Page 106 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

I grabbed a sword.

“Do you know how to use that thing?” Kelly asked as we stumbled toward the library entrance.

“I swing it,” I said, doing just that and hoping confidence would make up for my lack of skill.

Kelly suddenly gripped her stomach. “The baby!”

Panic surged through me, but I grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to meet my gaze. “I’m going to get you out of here and to the hospital.”

She nodded frantically, her eyes wild with fear yet desperate with hope.

I yanked open the library door, pulling her inside just as I heard Edna’s footsteps on the stairs.

Slamming the door behind us, I shoved a chair under the handle, knowing it wouldn’t hold long but hoping it would buy us a few seconds.

“You won’t stop me!” Edna’s voice rang out from the other side.

She got that right. But I could slow her down.

I turned to Kelly, who was leaning heavily against one of the massive bookshelves that lined the walls, sweat glistening on her forehead, her hands trembling. I needed to get her out before she collapsed, not able to take another step.

My mom’s voice echoed in my memory.

The upstairs library connects with the downstairs one.

I grabbed Kelly’s hand. “There’s a way down to the first-floor library. We get down there and then outside.”

She nodded, the shred of hope making her determined to tackle the task.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, grateful I hadn’t left it in the truck. “Hit ‘superhero’ in my contacts and tell my dad to hurry and bring the entire police force with him.”

Kelly moaned but fought against the pain to do what I said.

A sharp cracking sound made me whirl around.

Wood splintered as Edna hacked through the door. My stomach twisted as I realized she must have grabbed one of the axes from the armory. We had seconds, maybe less.

I spun around and spotted the top of the spiral staircase.

“There!” I pointed. “Take the stairs, get outside!”

Kelly gripped my arm, shaking her head, tears in her eyes. “I—I don’t think I can make it down by myself—too much pain.”

I looked back just as Edna burst through the ruined door, eyes gleaming with malice.

I had no choice. I had to hold her off.

I pushed Kelly toward the stairs. “GO! Just start moving! I’ll be right behind you to help!”

Kelly headed to the staircase.

Edna raised the gun.

I raised my sword.

Edna let out a short, cruel laugh. “What are you going to do with that, Pepper? Give me a history lesson?”

I didn’t think. I reacted. With everything I had, I flung the sword at her, and pure luck—not skill—caught the gun and sent it flying out of her hand.

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