Chapter 13 Jason
I walked up to Matt. "Where's Lisa?"
Matt nodded toward the door. "Powder her nose or something, how about Izzy?"
"Same, although she's been gone for longer than I thought. Maybe I should go check on—"
Matt laughed and pointed to Mrs. Snyder. "Good luck with that."
I'd taken two steps toward Mrs. Snyder when I thought I heard a scream from the other side of the door—down the hall. Mrs. Snyder must have heard it too, because she stepped in front of the door, and reached for the door bar.
"Police—"
The door suddenly exploded. Mrs. Snyder was crushed between the door and the wall, crumbling to the floor as the upper door hinges pulled out of the steel doorframe. A huge, hulk of a man stood in the doorway, Izzy dangling from under his right arm like a ragdoll. My gaze met hers just long enough to register her fear. I started forward.
The next thing I knew, the air was knocked out of my lungs and I was flying across the gym. Everything happened so fast—vampire fast. There was screaming, yelling, a blur of black and yellow crashed through the paper chandelier and literally through the doors to the parking lot. I landed on the top of the folded bleachers as the gym went black.
Seconds later, the emergency lights flickered on. It took me a moment to catch my breath before I sat up.
"Jason!" Matt yelled. "What were you thinking?"
I looked down on the chaos that had been the home coming dance. "What?"
"You stepped in front of that dude."
"He had Izzy." I threw my legs over the edge of the bleachers, rolled onto my stomach and dropped to the floor. I knew there was no point chasing after her—I wanted too with all my heart, but I knew it was pointless. I never felt more helpless.
"Over here!" Alex yelled.
Matt and I ran over to where he was knelt down near the double doors to the hallway. Two police officers sprinted past us into the room from the hallway.
"It's Mrs. Snyder." Alex said.
I looked down on her limp body. Her right arm was twisted awkwardly—obviously broken—blood was coming out of her nose and right ear, but more importantly, she wasn't breathing.
"Is she dead?" Matt said.
I knelt down next to her and pressed my fingers against her neck—there was a faint pulse. "No, she's still alive."
"But—"
"Call 911." I tilted Mrs. Snyder's head slightly back to open her airway, but carefully because she obviously had a concussion, took a breath and blew it into her mouth. Her chest rose.
"Rhythmically, Jason."
I looked up at my mom. At least I knew she was safe.
"In and out, in and out." she said.
I pulled my mouth away and Mrs. Snyder's chest sank. I took another breath and blew it into her mouth, but it gurgled out between our lips. I panicked and looked back to Mom.
"You're supposed to hold her tongue back with your finger to keep her airway open."
"Right, I've seen them do that on TV." I pulled Mrs. Snyder's mouth open, pulled her tongue outward and then held it in place with my thumb. I took another breath and blew it into her mouth—her chest rose. I took my mouth away—her chest sank and I repeated the sequence.
"That's it, nice and steady." Mom said.
While I concentrated on Mrs. Snyder, I could hear Coach yelling for calm and slowly the chaos began to dissipate.
"Did you call 911?" Mom said.
"Yes." Alex replied.
"Me too." Matt added.
"Keep it up Jason, I'm sure the paramedics are on their way."
Through the far doors—the ones to the parking lot—I could hear sirens. I tried to concentrate on what I was doing, but all I could think of was Izzy. He had her—but what was he? I'd never seen anything like him, and I'd seen a lot. Then it hit me—it seemed impossible, but what really was impossible? It had to be the guy from the bar in Georgia—the one stalking the Faulkners. The one they called the historian. But how? How'd he get so huge?
"Rhythm, Jason, a steady rhythm." Mom ordered.
I took another breath and blew it into Mrs. Snyder's mouth. Could Izzy be dead? I tried to concentrate, but tears came to my eyes. Could she be dead? There was a commotion behind me.
"What do we have?" an authoritative voice said.
"She was crushed behind the door." Mom explained. "I think she has multiple broken bones and a concussion. She wasn't breathing."
A heavy hand came down on my shoulder—just then Mrs. Snyder coughed. "We got her from here, kid."
I raised up and saw Mrs. Snyder's chest rise slightly on it's own. The paramedic knelt down next to me. Mrs. Snyder took another breath and moaned.
"Give us some room to work, kid." the other paramedic said, pushing me aside.
I stood.
The first guy slipped an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth—it fogged. He looked up at me. "Nice work, kid, probably saved her life."
I turned around for the first time toward the gym. There was a path of destruction between the hallway doors and the doors to the parking lot. The chaperones had the student's on the far side of the gym. There were pale faces, hysterical crying, and blank stares even from one or two of the chaperones. Coach was obviously in charge, shouting commands and comforting chaperone, faculty and student alike.
"I have to warn them." I mumbled.
"What?" Mom said.
"Alex, where's Alex?"
"He's with the medics," Matt said, "I think he broke a rib."
"Is Cathy with him?"
Matt pushed up on his toes to look over the crowd. "No, I don't see her. Jeeze, I've never seen so many cops."
I looked toward the parking lot doors and a swarm of police were coming into the gym. No way I was getting out now, but I had to alert the Faulkner's—tell them what happened. Next best option was Cathy, but where was she?
"Jason?" Mom said as I started toward the hall doors.
"I have to." I ran into the hallway.
