A Proscriptive Relationship (52 page)

Lance’s eyes instantly hardened. “Holly, do you know something I should know?”

I shook my head quickly. “N-no! I was just saying . . .”

“
You have your phone on you?” Lance asked, changing the subject. “We can split up and do a search until we find her. Knowing Casey, she probably got distracted with some dart game or something.”

I tried to laugh, but it came out as a nervous giggle. “Yeah. And I have my phone.” I patted my back pocket. “Text me if you find her.”

“
You do the same. Casey should really keep her phone charged,” Lance muttered, pulling out his phone. “I just tried calling her, but her phone was off.”

I didn’t like the feeling that was creeping over me. “Right . . . I’m going to go look now.”

“
Same. See you soon.”

“
See you.”

Lance turned his back on me, and started stalking off in the direction of the games. Turning away from him, I went the opposite way, towards the rides. It was much darker now—surprisingly so. It also seemed less crowded. Was this supposed to be some kind of sign?

I resisted the urge to snort. I was reading way too much into this. It just looked empty because no one was crowding around the food stands, and I wasn’t around the popular rides. I was just being paranoid.

As I grew closer to the more popular rides, I felt safer. Shawn wouldn’t try anything in the middle of a crowd. No one would be stupid enough to do that. When I found Casey, we’d meet up with Lance again, and I’d be even safer. I had no reason to worry.

A scowl of annoyance made its way onto my face as I slipped between a children’s ride and the merry-go-round. I was severely tempted to look at my phone to see if I had missed any texts from Shawn, but I didn’t want to jinx anything.
Shawn couldn’t still be watching me or he would have—
 

My thoughts were abruptly cut off when I felt someone clap their hand over my mouth and pull me roughly against the back of the merry-go-round. A muffled gasp escaped me. Whoever had a grip on me tried to hold me still as I struggled to liberate myself.

I was in public! There were people not even ten feet away from me. Who would be stupid enough to attack me now? When I finally managed to turn my head around far enough, I nearly had a heart attack.

Jeremy was grinning at me, his eyes twinkling mischievously. He uncovered my mouth, but continued to hold my arm.

“
What are you doing?” I demanded, a little breathless from shock. “You scared the crap out of me!”

“
I’ve been calling you name for the last minute,” Jeremy pointed out. “You’ve been in la-la land or something.”

I blushed slightly, gently tugging my arm out of Jeremy’s grasp. “What are you doing here?”

“
My mom asked me to take Jenna and Jane. I couldn’t refuse,” Jeremy explained. “They’re around here somewhere.”

“
Oh.”

Jeremy pushed a stray lock of his hair behind his ear. “Did Chris ever text you?”

I raised an eyebrow. “No, why?”

“
I got a text from him about an hour and a half ago asking where you were. I told him I didn’t know, and he never texted me back, so I assumed he got in touch with you.”

I shook my head. “I haven’t gotten any text messages . . .”

“
But I texted you, like, half an hour ago too,” Jeremy said, a frown appearing on his lips. “Are you sure?”

“
My phone didn’t . . .” I trailed off, reaching into my pocket. Horror sank in when I realized my phone was off. “Oh no.”

“
What?”

“
My phone was off!”

Shakily, I pressed the on key. The twenty seconds it took to turn on felt like centuries. The home screen finally loaded and, sure enough, I had text messages. Thirteen in total: one from Jeremy, three from Shawn, and eight from Mr. Heywood.

Jeremy cocked his head at me when I looked up at him with a worried expression. “What’s up?” he asked.

“
Hold on,” I told him, opening the first text message that had arrived from Shawn.

If you turn around, I’m right behind you.

A shudder ran through me. That message had been sent an hour and a half ago. Now I was kind of glad my phone had been switched off. What would have happened if I had checked my phone when I first received the message? I didn’t want to know. I scrolled to the second text message from Shawn, and opened it.

I told a small, white lie to Mr. Heywood. Hopefully he won’t get too upset. If you get any text messages from him, don’t pay them too much attention. P.S. Your friend Casey is cute.

