LITMIR.BIZ

      Prologue

      Sixteen-year-old Tawny-Lynn Boulder gripped the edge of the seat as something slammed into the back of the bus and sent it careening to the right, skimming the guardrail.

      Tires squealed, the driver lost control and sparks spewed from the sides as they swerved back and forth. Screams from the other girls on the softball team echoed around her. Glass shattered.

      She glanced sideways as she struggled to keep from pitching into the aisle. The ravine loomed only a few feet away.

      Her body bounced against the seat as the bus rolled. Her sister, Peyton, cried out as her head hit the roof of the bus. Someone’s shoe sailed over the seat. A gym bag clumped down the aisle.

      Peyton’s best friend, Ruth, clawed at her with bloody hands.

      Then the bus was sliding, skidding, skating toward the edge of the ravine. Metal screeched and gears ground as they broke through the railing. For a terrifying second, the bus was suspended, teetering on the edge of the cliff.

      More screams and blood flying. Then the vehicle crashed over the edge of the embankment, plunging downward into the ravine below.

      “Peyton!” Tawny-Lynn cried.

      The force threw Peyton over the seat. More glass rained inside as the bus slammed into a boulder.

      Her head hit something, her shoulder ramming into the opposite side of the bus. For a moment, she lost consciousness.

      Seconds or maybe minutes later, she stirred, her body aching, her leg twisted beneath a gnarled metal seat edge. She searched for Peyton, terrified she was dead.

      They’d had a fight earlier. Stupid sister stuff.

      She wanted to make up.

      Suddenly smoke began to fill the bus. She struggled to free her leg, but she was trapped.

      Someone was crying in the back. But the other screams had subsided.

      She managed to raise herself and look into the aisle.

      God, no... One of the girls wasn’t moving.

      And Peyton and Ruth, where were they?

      The bus rocked back and forth as if hanging on to a boulder. The smoke grew thicker. Somewhere through the gray haze, she saw flames shooting up toward the night sky.

      She coughed and choked, then everything went dark.