1269_UgliesFreeBook

UGLIES 293
Starting now!” On the last word, he shoved her out from
behind the drum.
Tally stumbled forward, utterly exposed in the middle of
the street. The roar of a hovercar seemed to pass right over
her head, and she instinctively ducked, dashing toward the
cover of the forest.
The Special cocked her head toward Tally, calmly
folded her arms, and frowned like a teacher spotting littlies
playing where they shouldn’t.
Tally wondered if the pepper would do anything to the
woman. If it affected the Special like it had Tally, she might
still make it into the forest. Even if she was supposed to be
the bait. Even if she had no shoes.
Even if it turned out David had already been caught
and she’d never see him again . . .
The thought unleashed a sudden torrent of anger inside
her, and she ran straight at the woman, the container
clenched in both hands.
A smile broke out on the Special’s cruel features.
A split second before they collided, the Special seemed
to disappear, slipping out of sight like a coin in a magician’s
hand. In her next stride Tally felt something hard connect
with her shin, and pain shot up her leg. Her body tumbled
forward, hands reaching out to break her fall, the container
slipping from her grasp.
She hit the ground hard, skidding on her palms. As
she rolled through the dirt, Tally glimpsed the Special