Free Cutting Up The Competition (Horror High #2) by Carissa Ann Lynch

parents, either.”
    “They’re out of town,” I said, chewing the inside of my cheek until it felt raw and sore.
    “She could be anywhere! Just because she’s not there doesn’t mean this still isn’t all a big joke…” Dakota protested, her eyes begging Detective Simms to agree with her.
    “There were signs of struggle in the house, like Sydney tried to fight back against her kidnapper.”
    I gasped, reality sinking in. This wasn’t a joke, some stunt performed by a prankster to get our attention…
    The same person who killed Genevieve and tried to kill Brittani had now taken my best friend.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
    Twenty-Three
     
     
    I was still in bed when my phone rang well after noon. Despite all that had happened, my mind and body felt exhausted, probably due to the stress. I clenched my teeth, afraid of what I’d hear on the other end…I was relieved when I heard the sound of Dakota’s voice.
    “I’m calling from the girl’s bathroom between classes. Just wanted to tell you that because of Sydney’s disappearance, Genevieve’s murder, Brittani’s attempted murder, and your suspension…Coach Davis has called off cheerleading tryouts again. She said she can’t make a decision in lieu of recent events, and cheerleading has been called off…indefinitely.”
    I sat up in bed. “The last thing I care about is cheerleading, Dakota!” I hissed. “Our best friend was kidnapped. And she might dead!”
    Dakota sat quiet on the other end. “I don’t care either, honestly. I just wanted to talk to someone. I’m so scared and worried about Sydney…”
    I instantly regretted losing my temper. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. Do you want to come over after school? We need to talk about this and make a game plan. If those cops can’t solve this thing, we might need to do it our damn selves. I’m getting my friend back, one way or another.”
    “I hope so…” Dakota whimpered. I reminded her again to come over after school and then hung up.
    Climbing out of bed, I started making my way downstairs, expecting smells of breakfast where there were none. Where was my mom and Grandma Mimi? They’d been so lively these last few days that the house seemed quiet and strange.
    I immediately felt concerned. Grandma’s bedroom was on the bottom floor, and I stood at her door, listening.
    Soft moaning sounds were coming through the thick sliding doors to her room. I pounded my palms against the doors, shouting her name, panicked.
    “Come in,” Grandma Mimi moaned. She was lying on her side in bed, her face contorted in pain. I ran to her side, fear surging through every vein in my body.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked, squatting down beside her bed.
    “I just don’t feel well, is all,” she said, barely opening her eyes to look at me. “I’m having growing pains,” she added, laughter turning into a whooping cough.
    “Should I take you to the doctor, Grandma?”
    She shook her head, rolling away from me to her other side.
    “No, sweet baby. Just let me sleep a little longer, please. Your mother is here. Have her make you breakfast…or lunch, at this hour…”
    I pressed my hand against her forehead, expecting her to feel feverish. Instead, she felt cool and clammy.
    “Can I bring you anything?”
    “No, baby. Just let your grandmother rest…”
    I backed away, finally relenting and returning to the living room.
    “Where’s Mom?” I wondered out loud, roaming the shadowy hallways of Grandma Mimi’s house.
    I quickly found my answer. The door to the guest bedroom was closed, but it had been left unlocked. My mom was lying under the covers, her pale moon-shaped face pressed against a down-filled pillow. I edged closer, staring at her face. We sort of looked alike from this angle…
    “Mom, are you okay?” I whispered, wondering if maybe she and Mimi were coming down with the same flu bug.
    But when I tried to lift the covers, I saw the belt around her arm. Hurriedly, I