Chapter 30

“Mark! Pull over!” Screamed Kelly. Fear was running through her, it was creeping in her throat, strangling her words.

“Okey-dokie.” Said Mark, as he casually stopped the car at the side of the road. “What’s the matter?”

Kelly never heard him, leaping out of the car chasing after Coralina. She hit the ground with a cry of pain. Her broken foot had been forgotten in her effort to get Coralina. Pain was crawling up her body. The girl was running. She stopped, only to turn and flipped off Kelly, then turned and started running again. Kelly was beside herself with exasperation, and pain. She could not possibly catch Coralina. Not by herself.

“Mark! Get out here and catch her!” She screamed, terror running across her voice. She had tears trickling down her face. Sobs wrecked her body as she laid crumpled outside the door of the van. Mark casually got out of the car, grinning the whole time.

“Okey-doke! I’d love to help!” He started running, at a happy pace. The same way he ran when they played tag. He seemed absolutely delighted to be chasing Coralina down the highway. Mark was loping along, practically skipping.

Kelly, was struggling to her feet, pulling the crutches out of the van. By the time she was hobbling towards them as fast as she could, Mark caught Coralina. Kelly could see them struggle. Mark with a grin frozen on his face, and Coralina’s big angry eyes. Her hands were clawing at his skin, punching him biting him. He just laughed.

Then he carried her back to Kelly. She kicked and screamed the whole way, as if she was an angry cat.

“Okay I caught her.” Mark said and he winked at Kelly. “You guys want to go out for ice cream?” He said with a grin.

Kelly let out a scream. “You fucking ass. I need my husband back.” The combination of fear, and ridiculous behavior of both of her people that she loved, was too much for her. She felt like she was about to have a nervous breakdown.

“But babe, I’m right here!” He said with a grin, winking at his wife yet again.

“Both of you in the car.” She said. “Don’t you dare let her get out again, Mark.”

Coralina bit Mark, and a little trickle of blood was running down his arm. But he did not even falter. “Okay-dokay! But then let’s go get some ice cream.” He said, and he happily trudged back to the minivan where Beth was cowering inside.

Kelly wondered if they would ever get to the witch, or if her husband would kill them all.