A Proscriptive Relationship (54 page)

A small amount of hopelessness began to rise in me, but I forcefully pushed it away. I had to think positively.

“
Listen,” Shawn finally spoke up. “I know your friend Lance said he was going to call the police in an hour. It’s been about forty-five minutes since then, so that means we have fifteen minutes to finish this before the cops show.”

“
How did you know?” I gasped in surprise.

Shawn grinned at me. “I have spies, duh. Shall we get down to business then?”

The sudden pounding of feet made my heart leap into my chest. I turned right and saw the burly man running straight at me. Throwing my head to the other side I noticed the other man was advancing as well. Jeremy placed Mr. Heywood on the ground as quickly and gently as possible, and intercepted the man from my left. My hand clenched the pocketknife I was still holding.

“
Now, I don’t want to hurt you,” the burly man told me as he stopped a few feet away from me. “I just need to bring you up to Shawn.”

“
No,” I stated stubbornly.

“
Then I do it by force.”

A startled gasp escaped my lips as the man instantly threw a punch towards my face. I ducked just in time, staggering backwards. Without hesitating the man threw another punch, which I managed to avoid again. I struggled with the pocketknife in my hand, trying to get it open. No matter how much I tried though, it wouldn’t unlatch. Figures Jeremy would give me a pocketknife I couldn’t open.

“
You’re pretty good at evading, aren’t you?” the burly man commented, looking amused and impressed.

I dodged another of his blows. “I’ve had practice.”

“
Unfortunately for you, I don’t think you’re paying enough attention.”

Before I knew what happened, I was flat on my back. I stared in horror at the burly man hovering over me, a smirk on his face. When I looked to my left I realized I had tipped over Mr. Heywood’s leg. The burly man put a foot on my chest, and put pressure on it. I gasped in surprise, trying to pull his foot off.

“
Should I knock her out, Shawn?”

“
Whatever works,” Shawn called down. “Just don’t kill her.”

“
Sure,” the burly man said with a grin. “Night-night, Holly.”

The man began to press harder into my chest and I looked to my side to see Casey staring at me in terror. With my left hand I fumbled with the pocketknife again, wincing from the pressure on my chest. It felt like I was suffocating. My left hand clenched uncontrollably as the burly man suddenly pressed into me even harder. A slight pain ran through my finger and my finger rubbed against something cool and sharp. The pocketknife had unlatched!

I brought up my hand and slashed at the foot on me. The burly man cried out in surprise and pain, pulling away. I quickly sent my leg straight up, right into his crotch. For a horrifying second I thought he was going to fall on top of me, but a hand flashed before my eyes, making contact with his face. From the force of the punch, the burly man stumbled backwards, landing on the ground, unconscious.

Jeremy grinned down at me. “And Chris thought he was the only one who could do a one-hit K.O.”

“
Ten bucks says I can too,” a calm voice commented, sounding amused.

I looked beyond Jeremy, and straight at Shawn. When I realized what he was holding, I screamed in panic. I scrambled to my feet, never taking my eyes off Shawn’s gun, or where he was pointing it. Straight at Jeremy.

“
Wait!” I screamed, taking a few steps towards him.

Shawn spared me one glance. “I’m an impatient person.”

I didn’t even have time to blink before Shawn squeezed the trigger. A loud cracking noise filled the room and my mouth fell open in horror as I twirled around to see Jeremy, his face frozen in shock. Then, just as I reached out to grab him, he fell over backwards.

“
One-shot K.O.,” Shawn stated simply.

LESSON thirty-seven

It felt like time had stopped. The scene of his body tumbling to the ground played over and over again in my head. Seeing someone shot was a lot different than hearing about it later. Shawn hummed to himself, stroking his pistol with his thumb. Casey let out a horrified croak, her eyes glued to Jeremy’s motionless body.

Numbness spread through me. It felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over me, and through my veins. Shawn shot Jeremy.

“
Jeremy?” I called, staring at his motionless body. “Jeremy, get up!”

No response.

My chest tightened. “Jeremy, please! Please!” I pleaded pathetically. “Get up! Don’t die!”

“
Holly,” Casey started in a quiet voice, sounding like she was crying. “He could still be alive if the bullet didn’t go through his heart or head . . .”

