Forlot: Her Ice Cold Touch - Book Fifty-Two

Chapter Three

"Cannot...breathe..." Kaylee choked out. She started to cough so hard that it made my ears bleed. She dropped to her knees and clawed at the pretty scarf. Her tongue sticking out seemed like that it was trying to leave. Her eyes bulged out of their sockets. I feared that they both would pop out. Her face turned purple. Kaylee was not breathing!

I did not do anything for around ten seconds. I was too shocked. When I realized that Kaylee was struggling to breathe - and what was causing it - I went into action. I got on my knees and reassured her that I would get the scarf off. I worked fast. I yanked her hands off the scarf and looked for a space between said scarf and her skin, but the scarf was squeezing her neck. I had no choice. I did not want to hurt Kaylee, but I had to if she had any chance of surviving.

I warned Kaylee what I would do and dug my nails into her neck. I was trying to create a small space. I gasped. It worked! The scarf started loosening its grip on her. I slid my fingers deeper and gripped it. As with my other hand. I could not pry off the scarf, fearing that it would tear off Kaylee's skin! I tugged and tugged. I watched it loosen and loosen until it fell gracefully on my palms. I threw it aside and asked if she was okay now.

A tear rolled down her cheek. Her face changed back to its black color. She held out her hands still wearing the gloves with her thumbs and fingers spread out. "Please get these off me."

"The gloves?"

She nodded. "T-they are hurting me. I-I think that they are crushing my bones!"

Huh. The gloves did not bother her earlier. Neither did the scarf. I could not think of a logical reason why they were hurting her. But I no longer found them beautiful or wanted to try them on.

I dug my nails into her hands and pulled on the gloves. Kaylee asked why I was scratching her hands. I was too focused to reply. I pulled and pulled on the darn gloves until they finally slid off. I threw them next to the scarf and apologized for scratching her and squinted at both her hands and neck. They were bright red. I helped her up and asked if we should visit the hospital.

She massaged the front of her neck. "No. Absolutely no way. You know how I feel about hospitals."

I brushed the dirt off the front of her slacks. "Hospitals - most hospitals - are not like the one in that movie. All the doctors and nurses are there to help you in the best possible way. None of them will inject you with poison. Unless that they are not a real doctor or nurse."

She shook her hands to ease the pain. "They had better not - or I will return from the dead to get my revenge!" Her laughter echoed throughout the graveyard.

"So you will go to the hospital?"

"Nope!"

"How about we ask your mom what she thinks?"

"You cannot. She is at the hospital." Her mother works as a doctor at the hospital.

I began walking out of the graveyard. "She is supposed to have today off. Her boss promised."

"Ginger. What about the gloves and scarf?"

I halted in my tracks and looked over my shoulder. My friend was pointing at the scarf and gloves still lying on the ground. After I watched them almost murder her, I wanted nothing to do with them. I never wanted to see them again.

"Leave them. I do not care what happens to those lame things as long as they are nowhere near our homes."

She picked them up and folded the scarf. She put them on top of Julia's grave. "I feel the same way. Not sure if I will wear a scarf or gloves ever again."

We had stepped out of that depressing graveyard when we overheard a collection of voices. I instructed Kaylee to keep quiet and cupped a hand around my ear. I held my breath and listened. The loud voices sounded close. They were coming from the enormous woods. I uttered a small gasp and covered my mouth. I recognized them and whispered to Kaylee. She moved both hands down her face as she groaned.

"I would rather have those gloves crush my bones," she whispered back.

What could be worse than the bizarre scarf and gloves? How about three girls with no brains? Everyone knows that bullies - and the easily offended - have no brains. I came to the realization that it was Isabella, Taylor, and Daisy. I did not want them to notice us. But I really did not want to stay in the graveyard a minute longer.

I gazed at the forest and tiptoed. I then froze. I spotted the three troublemakers standing near the edge of said forest and gossiping - mostly about us. Isabella chatted the most. She is the leader of the rotten group. She had her back against a tree trunk and her arms crossed and one foot kicking up dirt. Daisy and Taylor were in front of her. Daisy's hands were resting on her hips. Taylor's arms were swinging back and forth.

I knew that their conversation involved me and Kaylee, but I could not hear what it was about. Who cares? The only thing that we cared about was getting out of there. Going back home without being spotted.

"We must be as quiet as a mouse," I whispered. "Know what? I take that back. Quieter than a mouse. Got it?"

Kaylee nodded.

We lowered our upper bodies and tiptoed to the forest. I was holding my breath and letting it out when I could no longer hold it in. We entered the forest.

"Hey. Would you look at that?" Isabella said.