A dash of black flashes in my peripheral vision, and I spin around so fast, I’m surprised I don’t trip.
It was there again.
I’m sure that someone was looking at me from the shadows, watching my every move.
My body heat rises and I rub my palm on the side of my shorts. Once.
Twice.
My phone burns in my pocket and I can’t stop thinking about the text I got two days ago.
I refused to think about it at the moment, shoved it to the background, and pretended that it belonged with the rest of the baggage that’s ruining my life. But I don’t think I can do that anymore.
Is it even about Dev anymore?
Or is it so much worse?
The banter from the group I’m in starts dissolving until it becomes white noise. My vision turns blurry.
Everything is.
I can’t even see my fingers.
My right foot steps back and then the other follows. I’m retreating, but I don’t know where to.
Or how.
All I’m sure about is that I need to get the hell out of here.
Now.
I’ll text the guys later and tell them I was feeling under the weather. Though maybe I need to switch up that excuse, considering I’ve used it quite a few times lately—
A strong hand slams against my mouth and I shriek as I’m flung backward.
The only sound that comes out of me is an eerie, muffled noise overflowing with desperation for life.
A savage hand wraps around my mouth as my back hits the wall. My eyes widen when they meet with those psychotic ones.
They’re dim, lifeless—just like two nights ago.
He tsks, his voice a darkened whisper. “You sure are hard to be found alone, Glyndon.”
5
GLYNDON
Grandpa once told me there will be times when I’ll feel so trapped that a way out seems impossible.
I’ll be suffocated.
I’ll feel so out of my element, as if all the walls are closing in on my heart.
He said that if I felt that way, the key is to stay calm, to not let fear seep in.
A disaster might or might not kill you, princess. But being terrified of it would definitely finish you.
I wish I had enough access to my brain so I could use it to put Grandpa’s words into perspective. I wish I was strong like him, Uncle, Dad, or Mum.