Casey had a point. He was shot in the stomach. Lance had survived two bullets. Jeremy had to be able to survive one! But he was still unconscious and hurt. There was still the chance he could die.

I looked from Shawn, to Jeremy, and back to Shawn again, helplessness welling up in me. Everyone was being harmed, and it was my fault. Jeremy didn’t even do anything! Neither did Casey! Anger filled me and I clenched my fist, taking a menacing step towards Shawn. “You—”

“
You bastard.”

My eyes shot open, and I twirled around to see Mr. Heywood pushing himself off the ground.

“
Mr. Heywood!” I cried in relief.

He didn’t even look at me. His eyes were focused on Shawn, anger blazing in them. Shawn smirked back, cocking his head to the side.

“
You’re alive?”

“
And you’re about to be dead,” Mr. Heywood growled, starting towards Shawn. He took about three steps, then let out a groan, and started to fall. I quickly stepped forward to catch him, grasping onto his shoulders. His weight almost knocked me over, and I struggled to keep him upright. Shawn chuckled from where he was, shaking his head.

“
Chris, you can’t even stand. What makes you think you’re going to kill me?”

Mr. Heywood shoved me away from him. “I can stand just fine.”

“
Mr. Heywood—” I protested, staggering back a few steps. He ignored me, swaying on his feet for a few seconds.

“
That was a pretty cheap shot earlier,” he commented, sarcasm dripping in his voice. “Are you really that pathetic? It’s a wonder how you became gang leader.”

Shawn leered at him. “Regretting leaving?”

“
As if,” he spat angrily.

Shawn shrugged his shoulders. “You and Jeremy were the greatest assets. You still could be. Jeremy . . .” Shawn glanced at Jeremy’s body on the ground. “Well, he could have been.”

“
I’m not coming back,” Mr. Heywood declared stubbornly. “Especially not under the likes of you.”

“
Likes of me?” Shawn responded with a bark of laughter. “Where do you get off acting so high and mighty?”

Mr. Heywood didn’t respond, making Shawn scowl in irritation. “You really piss me off.”

“
Good.”

“
Mr. Heywood!” I warned quietly, staring at him with wide eyes. Was he trying to provoke Shawn?

Shawn’s eyes slid over to me, and I saw Mr. Heywood’s shoulders tense. I glared at Shawn as viciously as I could. He laughed at my expression.

“
Oh, someone is angry,” he taunted.

“
I’m—”

“
Holly don’t talk to him,” Mr. Heywood ordered flatly.

I looked towards Mr. Heywood in surprise. He still had his back to me. Why didn’t he want me talking to Shawn?

Shawn turned his attention back to Mr. Heywood, “Don’t tell her what to do,” Shawn demanded.

Mr. Heywood laughed once. “What? Are you her father?”

“
Nope,” Shawn chuckled, “but maybe her boyfriend soon.” Mr. Heywood’s fist clenched. “Isn’t it curious?” Shawn continued. “How much she looks like my old Holly?”

“
She isn’t
your
old Holly.”

“
Nor is she yours.”

“
She’s got nothing to do with this,” Mr. Heywood snapped.

Shawn raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Is she a sore spot? Because you couldn’t protect her, like you promised?”

“
I—”

“
Come to think of it, she gave you two chances, right?” Shawn stated, tapping his chin with his finger. “And you failed both times?”

Mr. Heywood’s shoulders sagged. “That’s . . .”

“
And now it’s going to happen again, huh? You’re going to let the person you care for the most suffer the same fate? There’s nothing you can do about it either.”

Mr. Heywood stayed silent. For a moment, the only noise I could hear were Casey’s quiet crying, Mr. Heywood’s heavy breathing, and my own blood pumping in my ears. I was shaking uncontrollably. Not from fear, but from anger. Shawn was rubbing salt in Mr. Heywood’s wounds. He didn’t need to be dredging up the past.

Shawn snickered. “You’re not that good at keeping your promises, huh? Did you promise this Holly over here the same thing? That you would protect her, just like old Holly?”

“
Mr. Heywood,” I whispered so only he could hear me, clenching my fists. “Don’t let him talk to you like that!”