A sick feeling ran through me, and I clenched my phone a little more tightly. Why did he mention Casey? The next message in my inbox was from Mr. Heywood, sent about a minute after Shawn’s last one.

Where are you?

The next one said the same thing, and so did the next one, and so did the next one, and so did the next one. In his sixth message he used my full name and an exclamation point. He must have been getting frantic. I clicked on the next one.

Holly! Damn it, respond to this or I’m going to think Shawn really did get you.

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. Is that what Shawn had told Mr. Heywood? That he “got” me? I turned to Jeremy, who was watching me with a concerned expression.

“
What’s wrong?” he asked.

I ignored him, clicking on the last message from Mr. Heywood.

I’m coming to get you.

The next message was from Shawn. I noticed there was an hour time lapse between Mr. Heywood’s last message and this one. With barely a split second’s hesitation, I opened the text.

Mr. Heywood isn’t so tough when his Holly is involved, huh? He needs an attitude check. I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. Oh well. Stay tuned, Holly Evers.

“
Holy shit,” I gasped, staring at the text message.

“
What?”

I turned my attention from my phone to Jeremy, my eyes wide in terror. “I think Shawn has Mr. Heywood.”

Jeremy’s eyes hardened as soon as the words left my mouth. “What do you mean?”

“
Shawn texted me, um, implying Mr. Heywood was with him,” I explained, glancing at the text again. “It doesn’t say directly whether Mr. Heywood is with him or not.”

Jeremy quickly yanked the phone out of my grasp and read the screen, a scowl appearing on his face. He nearly dropped it when my ring tone suddenly went off. Jeremy stared at me for a moment, and then stared at the phone. He was reading the new message.

When Jeremy’s face paled, curiosity got the best of me and I reached out my hand to take my phone back. Jeremy pulled away, slapping my hand down.

“
Jeremy,” I started, narrowing my eyes at him. “I want my phone . . .”

Jeremy shook his head. “No.”

“
Jeremy.”

“
You can’t see this,” Jeremy told me. “Let me delete it first.”

 “
Jeremy, no. Let me see it!”

“
No!”

“
Jeremy!” Before he could react I quickly flung out my arm and grabbed my phone and clutched it to my chest. “Ha!”

“
Holly, really—”

I rolled my eyes. “Come on, Jeremy. It can’t be that bad.”

Jeremy shot me nervous looks as I flipped open my phone again, going to my text message menu. When I found the new text, I noticed it was a picture file from Shawn. I was over come with the horrible feeling of dread.

Finally, I worked up enough courage to open the picture file. A moan escaped my lips when my eyes landed on the image Shawn had sent me. Or should I say, who was in the image Shawn had sent me. The image of Mr. Heywood.

On the ground.

Eyes shut.

And there was blood.

My world suddenly blackened before me and I felt myself falling. Before I could hit the ground, a set of strong, warm arms wrapped around me, and set me straight. It took me a few seconds to realize I was hyperventilating.

“
Holly. Holly, calm down,” I heard Jeremy order, but I couldn’t focus enough to actually be able to see him.

This had to be some kind of joke. That couldn’t be Mr. Heywood, Shawn could never knock him to the ground. He would never lose to Shawn. My mind was racing, my hands shaking, my heart pounding. It felt surreal.

“
Holly,” Jeremy said, shaking my shoulders. “Focus.”

I looked at him, already feeling my eyes welling up with tears. “Mr. Heywood is—”

“
He’s fine,” Jeremy assured me, but looked unsure. “Shawn wouldn’t kill him . . . Well he would, I guess.”

“
He’s going to kill him?” I uttered in a horrified voice.

Jeremy blinked at me in surprise realizing what he said. “No! That’s not what I mean! I meant . . . No! Holly, Chris will be fine.” He took my hand in his, holding it tightly. “If Shawn does have Chris, I’ll do something about it.”

“
By yourself? No!” I cried. “What if—”

Jeremy narrowed his eyes at me. “No, Holly.”

“
I’m coming with you,” I told him, clenching my fists.

Jeremy pursed his lips. “No.”

“
Jeremy!”

“
Mr. Heywood told me under no circumstances are you allowed near Shawn,” Jeremy said forcefully. “There’s no way I’m letting you come with me.”

