Chasing Cars

Chapter Nineteen

"Sit," Charleston demanded. I quickly obeyed the order, not wanting to get on this person's bad side. I couldn't see out of my left eye, and my lip was swollen so much it was hard to breathe. Back in the same chair as before, I waited for whatever I was about to be asked. Karev and Krystine seemed just fine, so maybe all Charleston wanted to do was freak us out a little.

"Just the person I was excited to talk to! I always save the best for last," she grinned devilishly, allowing a dark laugh to escape her lips. I looked down at the floor, shuffling my feet and drumming the seat with my fingertips. "I finally have a polite one. Your Grey friend is rather ... difficult, don't you think? She asked me. I wasn't surprised at this. Karev could be pretty extra at times, but it was nothing too bad.

"Uh ... thanks," I answered quietly. I wasn't sure what to say. Karev had told me many stories of this office, and when I thought of getting rid of her, I never imagined being tongue tied. My face hurt, and that was a distraction as well. While Karev was in the middle of her "alone time," Krystine had apologized to me for it, but that didn't change the fact that it hurt.

Charleston began to ask me all sorts of questions about my friendship with the two girls outside the door. I told her everything one hundred percent honestly. I knew she'd been following us, and I didn't want her to think I was lying about anything. As the words flew from my mouth, I thought of how I could attempt getting rid of Charleston.

It would be so easy! I could use her bat! This was the perfect place to do it, too! In her own office, with her own weapon. It was the kind of strategy that only happens in books. I could be some sort of hero! Karev and Krystine would be so proud of me. Everyone who knew Charleston would. I glanced at the bat, which rested against the desk. When she finished asking me the questions, the principal turned away from me and began rifling through a stack of papers on her desk. With her back turned to me, the sneak attack would be perfect. She would never know what was going on, I could just hit her with the bat and it would be over!

I stood up silently, moving toward the bat, but looking at Charleston at the same time, which is unbelievably hard with just one good eye, I might add. In one swift motion, I grabbed the bat and stood shakily behind the massive principal. "Payback kills!" I shout before swinging it. I wasn't much of an athlete, and I squeezed my eyes closed when I started swinging.

I opened them again when the swing was abruptly stopped. Much to my horror, Charleston stood in front of me with her meaty arm gripping the bat tightly. I'd taken too long. "You think you can defeat me that easily, Daniels?" She laughed deeply and whipped the bat out of my hands. I watched as it clattered to the floor, taking my plans with it as it rolled underneath the desk.

I thought only one thought. This is where it ends.

I didn't even know I was crying until I blinked and the tears were flowing. Charleston dug around in her pocket and pulled something small and metal out of it. I couldn't see what it was through the tears and swelling.

"You're chasing cars on a freeway, trying to kill me," she laughed before sticking her hand out and shoving me back. I fell to the floor, shocked at the amount of strength she'd used. Inhaling deeply, I prayed to God that I'd make it out of this and see Karev and Krystine again. They were waiting for me, just ten feet and a wall away.

Before I could rise, I was kicked sharply in my stomach. Doubling over in pain, my head hit the floor with a smack so hard I blacked out for a moment. She kicked me into the wall and this time it was on the head. I don't know how long I was out that time. "You try, but you fail," laughed Charleston as she did something to the metal thing in her hand. When she clicked it, a small flame appeared.

Though my vision was hazy, I was sure that's what it was. She was holding a lighter. "You wanted to be the hero, didn't you?" Yes. "You wanted to protect your little friends." Obviously. "Well guess what? You won't ever see their ugly little faces ever again!" She shouted before kicking me again, harder than the previous times, and throwing the lighter at me.

My eyes shut and I saw and heard nothing. The darkness was swallowing me whole, and I couldn't breathe. I tasted blood in my mouth, and as much as I blinked, my vision wouldn't be restored. Eventually though, it did. I opened my eyes to see flames. Nothing but flamed and Charleston picking the locks on the door to escape the room.

My mind was fuzzy and there was blood all over my clothes and hands. I could still taste it. Is that normal? I don't think it's normal.

Struggling to my knees, I tried crawling away from the flames, which grew ever so close to me. When I steadied myself in the position to crawl away, I vomited all over the place. It was red, and the metallic taste in my mouth confirmed that it was blood. All of it. It was then when it felt like I was seized with a kind of sharp, stabbing pain, and I fell to the floor again, this time not even fighting the darkness that overwhelmed me again.

I heard Charleston's cackling laughter as I faded out, and the heat of the flames felt so close to my face. But it wasn't painful, like I expected it to be. It was welcoming. Like sitting on the couch with a blanket after being outside in the cold snow. But it wasn't good.

Help me. I'm not supposed to die like this!!