Shawn seemed to be irritated with his lack of response. “Keeping silent? Is the guilt too much for you? Knowing that, once again, you’re going to lose Holly to me. Maybe this is what you deserve. For being a liar. For promising that you’ll protect someone and failing. What kind of man are you, Chris? Do you think you’re better than me?” Shawn guffawed. “Oh, isn’t that a thought? Poor Chris. It seems like you’re—”

A loud slap
resounded through the room as my hand made contact with Shawn’s face. He looked at me in surprise as I returned his look with a furious glare. “Chris is more of a man than you could ever wish to be,” I told him through clenched teeth. “The past doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. Mistakes are forgiven. What matters is today. And today, you’re nothing compared to him. He is—”

Shawn backhanded me without warning. I cried out in surprise, stumbling back a few steps. Mr. Heywood yelled Shawn’s name from behind me angrily and Casey screamed loudly. Before I could react, Shawn shoved me, looking furious.

“
Chris is a better man than me? Chris, who couldn’t protect the other Holly? Chris, who can’t protect anyone? Chris, the selfish bastard who got you tangled up in this mess?”

“
I got myself tangled up!” I shouted at me, shoving him away from me. “Don’t touch me!”

Shawn quickly grabbed my hair, pulling me closer to him. “Tell me, Holly. Are you blind?”

My hand flew to his hand in my hair, grasping on tightly. Pain shot through my head as he grasped my hair roughly and pulled me in close to him.

“
You know, if it wasn’t for Chris I wouldn’t have met you,” he told me. “This wouldn’t be happening. Don’t you blame him at all?”

“
Mr. Heywood isn’t the psycho who wants to kidnap me just because I look like his old girlfriend!”

Shawn’s eyes hardened. “Surely you don’t think Chris likes you for you.”

“
He does,” I stated stubbornly. “Mr. Heywood knows me, Shawn. You don’t know anything about me. I’m not Holly Pierce! I’m Holly Evers!”

Shawn growled. I cried out in pain, wildly swinging my fist. When I felt it make contact with Shawn’s face, once again I was shoved backwards. This time I ran into something hard, and a strong arm shot by my face, punching Shawn. Mr. Heywood yanked me away from Shawn.

“
Run,” he ordered quietly, shoving me behind him.

Shawn swung his fist at Mr. Heywood’s face. He dodged, once again pulling me roughly to the side so I wouldn’t be hit. Casey was screaming something at me, but I was too focused on Mr. Heywood and Shawn to understand her. Shawn managed to knick Mr. Heywood on the side of the jaw, but he retaliated by landing a blow on Shawn’s right temple. Anyone watching knew Mr. Heywood had the advantage.

But anyone watching also knew something wasn’t right with Mr. Heywood.

His breathing was heavier than it should have been, and his movements slower and sloppier than usual. While he still had the upper hand, he was handicapped by the injury on his forehead. I had to think quickly. That injury would not fare well in this fight. If Mr. Heywood got hit there again, something serious could happen.

“
Feeling a little tired?” Shawn taunted, only slightly breathless.

“
No,” Mr. Heywood responded, dodging another of Shawn’s swings.

Shawn smirked. “Liar.”

Mr. Heywood landed a hard blow on Shawn’s lower jaw. Shawn’s eyes shot open in surprise, and he let out a little gasp. Mr. Heywood smirked slightly as Shawn closed his eyes, staggering backwards. Relief washed through me immediately. Was that the end?

Suddenly Shawn’s eyes snapped open, a smug smile on his lips as he brought his arm straight into Mr. Heywood’s face. Right where the injury before was. A split second of terror passed, and I blinked. When I opened my eyes, Mr. Heywood was crumpled on the floor. Shawn kicked him savagely. Casey started screaming again as a gasp escaped my lips.

Now it was my turn to step in again. With my chest constricted tightly, I stepped between the two men, holding up my hands, my eyes shut tight. Shawn immediately stopped assaulting Mr. Heywood. When I opened my eyes I saw Shawn scowling at me.

“
The cops will be here soon,” I told him in a shaky voice.

Realization flashed on Shawn’s face and for a minute he looked panicky. “Shit.” Then he calmed down again, giving me a hard look. “Then you have two choices, Holly. Watch as yet another person close to you dies, or come with me.” He looked meaningfully at Casey.

“
Holly,” Casey started, but I shook my head at her.