Without Mercy (Mercy 1)

“You did.”

“It wasn’t my fault! God, Jules, friggin’ Eric Rolfe started it. And now I’m stuck shoveling horse crap and snow for the weekend, probably longer.”

“So learn a lesson. Stay out of trouble.”

“Oh, sure. Should I just sit back like a wuss and let him diss Nona? Maybe you’d let him trounce on you, but that’s not me.”

“Shaylee, listen to me. I’m doing all this for you, so you might think twice about picking a fight with me.”

“Or what?” She glowered at Jules. “You’ll never stand up to Lynch. You’re too much of a wimp.”

Jules turned to face her, and her eyes blazed. She was stung at the insult. Good. Shay needed her sister on board.

“Just be smart, Shay. Prove that your IQ is as high as Mom thinks. And don’t leave me any more notes. You’ll get caught; we both will.”

“What’re you talking about?”

“The message under the door this morning.”

“Are you crazy?” Shay demanded. “What message?”

“Someone—I thought it might be you—left me a note, that’s all,” Jules said in a pissy tone.

“Who?”

“Would I ask you if I knew?”

Shay bit her lower lip, not liking this at all. “What did it say?”

“‘Help me.’”

“That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“It wasn’t me, okay?” Shay had to find a way to get through to her sister, to get her off the lame note. “I don’t know who left it, and I don’t care.” She tried another tack. “So, you’re just letting me be stuck here, in this school of the damned; is that what you’re saying?”

“‘School of the damned’? Like the title for a really bad horror flick? Come on, Shay! Stop with the drama and get your act together. Quit getting into trouble, or you’ll never get out of here.”

“Are you kidding me? You think they’ll release me because of good behavior?” The thought made Shay’s stomach sour, and the indigestible chili burned through her. Jules was drinking the Kool-Aid. Time to let it rip. “I heard some of the kids talking. They think the TAs are part of some secret cult or something.”

“A cult … really? Who said so?”

No way was Shay going to give up Lucy, not even to her sister. “It doesn’t matter. The point is, this place isn’t safe for anyone. You have to do something, Jules. For God’s sake, call Edie again and—”

The door swung open and laughter bubbled in. Missy Albright and Kaci Donahue entered, talking loudly. The TAs sent a cursory glance at the sinks but didn’t really seem to pay attention to anyone but themselves. Kaci hurried into one stall while Missy stood at the mirror and fiddled with her hair. She plumped the pale strands with expert fingers and twisted her head this way and that for a better look at herself. What a head case! As if anyone here cared how she looked.

Nonetheless, Shay couldn’t take a chance that Missy thought she and Jules knew each other. After all, Lucy Yang seemed to think these TAs were in some secret, ominous cult. Probably sealed in blood.

Shay swore under her breath at the thought of the stain. Giving up, she wadded the paper towel, tossed it into the trash, then stormed out, unafraid to share her pissed-off mood with the world. She didn’t look over her shoulder but figured Jules could deal with the two stupid TAs.

Maybe.

So far, Jules was proving to be a big disappointment.

CHAPTER 29

Bam!