Chapter 32
Polly was cold.
So cold.
She tried to move. Couldn’t. Her hands were stuck between her legs and taped to her feet. She tried to scoot on her butt and fell onto her side. Her head hit a rock. She cried. The tape burned her lips.
God, help me!
Her silent plea shuddered through her. Made her stomach ache. She’d puked before. Almost choked. Had to swallow it or strangle to death. She’d peed her pants.
God, oh, God, where was she?
What happened?
She remembered going outside to talk to Matilda. She’d promised to meet Polly there. But she hadn’t shown.
Was she here, too?
Polly’s heart started that crazy pounding again. Felt like she was going to have a heart attack.
She wiggled, scooted, jerked until she got back up onto her butt. She couldn’t see. Something was tied around her eyes.
Listen!
If Matilda was here and taped up like her, then she might make sounds Polly could hear.
The air echoed in Polly’s ears. Like she was someplace deep under the ground. She was sitting on rocks. Hard. Bumpy. Not smooth or flat.
It was cold. She shivered. So cold. She didn’t hear anybody else. Just the water. Was she close to the ocean?
She tried harder to listen.
Her body started to shake again. She cried. Didn’t mean to. Couldn’t help it.
Kale! Please come get me! Mom!
They had to find her. They would be looking. She knew they would.
Her mom and her brothers wouldn’t forget her. Her dad wouldn’t let them.
Polly’s shuddering body suddenly stilled. Her insides got real quiet. Like she couldn’t think anymore. Just nothing. No feelings . . . no anything. Then her thoughts came at her all at once.
What had happened to her?
Where was she?
Who had done this?
Memories of going to the memorial service with her family flooded her brain.
Then she knew the answers to all her questions.
The devil had gotten her . . . just like he got Valerie and Alicia.
Matilda had warned her to be careful.
Polly was going to die.
She jerked. Tried to get her hands free. Tried to wiggle her feet loose.
Help me.
Please, Jesus, help me.
Kale!
Her chest heaved. Mom! Jamison!
Find me. Please, please, come find me.