Tangled

21 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (II)

[LISA BURNER: Your brother’s looking for you. I think he believes me that I don’t know anything, but I’m not sure. I’m deleting everything off this phone just in case. I have a bad feeling about this]

[AVA: Be careful. It might be better if we don’t talk for a few weeks. I just heard two shifters talking earlier today; it looks like they’re finally searching.]

[LISA BURNER: I love you, Ave. I’m worried. Have I been watching too many crime documentaries? Anyway, I’ll text you when it’s safer.]

I clutch my phone in fear, the plastic case digging into my palm as I rush out of the lecture hall. My heart pounds with a frantic rhythm, echoing the chaos in my mind. The two shifters‘ words replay in an endless loop, fueling the fear that coils tighter with each passing second.

Escape. I need to escape.

I weave through the throngs of students, desperate to put as much distance between myself and those who might be searching for me. The world around me blurs

14:45

17

21 Ava: Paranola and Secrets (1)

into a kaleidoscope of colors and faces, each one a potential threat. I can’t shake the feeling that eyes are watching my every move, that danger lurks in every shadow.

The bus stop offers a brief respite, and I collapse onto the bench, gasping for air. My eyes dart back and forth, scanning the crowd for any sign of pursuit. The minutes crawl by, each one amplifying the tension coiled within me.

Finally, the bus arrives, and I board with a sense of urgency, clutching my bag close to my chest. As it lurches forward, I sink into a seat near the back, my gaze fixed on the window, searching for any suspicious figures or movements.

telltale signs that might give away their true nature. But all I see are ordinary

spot Selene waiting patiently, her bright blue eyes a beacon of familiarity in a world that suddenly feels so hostile.

• 14:45 — ).

217

and

her tail wagging, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders eases. Together, we hurry towards the safety of my apartment, my steps quickening with each passing

the door, burying my face in my hands as sobs wrack my body. Fear, frustration, and a deep sense of isolation crash

my side, her warmth a comforting presence in the midst of my turmoil. I cling to

The tears flor

life I’ve lost, for the family that has turned their

knees as the last vestiges of a nightmare cling

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and

away the haze of sleep, taking in the familiar surroundings of my

soft whine draws my attention to Selene, curled up at my feet, her piercing blue eyes regarding me with concern. A wave of affection washes over me as I reach out to stroke her

stomach rumbles, reminding me that I haven’t eaten properly since breakfast. With a groan, I push myself up from the floor, my limbs

I murmur, offering Selene a weary smile as I make my way to

motions of cooking are soothing, a welcome

through the motions with practiced ease, the sizzle of the pan

the air with a

Paranoia and Secrets (11)

gripped me so tightly begins to loosen its hold, replaced by a steely resolve. I cannot let the threat of discovery paralyze me; I won’t go back. I am free now, and I won’t ever give that

to find Selene sitting in the doorway, the unmistakable glimmer of the purple crystal clenched between her jaws. A surprised laugh escapes my lips as I cross the room, reaching out to gently pry

her several times over the

you little troublemaker?” I chide, holding the crystal

jolt of energy courses through me, setting my nerves alight with a tingling sensation. I gasp, nearly dropping the crystal in surprise, but something holds me transfixed,