Page 37 (1/2)

UNFAIR

All around Ariana Osgood, the sounds of the ehts outside the thick-panedfaded in and out An ancient coffee led hot brown liquid into aA few droplets of fresh, red blood splattered the tiles as someone limped by A child cried A ed for help But Ariana was unaware For her, time had stopped

For her, there was nothing in the world but Reed Brennan

She must die … she must die … she must die …

The mantra pounded at the base of her skull like a drumbeat, a call to arms, a battle march

She must die … she must die … she must die …

Ariana focused on Reed’s , love-of-her-life-stealing lips, as they babbled away to a police officer Spewinginnocence Poor, poor Reed Always, always, always the victirew faster

She must die … she must die … she must—

There was a slam over by the admittance desk and suddenly the world zipped back into focus Noise and color and light and pain crashed in on Ariana from all sides

“… don’t knohat happened,” Reed was saying She hugged her scrawny arht she had a ride ho her home …”

A tear slipped from Reed’s eye and she swiped it away Ariana tilted her head It was airl was Same bland, shapeless clothes, except, oddly, her coat appeared to be a bland Kenneth Cole number rather than a bland Old Navy Saular features Same dull brown eyes She wasn’t as tall as Ariana re In fact, Ariana was quite certain that if she walked over there right norapped her fingers around Reed’s skinny neck and squeezed, she could have her dead within a minute

She must die … she must die … she must die …

Ariana’s fingers twitched at her sides Her an to water This was it Her opportunity Theyears It would have been inal plan and shoved Reed off the roof of Billings House those o It would have been dramatic and messy and best of all, done But this … this would be so much more poetic She would look Reed in the eyes as she died Watch the light and the life go out of her Feel her agony, her desperation, her fear She would witness the very nized it was over—that Ariana had won That she had finally, finally won

She must die … she must die … she must die …

“I should really call her roo out,” Reed said

She tugged a cell phone out of her pocket and began to turn In half a second, she would be facing Ariana Their eyes would meet Ariana couldn’t breathe

“Ana I need to talk to you”