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 Dexter.

up, I left the

suddenly felt lost, unsure where to go. My parents had died in a car accident, the house was sold, and the

know where home was anymore.

to sit down, leaning against the

found a jacket covering me. Although worn. it was clearly washed

looked around; the alley

up, I noticed two plastic–wrapped muffins

feeling somewhat resigned. A kind soul must have mistaken

Homeless?

seemed about right.

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

was no difference.

neatly folded the jacket and placed it with

soul returned, they would

and took a few steps, then turned around at a rustling noise to see a tall, lean figure in a hoodie disappear around

out of the alley and hailed a cab.

the Fitzgerald mansion, Dexter was

didn’t come home all night,” Hailey asked. worry

adult; she can’t be dead, can she?” Dexter said

watching Dexter’s impatient demeanor, and sighed.

at the door for you. The man says his name is Ryder, your senior,” the housekeeper

hesitated for a moment, then ran