Page 33 of Apple of His Eye
I nod, unable to form words. I remember a young girl in grade school who used to do the same thing on the playground. She didn’t come from a happy home, and her parents often used her to hurt one another. Maria’s behavior, in theory, is not that different.
“All right, fine,” I proclaim. “We can start over.”
“Really?” Maria looks up with a smile on her face and excitement in her eyes. I nod, trying to ignore the way my body wants to physically reject the woman standing in front of me.
What could it hurt?
* * *
“Where are we going?”I ask, watching the world blur by as Maria races the midnight blue mustang through town. She pulled me out of the clubhouse, insisting we solidify our new bond with a shopping trip.
I wasn’t too thrilled with the idea and tried to use helping Millie as an excuse. Maria was on a mission, though. She waved off my reasoning, stating Millie was used to cooking by herself, and she wouldn’t mind if I took off.
I tried to pull back, but Maria was strong, and she didn’t stop until I securely buckled into her vehicle. Come to think of it, she stopped talking all together once we pulled out of the parking lot.
“Maria?” I probe, noting the concentration on her face. It was almost like she’s forgotten I’m sitting next to her. “Is everything okay?”
She still does not respond. I reach out slowly to touch her arm and she flinches at the connection. “Hey, where’d you go?”
“Huh? Did you say something?” She asks, never taking her eyes off the road.
“Yeah, I’ve been trying to talk to you. What’s going on? I thought the mall was the other direction.” I try to sound calm, trusting even, but dread fills my gut. I brush it off as nerves, remembering the excitement in Maria’s eyes when I agreed to be her friend.
“It is, but I know a little shop at the edge of town. I think you’ll like. Is that okay?”
I nod, but I don’t think she notices. She’s too focused on the road. “I left my purse back at the clubhouse, though. Do you think we can turn around so I can get it?”
“I can spot you the cash,” she offers. “You can pay me when we get back.”
“Okay.” I study the passing scenery, trying to make out anything familiar about it, but I can’t remember the last time I was on this side of town. We’re headed toward the industrial area, and I don’t think there’s much out this way.
“Do you think we can hit up the mall afterwards?” I don’t know why, but I have this urge to keep her talking.
“What’s with all the questions, Snow?” she grunts, her jovial composure melting away. “I thought we were going to try this friend thing out. Don’t you trust me?”
“Of course, I do, Maria,” I lie, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. I don’t like the way her eyes have turned cold. “It’s just… there was a store I wanted to check out again. They had this cute little mini skirt I could use your opinion on.”
Maria grows quiet again and presses down onto the accelerator, as though we aren’t moving fast enough now.
Something doesn’t feel right. I’ve got to get some help.
“Do you think I can borrow your cell phone? Mine’s back at the clubhouse, in my purse. I want to check in with Millie and let her know we’ll be back in time for dinner. It bothers me to leave her hanging.” Maria’s lip purse, and her hands tighten on the wheel.
“Uh, sure,” she finally answers after a few moments of awkward silence. I watch as she reaches behind my seat and roots around in her purse. “Crap, I must’ve left mine, too. “It’s fine. I’m sure Millie’s got everything handled. Otherwise, she can ask one of the other girls to help.”
I try hard not to react, not to breathe wrong, because I saw her phone in her hand when she walked into the kitchen. I remember her sticking it in her purse. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Maria slows down, flicking on her turn signal. I swallow hard, looking at the desolate warehouses surrounding us. There’s nothing here.
She pulls around one of the dilapidated buildings and parks out of sight. She then shuts the engine off and shifts her body toward me. “Wow. This was so much easier than I expected.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, refusing to look at her. Assessing the surrounding area, I search for a safe path through the decrepit buildings to get away from whatever she’s planned. I unbuckle and put a hand on the door handle, but I’m not fast enough.
Maria strikes quick, and unfortunately for me, the bitch is precise. I feel a pinch in my thigh and look down to see a now empty syringe in her hand. My arms weaken immediately, dropping lifelessly into my lap.
“No hard feelings, darlin’, but I warned you I wasn’t to be fucked with,” Maria smirks, reaching forward and yanking my necklace off. She looks down at it like a trophy before tucking it away into her pocket. She then flicks her head toward the windowless van now parked next to us.
My heart plummets when the driver opens the door, revealing the man I thought I escaped two weeks ago.