Gone (Gone #1)(63)

"If you hurt them, Drake, I'll hunt you down and kill you," Sam shouted.

"Don't waste your breath" Diana said to him. "You don't know Drake. Your girlfriend's as good as dead."





TWENTY-TWO


128 HOURS, 32 MINUTES

ASTRID WANTED TO scream al Drake and Diana, to denounce them, to demand to knew what kind of worthless human beings used the FAYZ as an excuse for violence.

But she had to keep Little Fete calm. That was her top priority, her brother. Her blank-faced, helpless, unloving brother.

She resented him. He had turned her into a mother at age fourteen. It wasn't right. This should be her time to shine, to be bold. This was her time to use ler intellect, that supposedly great gift. Instead, she was a babysitter

Astrid and Little Pete were shewn, with mock courtesy, into a classroom. It wasn't one of Astrid's classes but might as well have been. Everything was achingly familiar: books open on desks, walls festooned with student artwork and projects.

"Have a seat. Read a book, if you want" Diana said. "I know you like that kind of thing"

Astrid hefted one of the books. "Yes, fourth-grade math. I love that kind of thing"

"You know, I really dislike you" Diana said. Drake leaned against a wall and smirked. "Of course you dislike me," Astrid said. "I make you feel inferior"

Diana's eyes (lashed. "I don't feel inferior to anyone" "Really? Because usually a person who does bad things recognizes that there's something a little wrong with them.

You know? Even if they suppress it. they know they're sick inside"

"Yeah" Diana said laconically "I feel bad about that. My evil heart and all. Give me your hand"

"What?"

"I promise not to infect you with my badness. Give me your hand." "No."

"Drake. Make her give me her hand " Drake came off the wall.

Astrid stuck out her hand. Diana took it in hers and held it.

"You read people" Astrid said."I should have figured it out earlier. You have the power, don't you?" She looked at Diana like she was looking at a specimen in a laboratory

"Yep" Diana said, releasing her. "I read people. But don't worry, I just read power levels, not your secret little thoughts about how much you want to make out with Sam Temple"

Astrid Hushed, despite herself Diana laughed at her.

"Oh, please, that's obvious. He's cute. He's brave. He's smart, but not as smart as you. He's perfect"

"He's a friend," Astrid said.

"Uh-huh. Well, we're about to find out how good a friend he is. He knows we have you. If he doesn't tell Caine everything Caine wants to know; and dc whatever Caine tells him to do, Drake here is going to hurt you."

Astrid's insides turned to jelly. "What?"

Diana sighed. "Well, that's why we keep Drake around. He enjoys hurting people. We don't keep him around for his conversational skills"

Drake looked like he'd rather take a shot at Diana. His narrow lizard eyes narrowed further. Diana didn't miss his expression.

"Go ahead, raise a hand against me, Drake" Diana taunted. "Caine would kill you." lb Astrid, she said, "Better behave yourself, he's all riled up now."

Diana left.

Astrid felt Drake's eyes on her but she couldn't look at him. She kept her gaze down on the math book. Then glanced at her brother, who sat playing his stupid game, unable, unwilling, uncaring.

Astrid felt ashamed of her own fear. Ashamed that she couldn't look at the thug who leaned insouciantly against the walL

She had no doubt that Sam would do his best to save hen But Caine might ask for something Sam couldn't give.

She needed to think. She needed to work out a plan. She was scared, she always had been scared of physical violence. She was scared of the emptiness she sensed in Drake Merwin.

She scooted her desk up beside Little Pete's and put a hand on his shoulder. No reaction. He knew she was there, but he showed nothing, absorbed in his game.

Still not looking at Drake, Astrid said, "Doesn't it bother you that Diana treats you like some wild animal she keeps on a leash?"

Drake said, "Doesn't it bother you going around with that retard? Having a little 'tard practically attached to you?" "He's not retarded," Astrid said evenly "Oh. Is that the wrong word? 'Retard'?" "He's autistic" "Retarded," Drake insisted.

Astrid looked at him. She willed herself to meet his gaze. "'Retarded' is a word people don't use anymore. When they did use it, they used it to signify an impairment of intelligence. Petey is not intellectually impaired in that way He has at least normal IQ, and may have a higher than normal IQ. So the word doesn't apply"

"Yeah? Huh. Because I like thewordVetard.' In fact, I'd like to hear you say it. Retard"

Astrid felt dread sap her strength. There was not the slightest doubt in her mind that he meant to hurt her. She held his gaze for a while but then looked down.

"Retard," Drake insisted. "Say it."

"No," Astrid whispered.

Drake sauntered across the rcom. He was not carrying a weapon. He didn't need to. He placed his fists on her desk and leaned over hen