, “Drowning will make you open your mouth. ”
They shoved at me, and the water drew closer to my face. It was too hard to fight both of them at once. I was furious at myself. What a screwup. I knew better than to let my guard down for a second. If I got out of this, I’d never be taken by surprise again.
I was soaked, but Missy
Long Legs was in the breakers with me, and with a sharp twist of my arm, I managed to slide from her wet grip and flopped forward. I knew a breathtakingly searing pain as a huge clump of my hair ripped out. “Gross,” she cried, and I saw scattered blond hair drifting on the waves, gliding along the shoreline, before being sucked out to sea.
My elbows had stopped me from landing on my belly, and I rolled sideways, scanning for some help or inspiration.
Isabella’s fingers raked along my scalp, grabbing another fistful of hair. “Looking for teacher?”
A wave crashed over my head, and as it receded, foam whooshed up my nose, the salt water searing into my sinuses. I fought, but they had me pinned again, shoving my face lower until sand scraped my cheek. Screams tore from my throat even though my mouth was sealed tight. I stole wild looks right and left. Where the hell was everyone? Where was Ronan?
“He can’t help you,” Izzy said, guessing who I was looking for.
