Her friend stood and shoved it close to my face, demanding, “Can you eat this?”
I did my best not to flinch away. “How the hell should I know?”
“Oh, I think you know.”
A catty smile curled onto Isabella’s face. “Let’s find out.”
Spidergirl’s jaw dropped with concentration, making her look like one long, stretched-out crazy person. She grabbed the back of my head, and her eyes were manic and laser focused as she shoved the kelp at me, grinding it into my face.
I was certain it was edible. It didn’t mean I wanted to eat it. I clamped my lips shut.
“Make her open her mouth.” Isabella sounded positively gleeful. Their hands were all over me, and my body exploded into action, struggling to get free.
The other girl barked, “Help me,” and they tried to shove it between my lips, but I swung my head from side to side, evading them.
I felt a foot hooking mine. Isabella tripping me. I went to my knees in the water and felt my eyes bug wide. The freezing water stole my breath instantly. She leapt onto my back. “Push her in.”
I panted through my nostrils, acclimating. I made my body grow still—not because I was giving up, but because I needed a plan. The cold would sap my energy. When I acted, it needed to be for good.
Izzy stood over me, trying to wrench my head down, riding me like a kid on a pony. She singsonged, “Drowning will make you open your mouth.”
They shoved at me, and the water drew closer to my face. It was too hard to fight both of them at once. I was furious at myself. What a screwup. I knew better than to let my guard down for a second. If I got out of this, I’d never be taken by surprise again.
I was soaked, but Missy Long Legs was in the breakers with me, and with a sharp twist of my arm, I managed to slide from her wet grip and flopped forward. I knew a breathtakingly searing pain as a huge clump of my hair ripped out. “Gross,” she cried, and I saw scattered blond hair drifting on the waves, gliding along the shoreline, before being sucked out to sea.
My elbows had stopped me from landing on my belly, and I rolled sideways, scanning for some help or inspiration.
Isabella’s fingers raked along my scalp, grabbing another fistful of hair. “Looking for teacher?”
A wave crashed over my head, and as it receded, foam whooshed up my nose, the salt water searing into my sinuses. I fought, but they had me pinned again, shoving my face lower until sand scraped my cheek. Screams tore from my throat even though my mouth was sealed tight. I stole wild looks right and left. Where the hell was everyone? Where was Ronan?
“He can’t help you,” Izzy said, guessing who I was looking for.
“Teacher’s pet,” the other one spat.
“Bitch.”
“He’s gone. I saw him walk back to his truck.”
“Maybe he can’t stand the sight of you.”
“I know I can’t.”
“You stink too much.” Isabella’s fingers curled into my shoulders, shoving down. “You need a wash.”
I had to fight smarter. How could I survive on this rock if I couldn’t even fight a couple of Initiates?
I let their voices dull in my head, focusing only on how I was going to get out of this. Spidergirl was squatting in front of me now, and she looked off balance. It was the chance I’d been waiting for.
I’d been trying to push her away, but now I pulled her closer instead. My arms crisscrossed in front of her neck as I slid my hands beneath her collar and yanked. A basic choke…Thank you, Priti.
I rolled backward, pulling her with me, on top of me. My head was in the breakers, but I had her. The sky was a dull gray overhead, the sun gone for the day. I was freezing, but I pushed all those thoughts to a distant spot in the back of my mind. I jerked my elbows out, tightening her collar. She began to gag.
“What are you girls about?” It was Ronan.
Finally.
Isabella popped to her feet. “Tracer Ronan.”