Page 31 of 1st Shock
"Haley!"
I charge toward them, the garbled sounds coming at me again. Closer this time. Something white flashes followed by the clickety-clack of high heels against pavement. Then a scream. A loud piercing one that wreaks of desperation.
My eyes adjust to the blackness and the white—a shirt—comes closer. Suddenly, Haley is there, bearing down on me, her mouth wide as her screams continue to shatter the cool night air.
* * *
Before I can say anything, I'm blown sideways, shoved so hard by Matt I'm off my feet and tumbling. I land hard on my hip—ooff—and pain rockets down my leg.
Haley is still screaming, her feet barely touching ground as she cuts the corner of the building too close and bumps it. She trips and lands hard on all fours. I jump up and plant myself in front of her, squatting to make eye contact. So she can see it's me.
So she can see she's safe.
The light above the back door reveals wild, unfocused eyes bouncing all over while her wails damn near split my skull. "Haley! It's me. Meg."
Long seconds pass. Five maybe ten. I'm not sure. All I know is her mouth abruptly slams shut and she peers at me with an intensity that drills right through me.
My God. What happened to her?
As if reading my mind, she sits back on her haunches and lifts her head, exposing her neck to me. Blood oozes from a jagged gash that mars her creamy white skin.
"Oh, my God." I drop to my knees and reach for her, bringing her into my arms and squeezing. "You're safe now. I promise. Ssshhh. I'll take care of you."
We stay there, the two of us breathing hard as I look over her shoulder, watching that damn alley where Matt took off running, obviously chasing Haley's assailant.
My mind races with questions. Who was he? Our killer? Did she see him? Why was she in the alley?
All of it will be answered soon enough.
I hope.
Right now, all I hear are Haley's harsh breaths and I pray the shock hasn't blocked her from remembering what happened.
"You're all right," I reassure her, but even I only half believe it. She may never be all right after this. "We should go inside. Lock ourselves in. I'll look at your neck, but we should get you to a hospital."
And call the police.
And Charlie.
And JJ.
So many things to do and I begin to shiver. The shelter of a juicy adrenaline burst is subsiding, replaced with that same consuming rage from earlier.
Inside.We need to get to safety. If her attacker managed to elude Matt, he could come back to finish what he started.
And I'll be goddamned if I'll let him. I have an entire arsenal of weapons on my work table that’ll assist me in carving this guy up.
"Cccc...ops," she says.
The police. She wants the police. I let go of her and dig my cell out of my back pocket. "I'll call them. Right now."
I dial 911 and give the operator what information I have.
I pocket my phone again, help Haley to her feet, and walk her inside, my gaze constantly skimming the area. In the distance, a siren sounds. Not too far. Good.
I lock us in and lead Haley to one of the chairs in the kitchen area. Blood runs down her chest, drenching the collar of her blouse. I should be sickened. Part of me is, but it's more about our assistant being attacked than anything else.
The blood? It's almost invisible to me, reminding me violence has become mundane to my sister and me.
