Chapter 30: Vengeance

Alice slunk behind the practice field, her book bag bumping against her hip as she settled behind a tree leaning over the chain-link fence. The group of cheerleaders shouted and danced and chanted their cheers, shaking pom poms and piling on top of each other to create formations.

Resentment burned in Alice's chest as she spotted Kourtney. Claire stood to one side, critical eye sweeping over her squad. Of course she was captain. Alice expected no less from her cousin.

Alice ignored Claire, focusing on Kourtney as she fished in the bag for the doll. She winced and shook her hand as she jabbed herself on a pin, sucking at the blood even as she reached with her other hand instead.

The doll slid free, the pin-cushion Alice made of a wadded-up piece of denim already coming apart. Thus the prick of her finger. But Alice didn't care.

Not when she felt the hum of power begin to build the moment she freed the doll.