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I looked at my friend. She was moving so fast. Rounding the front of the car and coming right at me.
“Lana!” She knelt in front of me. “Oh, God, Lana, I’m going to get you help, okay? Just hang on.” She yanked her cell phone from her pocket and dialed frantically.
“Hang on?” I asked. Why was Harper so scared? So worried? She’d saved me from Anita. She’d hit her with her car.
I looked at Harper’s face. Her big eyes were teary. I wanted to tell her it was okay. She saved me from Anita. It was self-defense. She wouldn’t be in trouble.
I stepped toward her, but my leg wouldn’t move…because I was kneeling on them. When had that happened? I thought I remembered slumping down. Maybe I didn’t? I tried to replay the scuffle, but came up short.
Another blast of cold shot through my body. Snowflakes started to fall, that heavy cloud in the sky rising higher. I thought of Jack’s dark eyes. The way he held me. How he made me feel strong and weak at the same time.
Another snowflake fell.
I thought of Cal. How he made everything better. Made me laugh. Made me hope.
I loved them.
I watched another fluff of snow land on my shoulder and looked to find…red.
It was all over my jacket.
I went to touch it and realized I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. A searing edge of pain sliced through my chest and down my arm, and it hurt so bad. As if whatever numbing agent I’d been coasting on had worn off.
I was lying on the ground. When had I laid down?
“I’m tired…” I said to Harper. “And cold.”
“I know, honey, I know,” she said, crying and tugging her jacket off to press it against the red spot, all while balancing the phone between her shoulder and ear. I didn’t know what she was saying. But she looked so upset.
She pushed her jacket hard against me.
“Ah!” I screamed. “That hurts. Please stop.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. But help is on the way. Just hang on.”
I heard sirens in the background and thought of Cal. Was he coming? Coming after me? A small smile hit my face.
“He’s coming for me,” I whispered.
With that, I closed my eyes, and let the happy thought take me down.
Chapter 24
A flash of bright light hit my eyes. The harsh noise of metal clacking together snapped against my eardrums. Voices. So many voices. But I couldn’t see anything. Couldn’t feel anything except a large mask covering my nose and mouth.
I needed air. Badly. But it wasn’t coming.
I was lying flat.
I tried to move, but couldn’t.
The coolness crept in so potent it permeated my bones.
I wanted to touch my chest. Pound on it. Anything if it would just let me breathe…
“Get her up there. On my count. One, two, lift!”
A loud boom and my body jostled. I didn’t recognize the voice. But a beeping sound got louder and louder. The voices kept talking in a way I didn’t understand.
