Nancy Taylor Rosenberg - Revenge of Innocents

KENSINGTON BOOKS
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com

To Michaela Hamilton, and in memory of Hyman Rosenberg.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 28

CHAPTER 29

CHAPTER 30

CHAPTER 31

CHAPTER 32

CHAPTER 33

CHAPTER 34

EPILOGUE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

D eath showed up amidst the smoke and flying embers. She was sitting on the front steps of Ventura High when she saw his car. He would wait her on a side street. If she made him wait too long, he would beat her. Today, he would wait.

They announced on TV that the schools were going to be closed, Chloe said, a short girl with brown hair and freckled skin. I cant believe my stupid mother didnt tell me. I could have slept late. Now that were here, want to do something?

I cant, she said, raising her eyes and then lowering them. I have an appointment. What would she look like in her coffin? Would they leave it open or closed? How many people would show up? The only thing that bothered her was not being able to control what they did to her after she died. It would be over, though, and over was enough.

What kind of appointment?

I dont remember.

What do you mean, you dont remember? Chloe said. Is it a doctor, a shrink, a dentist? Do you at least know when youre supposed to be there? If your appointment is this morning, we might still be able to do something this afternoon.

I have an essay I have to finish.

So what? Lets have some fun today. Youre too uptight about everything.

I should have graduated last year, Chloe. Im eighteen and Im still in high school. How do you think that makes me feel?

Chloe reached over and touched her arm. Hey, are you okay? Youve been acting weird lately. Where were you last week? You and Reggie didnt run away and get married, did you?

No, she said. I was sick.

Chloe persisted. Did you have the flu?

I have to go, she told her, annoyed by the barrage of questions. She stood and made her way through a small throng of students.

Maybe well get another day off tomorrow, Chloe yelled. Who knows? We might get lucky and the school will burn down.

Her plan to hold him off wasnt working. Shed devised a new plan, but the timing had to be perfect. Weak and dizzy, she knew if she passed out in a public place, they would take her to the hospital and find out what was hidden underneath her clothes.

As she stared at the black clouds rising into the atmosphere, she noticed her sweatshirt was covered in ash. When she tried to brush some of it off, strands of hair became tangled in her fingers. She coughed from the smoke, causing her ribs to ache.

She entered the girls bathroom and locked herself inside a stall. Maybe he didnt know school had been called off because of the fires. If she stayed in here long enough, he might leave. She wanted to put an end to it today, but she was afraid.

Facing death wasnt easy.

Thirty minutes passed. She left the stall, walked to the door, and peered out. The school appeared deserted. Her throat was sore from breathing in the smoke-filled air, so she got a drink from the water fountain, then returned to the bathroom and squatted down in a corner.

The door burst open. You saw me out there, he shouted, his face flushed with rage. You know how long Ive been waiting? He grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her to her feet. Im parked in the regular spot. To make certain no one sees you, wait five minutes before you come out. He stared at her, then added, You look like shit. Comb your hair. And why are you wearing those heavy sweats on such a hot day?

Once he left, she splashed water in her face and smoothed down her hair. She didnt have a brush with her. No wonder her hair kept falling out. It wasnt strictly poor nutrition. He kept pulling it. He even did it when other people were around, but he always laughed, making it seem like a game.

She walked to the street behind the school. He called it their special meeting place. To her, it represented the gate to hell. When she saw his car, she looked straight ahead and continued walking. He slammed on the brakes and leapt out, rushing over and seizing her by the arm. Her books tumbled to the ground. Dont act like this, he said. I have a surprise for you.

Oh, yeah? she said, glaring at him until her released her. What kind of surprise?

Get in the car and youll find out.

Fighting him was useless. She couldnt remember when shed eaten. Was it last night or the night before? Every other day, she sliced an orange into three equal pieces and parceled them out over the course of the day. She was getting forgetful and suspected days passed when she didnt eat anything at all. Since she cleared the plates every night, no one knew what went down the disposal. She glanced at her books on the sidewalk, but made no attempt to retrieve them. If everything went the way shed planned, she would no longer need them. I dont care about your surprise.

Get in the damn car! he said, the words roaring from his mouth.

His mouth formed a perfect circle when he yelled at her. It was as if his lips became a megaphone. In the past, shed cowered in fear. What frightened her now wasnt his voice or even the things he did to her.

He glanced up and down the street to see if anyone was around. If you keep this up, youll ruin everything. Are you going to get inside the car, or do I have to make you?

She climbed inside, not bothering to buckle her seat belt.

Are you still pissed off because I said something about your weight? he asked. I didnt mean anything, baby. Since youve slimmed down, you look great. Maybe you can be an actress.

She closed her eyes, trying to forget where she was and what was about to happen to her. When she opened them and realized they had traveled a long way, she asked him, Where are you taking me?

He placed his hand on her thigh. She was wearing two pairs of sweatpants, so all she felt was a small amount of pressure. Even that repulsed her. She scooted closer to the door.

The least you could do is smile, he said, placing his hand back on the steering wheel. You look so pretty when you smile.

He turned into a parking lot and parked the car.

Is this your surprise? she asked, looking up and seeing a motel sign.

He pulled out a key and jangled it. When we get to the room, Im going to make you feel like youve never felt before.

Shed already accomplished that without him, although she knew he was referring to sex. Starvation was interesting. Something new happened every day. That is, as long as you didnt cheat. But she was long past cheating. She was tired of waiting, though, and fearful someone would find out and stop her. It wasnt herself she was concerned about. The previous week, she had seen him with her younger sister.

She followed him up the stairway to the second floor, holding on to the railing for support until they reached the room.

We dont have to hurry, he said, once they were inside. Thats why I got the room. Take your clothes off. No ones going to bother us here. He turned on the air conditioner, an old floor unit. Man, this thing really blasts, doesnt it? While everyones sweltering out there, we can cuddle under the covers.