Page 14 of Coerced

“I don’t need a reward for doing the right thing.”

“I pay my debts, Harker,” she snapped. “And it’s a small gift, not an A in my class.”

I understood about debts, all right, and wanting to pay them quick. Owing someone could turn into a real ball-buster. Who knew what favor somebody would ask to square up? A debt was a link in a chain that almost always led to a trap.

She reached into her handbag and took out a small box, then laid it on her palm and held out her hand. I kept my eyes on hers as I picked it up, then retreated behind Hank’s chair to open it. Inside was a round tin full of a thick yellow goo that smelled like the Christmas trees at the back of my cottage.

“The Balm of Gilead, Harker.”

“You’re sure you wanna give this to me?” I asked, and she nodded. “Thank you. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I expect you to be in school tomorrow, Harker, and prepared to research an artifact from the Repository.” She stood. “I’ll see myself out. Good day to you both.”

After she left, Hank asked me about my artifact for the research project.

“I dunno. We were supposed to pick one while we were there.” I snorted. Of course she wouldn’t let us off the assignment because of a little thing like a gargoyle attack. “Ididsee these funny metal birds. The sign said they were called alarm birds or something. They’ll work, right?”

“Yes. I know what you’re talking about. Let’s start on it before you meet Gemma.”

“Sure.” I held the tin up between my thumb and index finger. “I never heard of this stuff. What’s it do?”

“Heal anything. You can be on death’s door and it’ll bring you back in an instant. Some call it a miracle in a jar.” He stood and stretched. “Save it for an emergency, kiddo. It’s a precious prize. The few who make it can ask the earth for it.”

“Got it.” I put the lid on it, laid it back in the box, and slipped it into my pocket. “By the way, what was she asking you? When she looked at you and you nodded?”

“I wondered if you caught that. She wanted to confirm what you were saying was true.”

“You mean, if I would kill someone when I lose my temper?” I was disappointed. I’d hoped for better from Ms. Chapman.

“No, kiddo.” He smiled. “If you canstopfrom killing someone when you lose your temper. You’ve had others to help you the past few months. Yesterday was the first time you pulled yourself back from the brink completely on your own.”

I rolled my shoulders, uncomfortable with being reminded how close I’d been to killing someone who pissed me off.

“You should be proud of how far you’ve come. I am, and so is Ms. Chapman.”

They’reproudof me?I shook my head, too jolted to speak.What idiots. There’s nothing to be proud of about a killer.

4. Those F-Fers Again!

Gemma

I pulled a box of markers out of my backpack and plunked them on the library table.

“I don’t think we need anything fancy, do you?” Gigi asked as she added a package of mini poster board to our supplies. “I mean, there were LED light strings and stickers and stuff, but I think it’s best to keep it simple.”

“Simple like you, Basketball Boobs?”

The meanest girl at school, Shayla Briggs, leaned her hip against the other side of our table. Her friend, Queen Johnson, stood next to her. No one could tell me why they were this way, but I’d learned quickly that they took great delight in tormenting other girls.

“You can leave if you’re going to be catty.” I waved one hand in a shooing gesture.

“No one asked you, Carrots,” Shayla sneered.

“Oh, my feelings. They’re so hurt.”

I put on my best bored face. I wasn’t as good at it as Kerry, but then again, he wasn’t acting when he did it.

“You better watch that sass, or I’ll knock it right out of your mouth.”

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