i leap over the fence and land beside her and we take off running into the wide open ; her like a graceful gazelle , me like the lion chasing after her . she picked one up , inspecting it . i could see the flashlight beam bobbing here and there ; searching , searching again , for the damn skull ! she didnt even protest when she found the dress i had borrowed at the edge of my side of the room , a huge tear in the side as if it had been shredded at the seam on purpose . 