I felt so hot, everything around me was blazing but I wouldn't open my eyes. I heard Claire crying so hard that I broke my heart. As long as she is crying, she is alive. I should be happy, I thought to myself. I tried to shift but found I couldn't move. How long had I been standing? I opened my eyes and felt the solildty of a pole sticking behind me. I was tied to a pole. To make it worse, the barn was on fire in little circles around each of us. Emily was knocked out. Kim was a puddle on the ground next to her. Claire was in her own little circle. What did this bitch have against Claire?
"Claire?" There was no answer over her tears. "Claire, honey, can you hear me?"
"Wacey!!!"
"Oh Claire, honey it's gunna be okay"
"Nowaaaaa, I want Qwil. Come get me!" she screeched. I hands were tied behind my back but I could loosen it. Claire was first priority. Smart girl knew not to touch the fire. I felt one wrist slip out of the rope and I wriggled the one in pain. It killed, but someone how I got loose. My mind drifted to the outside of the barn. What was keeping them? Was Embry okay? He had to be, I am nothing without him. Tears threatened to spill over.
"Get a grip Lacey- go get Claire" I yelled at myself. The chair was still in my circle. The flames weren't that big, I could hop over it right? Wrong. The bottom of my dress caught the flame when I landed on the other side. I hit it out with my hand- there was no time for stop-drop-and role.
"Claire listen to me, you need to stand up" she has stopped making noise to watch me. She obediently got on her feet. Quil was going to kill me but there was no way to get her out unless she touches the fire. I reached for her. "Remember when I told you to run and jump into my arms as hard and as fast as you could?" she nodded too stunned to speak. "I need you to do that now"
"No, it's gunna hurt me Wacey"
"Baby we have to get you out of there"
"I'm scared"
"You are going to be fine" I reached my hands as close to her as I could get. She ran and threw herself into them. Her dress, much fluffier than mine caught fire and spread. Claire screamed. I managed to get it out before it touched her too badly. The flames in her circle started to spread in. She was crying so hard that she couldn't even talk. "Shhh, baby, shh" I said rocking her. There was a clear path to door. I ran as fast as I could. There was no one around, not even a sound.
"Figures you would get the baby first" I didn't need to turn my head to know who that voice belonged to. "Where are the other girls, hmm? Still in there? I am shocked you got out"
"Get them out of there!" I screamed at her.
"Oh don't you worry, they are going to be just fine. You are the one I am after" she said. She reached for Claire who recoiled into me.
"Don't touch her"
"Don't you want her to go back to her precious Quil?" I turned my head and saw two other devastatingly handsome men carrying Kim and Emily. "We are going to return the other imprints, for Embry. We aren't heartless Lacey" she said at my shocked expression. "the boys are about a mile from here. When the other three return, Embry is going to come for you. That is when we are going to get him"
"Don't you dare" I said as threatening as I could. She gently but very quickly took Claire from my arms. There was nothing I could do. They are going to be safe, that is all that matters.
"Please, just kill me- don't make Embry watch. Just do it!" I insisted as I held in hysterical sobs.
"Oh my dear, where is the fun in that? Take them back!" I watched them leave with my sisters. That's what they were to me, my sisters. It was only a minute later when I saw Embry in the woods. He looked battered. I tried to run to him, but I was held back.
"Embry, just go- you don't have to see this. There is nothing you can do, I love you so much!" I shouted in a desperate attempt to get him to leave. I knew he wouldn't. He lunged forward and before I could take another breath I was pushed out of the way. A battle began before my eyes. There were crunches, growls and angry cries. It was moving so fast I started to get dizzy. I saw something move on one side of me. It was Jacob. He hadn't been at the wedding, they weren't counting on him. I felt him grab me from behind and push me behind a large rock. Then he too lunged. The site is not something I will ever be able to describe,nor would I ever want to relive. I was loud and scary and I couldn't take my eyes away. I heard a growl and then someone collapsed.