Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 74 Ava: Preparing for the Worst

The sun is beginning to set when a slight detour from the circular thoughts I've had about tonight finally occurs to me.

A weapon.

Who says I have to accept my fate without fighting? No one.

I can at least try to arm myself.

But with what?

I have knives in the kitchen, of course. I'll grab a couple. But they'll be too large to keep in my pockets. What else can I use?

I'd grab a rock, but I'm not even allowed in the yard to find one.

A pen? I can stab someone in the eye with a pen, so I grab a few of them and put them in either pocket. After some hesitation, I grab an old belt. I can try to swing it at someone and hit them with the buckle, right?

I put it on, without sliding it through any belt loops. The easier to get to, the better.

Desperation creeps in as I realize how ill-prepared I am. My gaze lands on a can of hairspray, and I snatch it up, tucking it into the depths of my backpack. Not ideal, but it's better than nothing.

in the living room and watches TV. Jessa's with her, doing something on her phone. Neither look up as I pass by. Dad's probably in his

favorite find, and a small folding utility knife that probably belonged to Phoenix

in an attempt to disguise the knives I

Of course, they don't.

door behind me with a soft exhale of relief, I jump and almost spill my food when I

knives down, I fumble

midnight when everyone's asleep. Be

behind on the mere promise of freedom. My fingers

I sink onto the edge of my bed, burying my face in my hands. The weight of my decisions presses down on me, threatening to suffocate

figure out the rest as I go. But they'll catch me within

the meager belongings

normally take a dog to make it to this territory, but I'm sure she's still

feeling her warm fur beneath my fingers, never hearing her playful yips, is almost too much to

feel another ominous shudder go through my body, and I glance towards the window, searching for any sign of what could be causing this uneasy feeling. The sky's color has deepened, the last vestiges of twilight having faded away. Trees sway gently in the evening breeze, in an illusion of a moment of peace after a

pacing. It's what I do best these days. My footsteps seem unnaturally loud against the hardwood, the only

pause in front of the mirror, studying my reflection. My eyes are wide, my face pale and drawn. Brushing my fingers

vibration of the burner phone on my desk, the noise cutting through the heavy silence like a knife. Snatching it up,

send her a quick GIF of two cartoon bears

a couple short