Chasing Shadows by Carrie A. Smyth

Author:Carrie A. Smyth [Smyth, Carrie A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carrie A. Smyth
Published: 2020-12-18T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The day felt never ending. The storm continued to batter Silver Glade, the rain a constant, as were the flashes of lightning and thunder that seemed determined to stay. Grace's head felt like it was filled with static, there was a low ringing in her ear and even with layers of clothes and the heat on full blast she could not get warm.

By the time she finally made it home from school, she had been soaked to the skin, and running on fumes. Moving like a robot she stripped off her wet clothes, rubbing a towel roughly over her skin, trying anything to take the deep cold from her body.

Automatically she threw on some pajamas, listening to the rumbles of thunder that passed over the house. As the cold seeped further into her bones, her thoughts were of hiding, of staying away from those who allegedly made up polite society in Silver Glade.

The reality she had been exposed to was very different, less mannerly, more ruthless. Her earlier fiery thoughts of seeking retribution had faded as the cold inside her grew.

She couldn't remember when Mimi had arrived to the house, or any conversation they might have had. It was like her brain had powered down, taking with it her ability to move from the corner of her bedroom, where she had sought refuge from the real world.

Grace knew that Mimi was worried about her, that she had called Jack, but she had been unable to focus on the words being said. She was grateful that Mimi stayed with her, not trying to make conversation, just knowing that she needed the solitude of her thoughts, without being left alone.

Hours passed, and while she had, with some gentle encouragement moved to her bed, Grace still couldn't put her thoughts into words. She was struggling to push back the phantom touches of the footballers, trying to ignore and forget the cruel words from people she had never suspected could be quite so mean.

And she was still so damn cold. And tired. She was filled with a burst of hatred for the worst of the bullies, how they had targeted her deliberately, taking pleasure as they knowingly encouraged others to torment her.

Including a teacher. A so called adult who should know better. Someone, who as far as Grace was concerned, was under a moral and legal obligation to safe guard the students in her care. While she was normally more than willing to give others a chance to explain themselves; to allow people the benefit of the doubt, she was determined that Ms Fields would rue the day that she painted a target on Grace, before taking shots alongside other students.

"Grace? Hey Kiddo can you hear me?" If she didn't know that he was out of town she would have thought that Jack was in her room, talking to her. She had to be dreaming. Or having an out of body experience, if the warmth she suddenly felt was anything to go by. Or dreaming.

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