分节阅读_149

  lyptus tree where i'd played as a child.
  by the little plot of dirt around the mailbox, the cemetery of all the
  flowers she'd tried to grow. the memories were better thay i
  would see today. but i raced away from them, toward the er, leaving
  everything behind me.
  i felt so slow, like i was running through wet sand — i 't seem to
  get enough pur the crete. i tripped several times, once
  falling, g myself with my hands, sg them on the sidewalk,
  and then lurg up to plunge fain. but at last i made it to
  the er. just a now; i ra p down my face,
  gasping. the sun was hot on my skin, tht as it bouhe
  white d bli dangerously exposed. more fiercely
  than i would have dreamed i able of, i wished freen,
  protective forests of forks… of home.
  whehe last to cactus, i could see the studio,
  looking just as i remembered it. the parking lot in frohe
  vertids in all the n. i 't run anymore — i
  't breathe; exertion and fear had gotte of me. i thought
  of my mother to keep my feet movi of the other.
  as i got closer, i could see the sighe door. it was handwritten
  on hot pi said the daudio was cl break.
  i touched the haugged on it cautiously. it was unlocked. i fought
  to catch my breath, ahe door.
  the lobby ty, cool, the air ming. the
  plastic molded chairs were stag the walls, a
  smelled like shampoo. the west dance floor was dark, i could see through
  the open vie. the east dahe bigger room, was lit.
  but the blinds were the window.
  terror seized me sly that i ed by it. i
  't make my feet move forward.
  aher's voice called.
  ”bella? bella?” that same toeriited to the
  door, to the sound of her voice.
  ”bella, you scared me! don't you ever do that to me again!” her voice
  ued as i ran into the long, high-ged room.
  i stared arourying to find where her voi. i
  heard her laugh, and i whirled to the sound.
  there she was, ov sy hair i was
  thanksgiving, and i e'd goo see my grandmother in
  ia, the last year before she died. we went to the beae day,
  and i'd leaoe of the pier. she'd see
  flailing, trying to reclaim my balance. ”bella? bella?” she'd called to
  me in fear.
  av s was blue.
  i turned slowly. he was staill by the back exit, so still i
  hadn't first. in his hand was a remote trol. we stared
  at each moment, and then he smiled.
  he walked toward me, quite d theo put the remote
  dowhe ved carefully to watch him.
  ”sorry about that, bella, but isn't it better that your mother didn't
  really have to be involved in all this?” his voice was courteous, kind.
  a hit me. my mother was safe. she was still in florida.
  she'd en my message. she'd errified by the dark red
  eyes in the abnormally pale fae. she was safe.
  ”yes,” i answered, my voice saturated with relief.
  ”you don't sound angry that i tricked you.”
  ”i'm not.” my sudden high made me brave. what did it matter now? it would
  soon be over. d mom would never be harmed, would o
  fear. i felt almost giddy. some analytii
  i was dangerously close to snapping from the stress.
  ”how odd. you really mean it.” his dark eyes assessed me with i.
  the irises were nearly black, just a hint of ruby around the edges.
  thirsty. ”i will give ye this muans be
  quite iing. i guess i see the draw you. it's
  amazing — some of you seem to have no sense of your owerest at
  all.”
  he was sta away from me, arms folded, looking at me
  curiously. there was no mena his face