rather than later, preciosa,? he promised as he ran off, a dark,
ominous mist collecting to obscure his outline.
Helen tried to shout something tough and ballsy after him, but all
that came out was a pathetic moan. He was gone in a second, and
she was left to lie there alone until she was noticed or until she was
well enough to walk away. Finally, she heard someone approach.
?Helen?? a familiar voice said as it neared. ?Oh, no. It is you.?
?Matt,? Helen grunted. ?Get Lucas.?
He came around into Helen?s field of vision and got down on his
knees in front of her. ?Don?t you think the nurse would be a better
idea? Or maybe a paramedic??
?Please. Lucas. Quick.?
He sighed once, rubbed Helen?s back in an
awkwardly reassuring
way, and then got up and ran off. Once she got her breathing under
control, Helen could see enough around her to take in the fact that
she was practically in the school parking lot?much closer to the
school than she had realized. Still curled up in a ball on the
ground, Helen banged her forehead against her knees. She couldn?t
believe she had been that stupid. Her ear pressed to the ground,
Helen heard approaching footsteps that were a little too heavy and
a little too quick to be a normal?s and smiled to herself with relief
even though she was still in terrible pain.
?Thanks, Matt,? she heard Lucas say from somewhere behind
her. ?Where are you hurt?? he asked her as he came around toward
the front, Jason close behind him. Helen pointed to her stomach
and spoke with her eyes. Lucas nodded and looked around,
confused.
175/395
?Did you see what happened?? he asked Matt.