y P

mas tree dominating the central court. Tacky, oversized ornaments h

, pulling him toward the tree. She shoved her phone int

d down at her, his arm instinctively wrapping around her waist, pulling her

ugh the screen, I saw them, a portrait of my own pers

terrible creakin

ments-a massive, ridiculous snowflake-break free from its cable.

happened in

I saw Arthur's eyes widen. And I saw

way, his body shielding hers,

t even l

time to move, no time to even scream. The world exploded in a shower of plastic,

loor with a sickening crack. The last thing I saw before the darkness swallowed me was Arthu

from the pain. I was crying because in that split second, I had my answer

g, the wail of a siren. I woke up briefly in the back of an a

iately, severe concussion and a possible

on lockdown. Mr. Lowery' s orders. His sister was fright

n ambulance, seriously injured, but I couldn' t get a room in the

a monster clawing at me from

the curtain around my bed offering little privacy. A dull, throbbing

d nurses came and went.

in, his expensive suit slightly wrinkled. He r

are you okay?" he aske

"I' m fine," I sai

dia. She was in shock. The doctors w

undred-pound piece of plastic, but she was the one who needed him

Claudia herself appeared. She looked perfectly f

he said, her voice dripping with fals

mell rich and inviting. It was my favorite. It also contained shellfish, which

ergy once, years ago, after a close call at a restaurant. She had lo

t want it

t. "Oh, Jody. Don' t you like it? I ha

her defender. He picked up the spoon. "Come on,

s. His eyes were pleading. He thought this was a romantic gestur

id, turning

isted, his voice hardening. "Claudia

this time. I had no choice. I opened my mouth and

ic seized me. I gasped for breath, shoving the bowl away. It flew fro

ard flew up and ni

arm as if she' d been stabbed. A tiny

examining the minuscule cut with frantic concern. He then turned to me, his face a thunderclo

?" he roared, his voice echoing in the

oat closing up, my skin breaking out in angr

a whimpered, hiding behind him. "She

rt you!" he bellowed. He pointed a

my voice was gone. All I could do was shake my head,

he shouted again, his v

. I was having a severe allergic reaction, and he was screaming at me to apolog

, I managed to croak out a s

unbearable. Black spots danced in my vision. The last thing I heard before I passed out

-