Amber was there, seated on the very top of that swan float, the one that blew up Becky Leeman. She was there in her pageant gown, hair done, trophy held in her hands.

She was there, seated perfectly still, and she smelled the gasoline. She smelled it and couldn't move. She couldn't scream. She saw her ma, standing over there, smiling, waving with ( Read more... )

"Why you little bitch. Thinkin' you can hide from me. There ain't no place you can hide Amber Atkins. You remember that right now you little tiara stealin' slut." Gladys Leeman aimed her shotgun.

"Ma? Ma!" It was cold. So cold. Amber shivered, wrapped her arms around herself. "You're not real."

"Oh yah you better believe your skinny ass I'm real and ( Read more... )

"I'm sorry ma, I'm sorry. I love you."

"She can't hear yooou!" Gladys sing-songed, the shotgun poised and aimed.

"Why are you doing this? Please. I didn't do--"

"You look like hell Amber. Shut your ever lovin' pie hole, you're makin' me trigger happy and I'm not yet ready to blow your brains out."

Amber whimpered, curled in on herself. Sobbed.

"Oh, ( Read more... )