Is this what happened to Poppy?
To Janie?
Okay, I silently begged the ruby.Okay, I’ll stay, just let me go.
The grip loosened and I gasped for air, gulping in deep lungfuls as I bent down to grab my phone. I was so weak I couldn’t stand back up, so I stayed on the cold concrete on my hands and knees, fighting hard not to whimper.
‘Lottie, are you there?’ Dad’s voice was crinkled around the edges with concern.
‘Yeah, sorry, just dropped the phone.’
‘Look, I’m coming to get you.’ A door opened and shut somewhere near him. ‘There’s nothing you can say to change my mind.’
‘Dad, I’m not leaving. Not like this.’ The words were cold, but they were my own, I thought. I hoped. Truth be told, I didn’t know how far inside me the ruby could reach. ‘If they decide to close Carvell again, fine. But until then, you can’t force me to do anything. I’m nineteen.’ A short, petulant pause, in which I knew I had to close down the conversation with an air of finality. ‘I’m not your little bumblebee any more.’
I regretted the words as soon as they had left my mouth.
A few terrible moments later, Dad hung up, leaving me alone with the hand on my shoulder and the cold fist in my heart.