The Grip Read Online Free PDF

to come up, one at a time, and tell us a little bit about yourselves, your interests, what makes you tick, some of the things you did this summer perhaps.”
    The class grew uncharacteristically quiet.
    Mr. Bennett fixed his hair again. “Are there any brave souls among us? Or should I pick one of you at random?”
    The students eyed one another with uncertainty.
    “Fine,” Mr. Bennett said matter-of-factly. “We’ll start with you, then.”
    Lysander scanned the room, looking for Mr. Bennett’s victim.
    “Come now, Mr. Shore, tell us a bit about yourself.”
    Lysander stood on numb legs, and headed toward the front of the classroom, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets to keep them from shaking.
    “Name’s Lysander Shore…”
    “Louder!” someone shouted from the back.
    “My name is Lysander Shore,” he said emphatically. “Moved here from Hayward a week ago. Wasn’t looking to move really, but then again, we didn’t have much choice after some a-hole sent a Molotov cocktail through my bedroom window.”
    The class stirred uncomfortably.
    He was about to elaborate, but he never got the chance. His eye was caught by a gorgeous blonde seated before him, her hair long and golden and flowing, her skin bronzed from hot summer days by the pool. He stumbled when he saw she was staring right at him, hanging on his every word. His cheeks felt hot. She looked like a goddess.
    Beside her, two eyes, like red-hot pokers, were burning into him. They belonged to a guy with a bulky frame and semi-brush cut. He looked like he was all business and very little pleasure. In spite of the heat, he was wearing a sports jacket, his name etched in gold and red lettering: Chad.
    “You look at Summer one more time, freak,” Chad growled. “Just one more time, I dare ya!” Next to Chad was a boy, broad and tanned just like him: another extra from CSI: Miami . Except his lips were pulled back in a dark, menacing grin.
    Lysander stood frozen. He felt the palms of his hands turn wet, and the drumbeat in his neck thumped wildly.
    “Leave him alone, Chad,” the beautiful blonde girl said. She had stuck up for Lysander and his pleasure at what she’d done must have showed on his face because the next thing he knew Chad was on his feet charging.
    “Cha—” Lysander never managed to get it all out before something knocked the wind out of him. It was a left hook from Chad, right to the gut and a matching crack in the face so the lesson was learned. Lysander crumpled to his feet, hitting his head on the dusty, cool floor. He could see dust bunnies rolling around under Mr. Bennett’s desk.
    The next thing he knew Samantha was screaming bloody murder. From the corner of his swelling eye, Derek was grappling with Chad. A crowd had gathered around Chad versus the giant boy. Mr. Bennett nudged between them to break it up. A skinny, awkward kid with a healthy dose of acne bent down and helped Lysander off the floor. Chad reached out a hand to grab him, but Derek blocked the move and sent him tumbling over a row of desks. Chad was about to get what he had coming to him and Lysander wanted to be there to cheer Derek on, but Lysander was quickly whisked away. Lysander hadn’t said more than two words to either Chad or Derek and it seemed more than enough for one to want him dead and the other to save his life.
    •  •  •
    Lysander awoke later that afternoon looking into a pair of yellow eyes. His new cat, Necra, perched on his chest.
    “Get off, Nec,” he groaned, feeling too sluggish to move her himself.
    The cat hissed.
    Lysander’s eyes snapped open.
    Necra hissed again. Her lips peeled back, unsheathing a mouthful of needle-sharp teeth.
    “What’s wrong girl?” A staggering fear settled over him. His arms were under the covers, trapped. If she wanted to, the cat could flick one of her paws and blind him. He had never seen her behave like this before. They remained eye to eye for what felt like an eternity. Then Lysander