Part 28 (1/2)
Dex continued, voice even lower, ”I can't tell you the plan. When your parents find out what I've done-”
”They'll call the fuzz!” she shot in.
”Exactly. And you'll be grilled until you tell them the truth.”
”I can keep a secret.”
”No she can't,” I whispered to him.
He nodded. ”See, Perry knows. Just trust me, Ada. You called me here for a reason, didn't you? I'm saving your sister the only way I know how.”
”And how is that?”
”She needs an exorcist.”
Silence fell over us as we sucked on that exotic word: Exorcist. Dex was taking me to see an exorcist. I know I had been half-convinced I needed an exorcist this whole time but when someone else said it, it became real. Like an actual thing you could have done. What did you do today? Oh I saw an exorcist.
I don't know if the thing inside me was cowering at the mention of that but suddenly I was very scared again.
”An exorcist?” Ada repeated after what seemed like an eternity.
”Yes,” Dex said, his patience being tried. ”You know. You've seen the film.”
”Actually, I haven't.”
”Well, you should. It's very good.”
”Guys,” I whispered again. ”Maximus!”
”Please, Ada,” Dex said imploringly. ”Just let us go. You know I'll do anything for Perry. She's safer with me than with anyone else.”
His admission tugged at my heartstrings. Only a little. He was still a douchecanoe. The douchcanoe who was going to paddle me to safety.
”My dad will call the cops the minute you're gone,” she said. ”They'll come after you. For, like, kidnapping or something.”
”I know.”
Ada folded her arms and stuck out her leg in front of her. ”Then I'm going with you.”
”Noooo,” Dex said, shaking his head. ”This is nasty business, little fifteen.”
”I don't care. There wouldn't even be a dumb plan if it wasn't for me. I'm going with you. She's my sister and you need someone to watch over her while you drive. And if you don't take me with you, I'm just going to march over to your little ginger friend over there and-”
”Fine,” he said swiftly. ”You can come. But we're going now. Right now. Before it's too late.”
She smiled widely, which in turn made me feel that bounce of hope again. The thought of going to an exorcist was terrifying but it was no worse than being possessed. I just hoped I'd hold on long enough. The thing was always waiting.
Ada crept quietly to the front door and opened it for us. With quick feet, Dex jogged down the front steps and into the wet, cold night. The rain splashed hard against my cheeks.
With hot breath he whispered into my ear as he ran, ”I'm just around the corner, a few more seconds.”
I heard Ada close the front door quietly, and within seconds she was running beside us. We left the driveway and made a turn for the right. Farther up the road was his black Toyota Highlander. What a sight for sore eyes that car was.
It was unlocked, so Ada opened the back doors and Dex gently placed me in the seat. Ada hopped in on the other side, choosing to ride in the back with me.
Dex got in the front and adjusted the rearview mirror. He looked at me and then looked at Ada.
”Last chance to get out and live a normal life,” he said.
”Are you kidding? I gave that up for Lent,” she answered with a roll of her eyes.
Dex started the car and with a powerful purr, we were off.
”How is she?” Dex asked.
I felt the car roll to a stop and opened my eyes. Dex was turned around in the front seat, looking at me with concern. Ada leaned forward until her face filled my vision. The only light came from a nearby street lamp. We had pulled along the side of a road, a gas station in the distance. The far-off roar of cars told me that the highway was close by.
”Perry?” she asked.
”Yes?” I replied groggily. I tried to move in my seat but found it impossible. I looked down. Forget the rope, now my arms and legs were bound to me in a layer of duct tape. I looked like a silver worm.
I looked up at them. ”Seriously?”
Dex chewed on his lip for a few seconds and glanced at Ada.
”Perry, it was really bad,” she said gently. ”We had to stop at a gas station and buy out their rope and duct tape.”
”They definitely thought we were doing some kidnapping,” Dex said.
”What did I do?” I tried to adjust myself; the duct tape was so tight and binding and pinched at my sore skin.
”You broke out of your ropes somehow and opened the car door. You were about to jump out.”
My mouth dropped open.
”Dex did some Need for Speed-style maneuvers; you fell back in the car before you could. I grabbed you...s.h.i.+t, you really need to cut your nails, Perry.”
She rolled up the sleeve of her striped s.h.i.+rt. There were long, scraggly scratches on it.
”Sorry,” I mumbled, feeling worse than ever. ”I don't remember any of it.”
She shrugged. ”S'Ok. But we didn't want to take any more chances. Now you can't do anything except bite us. But a piece of duct tape should fix that.”
I shook my head. ”Please don't. I'll behave.”
But it was a promise that thing wouldn't keep.
I turned my attention to Dex. His face was dark in the shadows of the car.