Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace

Chapter 13

That night. I didn’t go home. I curled up on a hospital bench to sleep through the night.

The next day when I woke up, I was burning up with a fever.

My phone was silent the whole night; Dexter didn’t call even once.

“Ryder…” I called him from the bench. “About that study abroad thing. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Phoebe, do you have a cold?” Ryder’s voice came through, laced with concern.

“Yeah, got caught in the rain yesterday. Feeling a bit under the weather today.”

“Where are you? I’ll drop off some cold medicine,” Ryder was worried.

“If I hand in the application form today, how soon can I leave the country?” I asked with a sense of urgency in my voice.

At that time, I had a premonition that I might not survive if I didn’t leave.

I wanted to live, to get as far away from Dexter as possible.

As long as I left, it would all be over.

“If you apply now, you can get an acceptance letter in two months. I’ll ask the professor to expedite it. Once you get the notice, I’ll buy your plane ticket,” Ryder said, his voice laced with concern. “Is the cold serious? Should I come get you?”

“No need, Ryder… I’m at the hospital. Thank you.”

that in two months, I would be able to leave Sea City forever, escape this place as well as

hanging up, I left the hospital.

back alleys outside the hospital, I suddenly felt lost, unsure where to go. My parents had died in a car accident, the house was

know where home

sit down, leaning against the wall and falling back into a groggy

when I woke up, I found a jacket covering me. Although worn. it was clearly washed

around; the alley

up, I noticed two plastic–wrapped muffins beside

feeling somewhat resigned. A kind soul must have mistaken me for

Homeless?

seemed about right.

said. “You live in my house, eat my food, and use my stuff. So, what’s the difference between

no difference.

and placed it with

kind soul returned, they would probably take it

around at a rustling noise to see a tall, lean

giving it much thought, I walked straight out of the alley and hailed

I returned to the Fitzgerald mansion, Dexter

come home all night,” Hailey

she can’t be dead, can she?” Dexter said with irritation.

door, watching Dexter’s impatient demeanor,

for you. The man says his name is Ryder,

moment, then ran outside.