Chapter 3

The comments filled up with people egging him on.

A chill crept down my back.

Ferdinand's birthday was the day after tomorrow.

If I couldn't find a way to break his hold on me before then, I was finished.

Or maybe I could take a leave, go home, and have my parents lock me inside so I couldn't get out.

But even if I dodged him on his birthday, what about after that?

I couldn't stay locked in the house for the rest of my life.

I fumbled my phone out, about to text my mother, when her call came through.

"I found someone who can help, but his flight out of the country leaves in three hours."

"I'm coming to the school gate to get you. Hurry out."

I gathered my things to go, and Ferdinand walked over and tossed a bag at me.

"Didn't you say you wanted to wash my socks? I saved up ten pairs for you!"

"Go rinse them clean at the tap."

The smell knifed through the bag, sharp and rank.

The few classmates near my seat covered their mouths and moved away.

Others were chatting, some reading.

But I knew their ears were all turned toward me.

I wanted to scream, to curse him, but what came out was, "Oh my gosh, I'm so lucky."

Carrying that bag of stiffened socks, I ran down to the water fountain outside the building.

Wave after wave of stench made me want to gag, yet my body wouldn't let me step away from the fountain.

There was even a happy smile on my face.

"So lucky, I actually get to wash Ferdie's socks!"

My mother's call came again.

"I'm at your school gate. Come out quick."

"If we miss this chance, we'll have to wait three months for the man to come back from overseas!"

I wanted to tell her I couldn't get out, but what came out was, "Stop bugging me, I'm washing Ferdie's socks!"

My mother went quiet for a beat, then hung up.

She called back, talking faster than before.

"Put on your earbuds right now, turn the music up as loud as it goes, loud enough that you can't hear anyone speak."

"After I hang up, power off your phone. Move faster, and the second you finish what he ordered, run for the school gate."

"If he can't reach you with a new command, he can't control you!"

I jammed the earbuds in, the music almost splitting my eardrums.

Once all ten pairs were washed, sure enough, I could leave the fountain.

I ran for the gate with everything I had.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ferdinand coming toward me from the sports field, his mouth moving, saying something.

I couldn't hear him. I just kept charging forward.

I made it out the gate, and my mother threw the passenger door open.

"Get in, hurry!"

I jumped in, she stamped on the gas, and we tore away.

In the side mirror, Ferdinand had chased all the way to the gate, round as a rubber ball.

My mother glanced over.

"Disgusting."

I pulled the earbuds out, and the tears spilled over.

An hour later, I powered my phone back on.

Ferdinand's messages came pouring in one after another.

【You ran off without even hanging up my socks to dry? Get back here and hang them out!】

【So you got clever and learned to switch off your phone? Ridiculous. Once it's back on you'll do exactly as I say, same as always.】

【You made me lose face today, Crystal. Just you wait for my birthday tomorrow!】

My mother dropped me at the school gate, smoothed my hair, let out a sigh, and drove off.

I walked back into school.

A crowd had already gathered at the fountain, gawking at Ferdinand's socks scattered across the water.

"This is hilarious. Didn't he say Crystal begged to wash his stinky socks? So why'd she dump the whole lot in the fountain and run?"

"Maybe Crystal got hexed or something, and just now she suddenly snapped out of it?"

Ferdinand stood off to the side, sour-faced.

"My charm needs a hex? She was just so overwhelmed she went off to cry on her own, scared you'd all laugh at her."

"See? She's back, isn't she?"

Under Ferdinand's smug stare, I folded each of those socks carefully and looked at him, eager to please.

"I was wrong. I'll take these back to the dorm and hang them up right now."

Ferdinand leaned in and slung an arm around my shoulders.

"Tomorrow's my birthday. We're eating at the Bayview with the class tonight, and once they leave, I'll get a room upstairs and reward you properly."