Schism Read Free

legs. Slowly, Andy tucked the pistol behind her back so as not to frighten her.
    “Hey, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”
    Streaks of tears glistened on the girl’s cheeks. Between sobs, she managed to blurt out, “They took Miss Morgan!”
    Andy felt her stomach plunge. “Who—who took Miss Morgan?”
    The girl could only shake her head as tears streamed down her face. Andy tried her best to remain patient. “Please, honey, you have to tell me where they took her. I need to help her.”
    “They—they took—her to—the bathroom. And then—and then they—locked the door!” The girl choked for breath as the blood in Andy’s ears began to pound. “Some—some of the boys try—tried to open the door—but they—couldn’t!”
    The girl began to shake uncontrollably, and Andy jumped to her feet and bolted into the hallway. The door to the women’s room was locked. She withdrew her gun, chambered a round, then aimed at the keyhole and fired. The bullet ripped through the lock, and she kicked the door open. The room was dark, and once she aimed her flashlight inside, it took a moment to register what she saw, and when she did, she vomited in the nearby sink.
    Morgan lay on her side in a crumpled heap on the bathroom floor. Naked from the waist down, her thighs and torso were covered in fresh bruises. Her left eye had already swollen shut, and blood ran from her nose to her mouth. Through the intense beam of light, Andy could see that she was unconscious but still breathing. She crouched down and slowly lifted Morgan’s T-shirt, then gasped in horror upon discovering more bruises on her back and ribs.
    God, what have they done to you?
    Opposite the door was a window with missing panes, providing a clear indication of how the assailants managed to leave the school while keeping the bathroom locked. It wasn’t enough for them to beat Morgan within an inch of her life, but they had to make it difficult for anyone to find her.
    Dazed, Andy attempted to put Morgan’s underwear back on but they had been torn apart. Stifling another wave of nausea, she reached for Morgan’s jean shorts laying a few feet away and carefully slid them onto her friend. Then, with every ounce of strength she had, she hoisted Morgan off the bathroom floor and flung her over her shoulder and carried her home.
    ***
    Morgan’s physical condition, though horrific to behold at first, slowly healed. Some stitches and antibiotics ensured a full physical recovery while sleep took care of the rest. Soon her bruises lightened from purple to yellow, and the swelling receded. Her emotional wounds, however, would need much more time. She would cry for hours on end, then suddenly stop and stare out her bedroom window toward the endless ocean for an hour or two. Her appetite had vanished, and Andy and Charlie’s mutual urgings for her to eat went ignored, while her tranquil and generous nature had transformed into one of heavy silence.
    For days, neither Andy nor Charlie knew how to act around her. They tried being supportive, but that only seemed to irritate her. When they tried to pretend as though nothing had happened, it only compounded her depression. About two weeks after the horrible incident, Andy and Charlie had a serious discussion alone in the kitchen. It was Charlie who suggested leaving Bermuda, and Andy agreed. It was time to go. What had happened to Morgan had tainted their home that even the little joys like watching the sun set beyond the ocean or swimming among the fish had lost their splendor. When Andy brought up their idea to Morgan, tears of relief quickly filled her eyes. She nodded weakly but said nothing more.
    ***
    The United States was the only realistic destination. At a distance of six hundred miles from the shores of North Carolina, Bermuda’s location offered few options. Though Charlie was confident in his sailing skills, he admitted that the six hundred mile journey would be a huge challenge.
    “I may overshoot Cape