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'Yeah yeah yeah. Cut the stupid games and open up.' |
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'OK. Just a second.' He put a hand on Denise's head. She winced. He gently stroked her hair and whispered, 'Get ready for another hit.' |
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Denise turned her head as Kara came up behind her. In the glow of the sword, she saw that the girl held a small leather bag and a thick, foot-long pink pencil in her left hand. Clamped against her side was a metal baton. |
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'Your second's up, asshole,' Buddy said. |
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Kara handed the pencil to Tom. She gave the baton to Denise. It had rubber bulbs at each end. |
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'He's just shitting us.' Someone else's voice. Lou? |
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They hit the door. The dresser rocked. Denise shoved her shoulder against it. Kara threw herself at it. Tom grunted as he pushed. The dresser dropped back and the door crashed shut. |
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Denise twisted the rubber bulb off one end of the baton. It popped off with a hollow, ringing sound. |
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'Let 'em in and try to take 'em?' she whispered. |
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'I think the smart thing to do,' Kara said, 'is to go out the window.' |
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'We'd get wet,' Tom muttered. |
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'Better wet than dead,' Denise muttered. |
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Kara helped at the dresser as the boys struck the door again. Then she ran to her bed. She tore the top |
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