The Nine Lives of Felicia Miller Read Online Free

bear lying on the ground, spattered with red paint.
    “You bastard,” she snapped. “You think that’s funny?”
    Wally’s hoarse laughter filled the air. The other boys laughed as well, and Felicia recognized the phlegmy sound of Sparrow’s distinctive laughter. She was somewhat relieved that Mrs. Cuddles was apparently alive and well in her cage back at school, but was still trembling, more with rage than fear. She was furious at the cheap prank, which had brought her to the edge of an emotional breakdown.
    “You’re a real creep, Wally, you know that? Just because your father’s the sheriff you think you can bully anyone and everyone who—”
    The big hulking figure stepped closer. Threateningly close. Right up in her face close. His sudden invasion of her space took Felicia by surprise, causing her angry words to catch in her throat.
    The figure stood silently, towering over her like an aroused behemoth, glaring down at her through the cutaway eye sockets of a spooky skeleton mask. The eyes were unmistakably Wally’s, but there was a malevolent gleam in them that transcended all the smug expressions she’d witnessed from him over the years.
    His eyes looked downright demonic, burning with a psychotic intensity, and the creepily detailed skull mask didn’t help to allay her fears.
    Felicia reached up to yank the mask off his face and expose him, but he grabbed her wrist firmly, squeezing until it hurt. A feeble cry escaped her mouth before she could suppress it. The last thing she wanted was to give him the satisfaction of knowing that he’d gotten to her, either with pain or fear. But right now she was suffering an overwhelming dose of both.
    Wally chuckled. Felicia suddenly felt very vulnerable.
    The other boys drew closer around her. Felicia felt their collective hormonal vibe and realized how truly frightened she was. It finally hit her how foolish she’d been, racing into the woods at night without letting an adult know where she was going.
    Without letting anyone know.
    Felicia regretted her boldness now. What the hell was I thinking? I have more sense than this. How could I be so impulsive and self-assured? How could I be so stupid?
    She wished she’d thought to grab a sharp stick in the woods or maybe at least had brought her keys along, or anything she could use to gouge and scratch and fight off the boys if things got out of hand.
    Unfortunately for her they did. And she was powerless to stop them.
    Wally twisted her arm sharply, forcing her onto her tiptoes, tottering off-balance.
    “Ow! Let me go, you bast—OW!”
    He slapped her face. Just hard enough to shut her up.
    Felicia’s eyes went wide. She couldn’t believe he hit her, and was shocked as he reached into her kimono with his free hand. She writhed and struggled, trying to break free, but he was far too strong and knew just how to bend her arm to control her movements. If she resisted too hard it was clear he could snap her forearm like a twig.
    His fingers were cold and rough as they wormed into her clothing. He dug into her bra… found a breast… rubbed and pinched her nipple with his callused digits.
    “Ow! You prick! How dare you?!”
    “Oh yeah, that’s nice. Someone has mighty perky nips. You must be freezing in that kimono, sugar-pussy, or are you just glad to see me?”
    “That’s enough, Wally. Let me go now and I won’t tell on you. All of you!”
    She looked around, trying to force eye contact with the boys. But they just stood in cold silence, shielded by the fog and the anonymity of their masks.
    Wally pinched her nipple hard, causing her to gasp in pain.
    Turning her imploring eyes again toward the others she saw only a frightening array of ugly rubber masks and hungry teen eyes staring at her with lustful intent. She realized they were probably doped up on meth or glue or oxy or weed or possibly all of the above.
    Oh Jesus. They could kill me and bury me out here and no one would ever know. No one except Crystal.