L J Smith Forbidden Game 02 The Chase

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.""Of course," Jenny said and nipped his chin.Nothing could surprise her now.Everything was going to be all right."It's gone-because we won.I'm free.Know anybody who wants one girlfriend, low maintenance, good sense of humor?""God, Jenny." His arms tightened rushingly."Nope, guess you'll have to putan ad in the classifieds," he said into her hair."Oh, Thorny, I love you.""You must, you called me Thorny," Jenny said, blinking away tears."I loveyou, too, Tommy.For always and always."Then, in the midst of her euphoria, she thought of something."We've got to get the others, you know-oh, my God!" She had just looked atthe mural photograph on the wall.It was on fire."You stay here!" Tom was on his feet, whipping off his jacket.He reached forthe metal handle of the door in the picture unerringly."I'm coming with you!" Jenny shouted back.She grabbed his hand as he pulledon the handle."You never go anywhere without me again-"The darkness snatched them up, sucked them in.Deposited them in fire.It wasn't as bad this time.Jenny put her head down, clung to Tom's hand, andmade her legs run.It'll be over in a minute, she told herself as the agonysurrounded her.Over in a minute, over in a minute-Page 120ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlThen it was over.Cool air was around them.Dee, Zach, Audrey, and Michaelwere in a row, staring at them, reaching out to catch them as they tumbled in."You see?" Jenny gasped to Dee, who was nearest."All in your mind.""Oh, God, you're alive!" Dee's hug bruised like Tom's."Not a very original observation," Tom said."Now, look, here's the deal.It's hot and it hurts, but it doesn't kill you.You count about to ten andyou're through.Okay?"Only ten? Jenny thought, sagging a little in Dee's arms."It feels like ahundred," she confided to Dee's shoulder."Think 'cool, wet grass,'" Tom said."Like firewalkers do.Keep thinkingand keep going and you'll be okay."Dee nodded."Let's do it!"But Michael's eyes were wide and uneasy, and Audrey recoiled a step.Zachremained very still, looking at Jenny.Then he let out his breath."Okay," he said."It's just an illusion.Unreality, here we come.""Hurry up, move," Tom said to the others."We have to get out before thisdamn photograph burns up.Who knows what happens then." He grabbed Michael bythe sweatshirt, then took firm hold of his hand.He held out his other hand toDee.Jenny grabbed Audrey."No!" Audrey screamed."I don't want to-""That way!" Tom shouted to Michael."Go on! Straight ahead!" He gave Michaela push that sent him stumbling forward.Dee reached behind her to grabAudrey's hand and pull her along.Jenny shoved Audrey on from behind and heldout her free hand to Zach.She felt his thin strong fingers close over it.Shefelt heat billow up around her.Then it was like a wild game of crack-the-whip, with everyone surging andrunning and pulling- and Audrey, at least, trying to pull in the wrongdirection.Fire filled Jenny's eyes and ears.She tried to count to ten, butit was impossible-her whole mind was occupied with the struggle of keepingAudrey going forward.Fire and pain and heat and yanking on her arms-Then Zach stumbled.Jenny didn't know how it happened.Her hand was suddenly empty.She gropedwildly with it and found nothing.She turned her head, looking franticallybehind her.For an instant she thought she saw a black silhouette in theorange inferno, then the flames blotted it out.Zach.She opened her mouth to scream, and burning air filled her lungs.She choked.She was being pulled forward.There was nothing she could do-unless she let goPage 121ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlof Audrey.She was being dragged along.Zach was far behind now.Then she burst out into coolness and fell.She landed on top of Audrey.Audrey was whimpering.Jenny was still choking,unable to get her breath.She was so hot and exhausted and sore.Everything hurt.Her ears wereringing.Her eyes and nose stung, and when she tried to get up, her legscollapsed under her.But she was alive.And Audrey was alive, because she was making noise.Michael was alive, coughing and gagging and beating at his smoking clothes.Dee was alive, pounding the concrete and shouting joyously.Tom was alive, and on his feet.Tall and handsome and stern."Where's Zach?"Jenny's throat was raw."He let go," she said, almost in a whisper."Hetripped and he let go of my hand-"Dee's grin collapsed.She stared up at the photo on the wall.Flames werelicking out of it."I couldn't hold on to him," Jenny said, ashamed."I couldn't help it____""I'll get him," Tom said."Are you crazy?" Michael shouted.He broke off, bending over in a fit ofcoughing.Then he spat and lifted his head again."Are you nuts? It'll killyou!"Audrey had rolled over to look up at the photograph with terrified eyes, herspiky lashes matted together."We should get a fire extinguisher-" Dee began."No! Not till we get back.It might do something- close the door orsomething.Just wait for us-we'll be back in a minute."Jenny swallowed dryly.The fire had been worse this time; it must be gettingworse every second.But Zach.Her gray-eyed cousin.He was lost somewhere in that fire.Shecouldn't just leave him."Oh, God," she sobbed."Tom, I'm going with you." She tried to get up again,but her legs simply wouldn't obey.She looked down at them in astonishment."No!" Tom said."Dee, take care of her!""Tom-" Jenny screamed."I'll be back.I promise."He was reaching into the picture-pulling the handle.Then he simplydisappeared.The flames shot out and seemed to grab him like hungry hands,snatching him inside.He was gone-and the photograph was ablaze.Page 122ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlEvery inch of it was burning now, flames bursting up and fanning out.Leapingso high that at any other time Jenny would have been terrified at the meresight, afraid for Zach's house.She'd never seen an uncontrolled fire thishigh.At this moment all she cared about was the photograph.The entire picture wason fire, blackening and peeling [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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