"Whoa! Whao! Whoa!" one of three officers said, "Where do you think you're going?"
I froze, unable to speak as I spotted the gold glove in his hand. The other two were propping Lisa up between them. She looked okay—scared, wobbly, but physically okay. "One of the girls is missing." I finally managed.
"We know, it looks like a kidnapping."
"No, another girl, but I think I know where she is." I pointed down the hallway.
"Whatta we got here?" Another male voice said as he walked up from behind me.
I looked over at him. "Officer Burns."
"Hey, kid. What's up?"
"Do you know Cathy, Cathy Hall?"
"Not sure."
"She's Izzy's friend."
"Right, the kind of—well different looking girl."
"Yes, that's her. She's missing, but I think I know where she is." I pointed down the hallway.
The other officer—the one with Izzy's glove, shook his head. "No way she's in the lady's room, looks like a bomb went off in there."
"No, I think she probably went to the art room to hide. She's probably terrified."
"We sure this was just one guy?" Officer Burns said.
The other officer nodded. "Not sure how one guy could do all this, but from all accounts, it was just one big, guy—probably on Meth'd be my guess."
"Okay, I got this." Officer Burns said and then turned to me. "Lead the way, kid."
We jogged down to the art room. I stopped outside the partially opened door.
"Wait here." I said.
"Not going to happen." Officer Burns said.
"I know Cathy—she's had some issues—"
"I know, I've heard about what happened her freshman year."
"I know you're just trying to make sure I'm safe, but—tell you what, how about we check and see if, in fact, she's in there—alone, and then you ease back and let me talk to her. I know I can get through to her—calm her."
"Okay, but I'm going in first." He drew his pistol.
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"Do you have to have the gun out?"
He lowered it below his waist. "Better?"
I nodded.
"Okay, here we go." Officer Burns gently eased the door open. The room was dark, but there was light under, and up the side of a partially opened door on the far wall.
"That's the supply room." I said. "That's were she aids, she probably feels safe there."
I followed Officer Burns across the room toward the door. When we got there, he rested the side of his gun against the door and started to push it open.
"Let me try." I whispered.
He nodded and stepped slightly to the side—still at the ready.
"Cathy? Cathy, it's Jason, are you okay?"
There was no response, but I thought I could hear faint crying. I reached for the door. Officer Burns stopped me and then used his gun to push the door open a little wider. There was definite crying.
"I got this." I whispered to Officer Burns.
Again, he eased aside.
"Cathy I need to come in and talk to you."
"No, this is all my fault. I saw what was going to happen, but I couldn't find her in time."
I intentionally pushed the door open further. We could both see Cathy was alone, huddled in the far corner.
She looked up and saw us like I'd hoped.
"No! No! No!" she cried.
I motioned Officer Burns away from the door, out of Cathy's sight. She calmed down immediately. "Give us some space. Let me talk to her."
Officer Burns nodded and motioned toward the main door.
I nodded. "I'll call if I need you." I whispered.
He walked quietly to the door, but did not go out in the hall like I'd hoped. We would have to be quiet—if I could get through to her, and that might be a big if.
"Cathy, I'm going to come in so we can talk. Everything is going to be okay." I slowly eased into the room.
Cathy tensed, when she saw me, but eased up a little when she realized I was alone. Fresh tears began to stream down the tracks of mascara on her face.
I moved cautiously toward her and then knelt down next to her.
She leaned over against me. "This is my fault." she gasped.
"No, it's no ones fault, especially yours. If it's anyone's fault it's mine." I glanced toward the door. I knew Cathy was in a fragile state, but I also knew Officer Burns wasn't going to give me much time. "Cathy, we need to help Izzy."
She sniffled and wiped her nose on my sleeve. "He took her, the monster with the eyes—your eyes—the ones you drew." She pushed a crumpled piece of sketch paper toward me.
I unfolded it to the picture I'd drawn. "You can still help her."
"How?"
"Benjamin, her father. You can tell him what's happened."
She sat up. "Yes, if he knows maybe—"
"Exactly. Officer Burns is just outside, we don't have much time." I glanced toward the door again. "Can I help?"
"Yes." Cathy got up to her knees and held her hands out in front of her.
I knelt facing her.
She took my hands and then closed her eyes.
Although I was crazed with worry, I tried to think of Benjamin to help make the connection. After just a few seconds, Cathy's head slumped forward.
"Is Cathy in there, Officer? I'm her mother."
"Jason is with her. Give him a few more minutes, she was pretty upset, but I think he was getting through to her."
I looked at Cathy, her face was still hidden behind her hair. Mrs. Hall knew how fragile Cathy was, she wouldn't wait long.
Suddenly, Cathy's head rocked back so that she was facing the ceiling and then she slowly lowered her gaze to me. "Benjaim knows."
"You got through to him?"
"We did."
I hugged her. "Thank you. Nobody could have done this but you. You're the best."
She wiggled free. "We better go."
"Right. Thank you."
I helped her up and we walked to the door. Her mom and Officer Burns smiled as we stepped out into the main art room.
"Cathy?" her mom said, obviously fearing the worse.
"I'm okay, mom." Cathy looked at me. "Thanks to Jason." She ran into her mom's open arms.
I walked up to Officer Burns. "Thanks."
"Not bad, not bad at all." He looked over at Cathy's mom. "We should get the kids back to the gym."