Chapter 61

CHAPTER 61

I managed to slice my hands up while cutting the zip tie with the broken pieces of teacups, but I also managed to not open any major veins. It was hard to tell how much progress I'd made because twisting my wrists to cut the ties also cut off my circulation and my fingers were numb, but I figured I was pretty close.

I tried to slow my breathing, the way my mom had taught me. "Panic makes you hyperventilate," she'd told me a million times. "If you see stripes, breathe in for four counts, hold for four counts, out for four counts, hold for four counts. Box breathing."

I breathed in for four counts.

Serena was one big fucking zebra, and that thought helped. I could see her as Cruella de Vil, dressed in a zebra coat instead of a puppy coat, so when she turned back to me, all I could see was Cruella.

I held my breath for four counts.

If she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will, I thought and realized I wasn't as scared anymore. Still scared, she was really evil, but . . .

I breathed out for four counts.

"Good," I heard Serena say as she walked back from the windows at the front of the store. She came to the counter and looked down at me. "Norman finally got here. I'm sick of this town." She took a big gun out from under her jacket. "He brought your mother." I held my breath for four counts. "If you want to live, convince her to give me the film."

Behind her, I heard the door open and my mother say, "Norman's dead, Serena. Move that gun away from my kid, or you'll join him."

I craned my neck to see around Serena as she swung to face the front doorway, and there was my mom, badass in her apron, pointing a gun at Serena, an expression I'd never seen before on her face.

That's when I knew my mom had a plan and was going to fix this, too, like she fixed everything.

I just prayed we both survived it.