She was still lost in wonder when she suddenly felt a change in the air around her. Probably her past experiences and Dolly's threat still hanging out there, had made her to be extra sensitive to slight changes around her. Her eyes darted up in time to see the thin figure lunge at her.
In a split second she saw the once melancholy eyes take on a ferocious glare and just when those claw-like fingers would have dug into her skin, Lauren deftly stepped aside, causing Peggy to collapse in a heap a few feet from her.
Lauren stood to catch her breath from the rush of adrenaline at the sudden attack.
Seeing that she had missed her target and Lauren was standing unscathed, Peggy made another attempt but this time, not only Lauren but some shoppers who had seen what happened were prepared for her.