Page 221 - My FlipBook

T R A I L O F C R U M B S

to Office sign. “That old bat’s still there,” she said, peeking
in the window on the office door. They pushed through the
stream of bodies on the stairs, all going down as they went
up. Greta panicked as they slowed. Taking too long. It might
all be for nothing. Traffic cleared at the top of the stairwell,
and they surged forward again. She moved like an Olympic
speed walker until she saw them, then reverted to the dream
in which she trudged through wet cement while being chased

by wild dogs.
Alice charged ahead before doubling back. “What are
you doing?”
“Uh…”
Alice looped her arm through Greta’s. “You lead the way.
Do what you came to do.” The warmth of her skin charged
Greta’s body, moving it again. Ahead, three backs faced

the hallway traffic, converged on an open locker: Rachel,
Priya and Sam. Rachel reached for a book, her head turned
to Priya. Sam saw Greta and Alice first, snapping her body
around to face them. Her mouth fell open, but no sound
came out. Then Rachel. Then Priya. Like they had rehearsed
it. After a second Sam stayed blank. Rachel rolled her
eyes, and Priya smiled like Maleficent. They all eyed Alice
standing behind Greta.
“Greta—” Rachel started to say, her tone already tired.

“You were a shitty friend,” Greta said. A few people
paused, slowing their steps as they passed. Pretended not to
stare. Rachel’s face like she’d been slapped. “It’s not okay that
you blame me for getting raped, but I can’t change that.”

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