The frantic turnings in the mind of a violence-haunted young girl.

Marcy Madden had always wanted to be the center of attention. In her fantasies, she was the heroine-rescuing children from mad dogs or from drowning, devoting herself to a sick mother dying of a "rare, tropical disease." Then one day she discovered a plot to kidnap young Bonnie of the wealthy Lenning family.

In an attempt to save the child, Marcy herself came face-to-face with stark terror ...