"The Spell"
I froze.
A million thoughts sped through my mind, but nothing coherent. Nothing that even resembled a plan of action.
Lacey tugged on my shirt and I resisted the urge to smack her hand away. The anger swelling up in my chest wasn't because of her. I mean, yeah, I was angry she'd taken off into the woods, but it wasn't her fault these deranged idiots were barbecuing some old guy in the middle of the clearing.
The boys approached, the paint on their faces glistening in the firelight.
God, please let that be paint...
I shuddered. The man tied up by the fire wriggled. At least that meant he was still alive.
As they drew closer, the warmth seeped out of my body. I didn't want any part of what they were doing. I especially didn't want to join...or replace...that dude by the fire. But mostly, I didn't want that to happen to Lacey.
I leaned down, placing my lips against Lacey's ear. "Run."
"What?" she whispered.
"Go get help."
Her eyes locked on mine. No words were needed. I told her to be brave and that I loved her. She told me she didn't want to leave me, but she knew there was no other way. Wise beyond her seven years.
"Now," I mouthed.
Lacey's eyes pooled with tears. Then, she swallowed hard and ran...
One of the boys yelled and broke into a run. I took in a deep breath and dropped to the ground, sweeping his legs out from under him. He tumbled to the ground and his friend had me by the collar before I could react.
I had no delusions, my Tae Kwon Do training wouldn't hold up against two boys, but I could buy Lacey enough time to get to safety. Maybe.
The boy pulled me closer, his blue eyes glowing in the moonlight. "Lindy?"
He knew me?
"You know her?" the other boy asked.
A crash and a grunt snatched their attention away. The man had knocked something over and writhed wildly in the dirt.
"Crap! Take care of the girl!" the boy said as he pushed himself off the ground.
"I'm sorry, Lindy," the boy said. His voice was gentle, like soft waves lapping at the shore. I believed he was sorry for whatever it was he was about to do. Wait...what was he about to do?
He pulled me close and planted a kiss on my lips.
Any urge that I had to escape vaporized in the warmth of his embrace. It was like a spell, a very powerful spell, and all I could do was kiss him back. All I wanted to do was kiss him back. My hand slid up to the nape of his neck and I tangled my fingers into his hair just before pulling him away.
His mouth dropped open. "How did you...?"
I slapped him. Hard.
His friend cackled. "Nice job, Romeo! Looks like you need to work on that one."
"Shut it, you douche," he said, locking his hands around my wrists like irons. His eyes pierced my tiny bubble of courage, deflating any more thoughts of escape. "Don't try anything."
I shook my head which was still fuzzy from the kiss and let him lead me to the fire. The heat warped the air, making everything more surreal than it already was.
As Romeo tied me up, I knew my first kiss would be my last.
