Read Online Radium Halos by W.J. May - Free Book Online Page B

think I could
move if I tried. My brain had to process the thought of speaking. I
wished I could turn my ears off to stop the sounds from another
room in PHP.
    “Ow! That’s
some grip.” Brent shifted slightly away, and I realized I had his
arm crushed between my fingers. I managed to release my grip --
only to bring my hands to cover my mouth in horror.
    “What’s wrong,
Zoe?” Brent’s voice bellowed against my eardrum.
    “You don’t have
to shout.” I frowned, trying to focus on what was going on around
me. The far-off voices kept pulling me back.
    Brent leaned
back, surprised. “I didn’t. I whispered.”
    Pressing my
palms hard against the table, I shot up. I could barely choke out
the words. “A-Abi’s h-hurt…but they’re p-planning something
worse.”
    “Who are?”
Kieran touched my shoulder. His hand warm on my frozen skin.
“Where?”
    “I can hear
them.”
    “Who?” Kieran
repeated, more urgently this time.
    I chewed my
lip, paranoid they might be able to hear me. “Those college
guys,’ I whispered.
    Seth slid out
of the booth, faster than I thought possible. I watched, dazed. He
sniffed the air around him. “Those bastards.” He punched a fist
into his other hand. “I can smell their stinkin’ lust. It
reaks.”
    Rylee stood.
“You can hear them, and they’re not even in the room? And Seth can
smell them?” She squinted and stared across the room. “They’re not
here. Only empty beer bottles where they were playing pool.
    Brent started
pushing Heidi and me out of the booth. “We’ve got to help her.”
    “Why?” Rylee
said. “How about the girls stay here and call the cops. You boys go
be heroes.”
    “Uh-uh. All of
us, together.” Kieran said firmly, then looked at me. “D’you got
your cell? Call the cops while we’re looking for them.” He grabbed
a pool queue and broke it in half across his knee.
    I stared at him
in surprise.
    Me first.
    No way! I’ll
break her in.
    No way, dude.
You made her ugly, so you go last.
    Fuck off!
    I hunched over
and covered my ears, wishing I could block the college jerks
talking and laughing over Ali’s whimpering. Being forced to listen
to something so purely evil shook me to the core
    Shut up,
asshole! You’re too wasted to get it up. This bitch is mine.
    I cringed at
the sound of a zipper, followed the sickening noise of clothes
ripping.
    Ow! Bitch just
bit me!
    Flip her over.
That way she can’t bite or kick.
    Enough! We had to stop this. If it were me… I couldn’t finish the
thought. I grabbed the closest hand and started pulling. “We’ve got
to find Ali. They’re gonna rape her. She’s somewhere inside
here.”
    “Let’s go.”
Kieran pulled me behind him. It was his hand I’d grabbed. He
stepped back to let Brent lead the way. Heidi pulled her phone out
and began dialling nine-one-one.
    Terrified about
what we were going to find, but horrified about what would happen
if we did nothing, I followed beside Kieran still holding his hand. They’re just college guys…who will probably kick our asses .
But at least then Ali would be safe.
    Brent began
touching walls, pausing a mere moment at each room.
    When he
stumbled, Rylee hissed, “Geez, Brent. Tie your shoelace. You’re not
four.”
    Just like
Rylee to think about anything but what’s really going one.
    Brent ignored
her and with his hand, motioned me to stand beside him. I left the
warmth of Kieran’s hand and slipped ahead. Seth moved in behind
me.
    “Are their
voices getting louder?” He talked barely above a whisper, but I
could hear him clearly.
    I cocked my
head and closed my eyes. Their voices were crystal clear, but I
couldn’t tell if we were any closer. “I don’t know.” My eyes welled
so I blinked rapidly. Useless! I can hear them, but can’t find
them? I wished we were anywhere but here. “Can you see
anything, Rylee? Or Seth, is their smell any stronger?”
    Seth grunted.
“I smell them alright, but it ain’t helping none.”
    Rylee