I glared at him and picked up my phone again defiantly. I dialed Lance’s number by heart. Jeremy watched me curiously as I held my phone to my ear. A nerve-wracking ten seconds passed before I heard someone pick up.

“
Where’s Mr. Heywood?” I demanded before Shawn had a chance to speak.

“
I see you finally got my messages.”

My heart skipped a beat. “Where is he?”

“
He’s right here.”

“
Right where?”

Shawn chuckled. “Let’s see how good your memory is. We’re where you first met me. And I have one more surprise for you, to ensure that you come quickly.”

“
What?”

After a few seconds of silence I heard someone breathing shakily.

“
Holly?”

My eyes widened in terror. I knew that voice. How could I not? That was my best friend’s voice.

Shawn had Mr. Heywood
and
Casey?

LESSON thirty-SIX

 “
Casey!” I screamed into the phone, my eyes wide with terror. “Casey!”

“
Holly! What’s—” Casey’s voice suddenly disappeared and was replaced with an irritatingly familiar one.

“
I expect you here in fifteen minutes,” Shawn said simply.

I swallowed nervously. “Don’t hurt Casey!”

“
I won’t, as long as you get here on time,” Shawn said casually. “I’ll be waiting.”

There was a click and I looked down at my phone to see the call had ended. I turned to Jeremy. He looked just as terrified as I did. Jeremy suddenly jammed his hand into his pocket, whipping out his phone.

“
Jenna, grab Jane and come to the baked potato stand,” he said into his phone in a rushed voice. “Right now.” He snapped his phone shut and turned to me. “Do you have any idea where Shawn would be?”

I nodded my head. “He said where we first met. That would be the old hideout you took me to.”

“
That’s close,” Jeremy commented, checking his phone. “It’s only about ten minutes away.”

“
Ten minutes?” I cried shrilly. “Shawn wants me there in fifteen or he’ll hurt Casey! We’ve got to go now!”

Jeremy’s looked hardened. “He gave you a time limit?”

“
Yeah,” I responded, feeling my eyes filling with tears. “We have to go, now!”

Someone put a hand on my shoulder and I jumped violently, turning to see a worried Lance looking at me. When he noticed my expression, his concern doubled. “What’s wrong?”

“
Shawn has Casey,” I told him miserably.

“
He
what
?” Lance nearly shouted. “How? When? Where?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know how or when! I do know where, and I’m going there now. Give me your car keys.”

Lance stared at me like I was crazy. “You’re not going anywhere! That’s too dangerous!”

“
It’s more dangerous for Casey if I don’t go!”

“
Why would Shawn so suddenly go after Casey?” Lance inquired, furrowing his eyebrows. “He’s been quiet for so long.”

I shifted on my feet uncomfortably. “Well . . . earlier I got a few text messages from him. But I thought he was just messing with me,” I added quickly, seeing Lance’s expression turn livid.

Lance grabbed my shoulders and held them roughly. “Holly! Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

“
I—I didn’t think it mattered,” I told him, trying to get away from his grasp. “Lance, that hurts—”

“
Holly, are you stupid? If you had said something this wouldn’t have happened!” Lance snapped. “You need to learn to swallow your pride—”

“
Pride?” I cried, staring at him incredulously. “Pride? You think I take pride in not telling someone that my stalker has been texting me? I wasn’t going to tell anyone to keep everyone safe, Lance!”

“
That didn’t work so well, now did it?” Lance snorted, shoving me away. “You went and got Casey captured.”

I stared at Lance, hurt by his words. Tears filled my eyes again and I sniffled, rubbing my eyes with the back of the sleeve. “I didn’t know!”

I felt an arm around me and I looked up to see Jeremy frowning at Lance. “You two, calm down,” he ordered, squeezing my shoulders. “Holly, it’s not your fault. And Lance . . . I understand this news is coming as a shock, but don’t place the blame on Holly so easily okay? You two will end up saying things you’ll regret later if you keep it up.”

Lance stared at the ground for a moment, his fists clenched. Finally, he sighed, looking back up at me. “I’m sorry, Holly. I know it’s not your fault.”