Chapter Four
Drastic Times Call For Drastic Measures
Part I
The days were running out. Summer was long and it had only just begun but Amy was being sent back soon. Shane had told Karma that much at their planned meeting. They both wanted to save her and stop her from her pain.
Originally, Amy had seven days. A week at home to visit before being sent back to that hell that had damaged her so much.
Karma wanted her, it was true. But that wasn't the important thing. It wasn't all about desire. It was important that Amy knew she wasn't alone. Karma would give her life for Amy Raudenfeld and none of that had changed.
"You've gotta help her," Shane said. "I mean, unless you don't care. In that case tell me, and I'll try." He knew it was a spiral. He knew the symptoms because they were clear. Amy wasn't just acting out, she was drowning. That place was swallowing her up and eating her soul. It was taking away every bit of her that was pure and calm and open to the world.
When Karma told him what happened at Baxter's house Shane was stunned yet elated.
"I want to help her," Karma said.
"Maybe you should do it then," Shane said. He knew well what Karma had been planning. She'd drop out of school. They'd go away.
"What if she doesn't want to? What if she's scared?"
"She'll want to," Shane fought. "Her other choice is to die in there like an animal. You saw what it's done to her. She's broken down. She's changed."
"I am so mad at Farrah!" Karma burned.
"What a fucking mess," Shane said, wishing he could take it back or help in some way that didn't involve ruining his own life.
"I'll do it," Karma decided feeling strong.
"It won't be easy. She won't believe you."
Somehow Shane knew it all. He hadn't done much for the town queen but he had watched an awful lot of tv and learned an awful lot about the common reactions of the every man and his pals.
"I'll get her in my car and I'll drive her away."
"But what if she fights?"
"Why would she?"
"On her second day here she stopped you from having sex with her, Karma," Shane looked over at her with condescension. "If she stops you from doing that she can stop you from anything."
He was right, she guessed. When Amy pushed her, Karma just fell. Before last year Amy would die for her without a question. If there was a pit of lava and Amy had to choose between letting Karma fall or throwing herself on the liquid flame, Amy would've chosen the fire, it was clear. Karma used to know the answers but she didn't know them anymore.
Amy must've felt really alienated in there to completely cut Karma off.
"If she doesn't come with me, I'll cry," Karma said. They had the whole summer ahead of them if it worked. There was no need for Amy to be sent off to summer school when her grades were always average and her behavior always kind.
"Come on then, what are we waiting for?" Shane asked.
They'd do it together. It was the only way it could work. Karma thought about grabbing Liam. He was the muscle. He could keep her there.
"Liam will help, won't he?" Karma asked.
"You really think that's a good idea?" Shane asked.
"If she leaves, we can't chase her."
"If she leaves she made her choice."
"She doesn't know what she wants Shane, she's scared!"
The more thinking Karma did the more sure she became. In her entire life Amy had never seemed so scared. Karma's mind flashed back to the other morning in Amy's bed. When Karma had kissed her then Amy had kept her eyes shut like it wasn't real.
"She couldn't see me," Karma breathed. Shane heard her and just stared.
"Yeah so?" He asked.
"She thinks it's not real,"
"Holy hell that is one giant well of sadness," Shane confessed. He hadn't thought of it that way.
"If we don't steal her she'll never forgive us," Karma said.
"Well, I guess we have no choice then," Shane said.
"I guess not," Karma agreed.
They'd go in the morning, through the window just like before.
Part II
Liam snuck in through the window and covered Amy's mouth with a piece of tape. She woke up instantly, her eyes popping open in panic as she fought. He took her hands and held them tight as Karma ducktaped them and then moved to her ankles, taping them as well, halfway up her calves.
Liam tried to calm her but it was hard to be calm about being bound in your underwear in the morning by intruders who broke in through the window you should've bolted shut if you ever really wanted to be safe.
"It's going to be okay," Karma said, watching as Amy rolled her eyes obviously exacerbated. "We're stealing you," Karma said. "The less you fight, the easier it'll be."
Amy had no choice and that was clear. She let her body go limp and planned on escaping on her first second alone.
Karma left a note for Farrah on Amy's smiley stationary. It simply said: Amy's with me, call me if you want to talk. Karma.
If Farrah couldn't find Karma's number she was the worst mother in the history of mothers.
Liam scooped Amy up in his arms and pulled her with him through the window.
They walked her out to Shane's car and placed her in safely, not giving her freedom to move or fight.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Karma asked.
"From what you said, it seems she needs a place," Liam sighed. "It's all my fault anyway. If we hadn't… Well, you know. None of this would've happened."
"It's not your fault that Farrah's a bad parent." Karma insisted.
Shane started the car and drove. They were going to Liam's house. He had a pool house that no one used. A guest house with three whole rooms and a kitchen and a garden.
Karma held Amy's head on her lap and stared down at her, petting her. She brushed Amy's hair out of her face and rubbed her fingers on Amy's cheek. Amy calmed in her touch and shut her eyes.
They drove in through the gate and took a right instead of the usual middle path. There was so much land, the Booker's would have no clue. Not that they'd care at all if they ever found out. Amy Raudenfeld didn't even blip on their radar.
When they parked Liam carried her out strongly, hugging her to his body. They got her inside and locked her in several times. Karma stayed with her and locked the door to her new room.
With Amy on the bed she felt guilty and horrible for taping her mouth and dragging her out like that. The boys left them alone.
"I'm going to take the tape of your mouth," Karma said. "Please don't be mad. I had to," Karma grimaced and started to peel it off little by little.
"Mmmm!" Amy screamed and Karma pulled it off fast. Going slow wasn't helping. "HOLY SHIT!" Amy screamed.
"Sorry!" Karma said, sitting next to Amy on the bed. There was still tape on Amy's ankles and wrists. "I had to stop you," Karma said.
"Why?!" Amy yelled.
"If I didn't you'd go back."
"So, you want me to stay?" Amy asked grumpily. It wasn't her choice to leave. That was never her choice.
"I've never seen you like this," Karma confessed. "Of course I want you to stay," she wanted to hug her. It seemed dangerous though given all that had happened. Amy kept her eyes on the ceiling. She didn't want to look at Karma anymore.
"Can you at least untie me?" Amy asked.
"Not yet, sorry," Karma confessed. She sat down next to her on the bed and tried to stay calm.
"Why are you here?" Amy scoffed. "You've got me. I'm stuck. You can go away now." Amy spat out in frustration. Her eyes filled with tears of rage. She hated that Karma was trying so hard. She hadn't expected it and it hurt her. All the thoughts she had been thinking all year contradicted everything that was happening. She hadn't read Karma's letters and when Karma tried to talk to her she just assumed the worst and ignored her altogether.
"I'm in love with you Amy." Karma said.
Amy's face fell a little and her eyes glanced up at Karma pitifully as tears filled them completely and began to spill out.
Amy turned into Karma's lap, her bound hands trying hard to hug her waist.
Karma held her desperately and kissed her head and face, endlessly as she wept.
It had been all Amy wanted after all of this time and it burned in her ears after all she'd been through. Like one large drop of bittersweet poison on her tongue, the truth spread through her like a raging fire and it burned.
