The Chase Page 0,65

in alone."

Tom's head jerked around. "Now, wait a minute-" he said at the same moment Zach said, "Now, look-"

"No, it's decided," Jenny said. "I have the best chance, since I'm the one who believes I can get through it."

"That's only if your theory is right," Dee said, standing in front of Jenny to block her. "If you're wrong, you're dead wrong. No, Sunshine, you're not going anywhere."

"Yes, I am." Jenny leaned forward, eye to eye with Dee, matching the other girl's volume and ferocity. "This is my decision. I'm going and no one is going to stop me. Get it?"

Dee let out her breath sharply. She glared-but she fell back to let Jenny pass. Michael, eyes wide, moved hastily out of the way, tugging Audrey with him. Even Zach, although his face was white and furious, recoiled a step, unable to hold Jenny's gaze.

It was Tom who caught Jenny's arm. "Just hang on a minute," he said, his voice reasonable. Jenny turned on him, holding her head up like a queen because she was frightened to death, because he was the only one here who might be able to undermine her determination. In her mind's eye she could see herself standing there, drawn up to her full height, with her hair loose on her shoulders in the firelight. She hoped she looked commanding. She felt tall and proud-and beautiful.

"I said nobody is going to stop me, Tom. Not even you."

"I'm not trying to stop you," Tom said, still quiet and reasonable. His hazel eyes were steady, almost luminous in the light of the fire, and his face was clear. Tranquil, with a look of utter conviction. "I'm going with you."

Jenny felt a rush of warmth and dizzy gratification. She grabbed his hand and squeezed hard. "You believe me!"

"Let's go." He squeezed her hand back, then looked at it and took the other one, the one with the ring. His fingers interlocked with hers, and Jenny felt strong enough to jump over the fire. "Come on."

They turned to face the fire together.

It was good that Jenny was feeling invulnerable just then, because the fire was terrible. Hotter than putting your hand in an oven. Jenny could feel sweat trickle down her sides as they approached it; the skin on her face felt tight and hot and tingling.

"We'd better do it fast!" Tom shouted over the roar.

Jenny pointed with her free hand. "I think the door is there."

"You guys, now, wait, you guys-" Michael was yelling.

Jenny looked at the firelight reflected in Tom's eyes. "One, two, three- "They nodded at each other and started for the flames, ignoring the panicked shouts behind them.

"Cool, wet grass! Cool, wet grass!" Tom shouted, and then the fire was all around them.

Jenny's skin burnt off.

That was what it felt like. As if it were flaying off in strips. Searing crisp and black until it cracked open. Charring. Frying like bacon. Her hair igniting, burning like a torch on her head.

It had been easy to say "Just walk through the fire, it's a model, it isn't real." But the moment she stepped into it, she understood what Dee meant about it feeling real. If she'd gotten close enough before to feel anything of this heat, she would never have dared to suggest it.

That first second was the most horrible thing that had ever happened to Jenny. It was agonizing-and she panicked. She lost her head completely. She'd been wrong, it wasn't an illusion after all, and she was in the middle of afire. She was on fire. She had to run-to run-to get away from this. But she didn't know which way to go. The roaring, crackling, killing flames were all around her, burning her like a wax doll thrown in a furnace, roasting her alive.

I'm dying, she thought wildly. I'm dying -

Then she heard the faint shout from beside her: "Cool-wet-grass! Cool-wet-grass!"

And she felt Tom's hand in hers. Tom was pulling her, dragging her along.

I've got to make it-for Tom, she thought. If I collapse, he won't leave me. He'll die, too. We've got to keep going....

Somehow she made her legs move, lunging desperately through the flames in the direction Tom was leading her. She just prayed it was the right direction.

"She was terribly afraid, but her love for the boy was stronger than her fear. ..."

"Cool, wet grass!" Tom shouted.

Then a great, rushing coolness burst over Jenny. She fell headlong into darkness and then into light. She hit something hard and unyielding, and she