Chapter 2
I ran faster than I ever had to the room with the laundry shoot. It was too tight and I knew that I couldn't get through. I could hear Cammie's scream," Run, Macey! Go!" I could hear the desperation in her voice. Oh, Cammie.
I heard someone cry out in pain, but there was nothing I could do. Then I though, If it leads to the top floor, then maybe Cammie or Macey could use their brilliance to realize they could use it to get away.
I heard a scream of pain and immediately knew that it was my Gallagher Girl. Then I felt the chute shake. Macey McHenry came sailing through the bottom of the chute. I didn't check if she was okay. I already knew that she would be okay. Cammie wasn't there, and that was all that mattered at the moment. I felt that sudden panic and looked at the chute. Re-sizing it up. How could I get to her? I was sure that they probably already had her, but I had to try.
Then there was a loud scream of, "No!" It was my mother. The chute began to shake again and the fear set in once again. I watched as Cammie came flying through the air almost too gracefully. She landed on a pile of white sheets next to Macey. I heard her whisper almost too faint for me to hear," Macey." Droplets of blood splattered on the sheets like rain, staining them a bloody, crimson color. Blood dripped from her head and she looked so broken, laying there. No! I wanted to cry out. My own mother had hurt her! I'd given up so much for my mother, but Cammie was the one thing I wasn't willing to give up. Not willing to give up for anything. Not Cammie. I won't let her take Cammie from me or her family, I vowed to her silently, in my head.
I saw her stare at me for a long moment. That same look of recognition was in her eyes again. She stared at me for a moment before she was too weak to keep her head up and keep her eyes open. She let her head fall back and she closed her eyes.
I whispered." Gallagher Girl."
Cammie was worse than Macey. Her head was bleeding and I knew that I wouldn't be able to help her with this. I needed someone who could help. Sat there for only a moment leaning over her before I heard a man shout," United States Secret Service, open up!"
A moment later I was Calling Joe Solomon[ Cammie's teacher and my best friend].
" Joe!" I yelled.
" Zach? What's wrong?" Joe asked.
" It's Cammie!" I told him. " She was attacked in Boston, on the roof, with Macey!" I didn't even try to hide the fear in my voice_ it was a little too late for that.
" Where are you now? I'll get Rachel and we'll bring them somewhere safe." Joe sounded worried. No, I told myself. Joe Solomon does not get worried.
" The Hotel for the McHenry and Winters campaign," I told him.
" We're coming," He said quickly.
Not even 30 minutes later Cammie's mother, Rachel Morgan_ Headmistress of the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women_ and Joe were at the hotel. I couldn't face her mother. I didn't want her to look at me and somehow see through me, to know that I was Catherine Goode's son. I just hoped that cammie would be okay. I didn't know if I could stand that look of hate in Cammie's eyes . She was the one person that really mattered to me. I thought Cammie was so Stubborn and funny and kind and brave, and in some ways very vulnerable. She hadn't seen the world the way I had. She'd only seen parts of it. I knew her. I knew her favorite secret passage ways at Gallagher Academy, what she ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I knew the name of her Ex boyfriend [ Which I wished I didn't], I know who her best friends are, and who she really is. I'd seen her. I'd seen the real Cammie and I loved her for it.
Later I got a post card from the place I'd first met her. The Ruby Slipper Exhibit picture was on thew post card. Back then she'd been so naive and hadn't even realized I was tailing her.
Be Careful
-Z
I wrote on the post card and mailed it to Cammie.
