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.

every passenger a potential enemy. I study their faces, their mannerisms, looking for any telltale signs that might give away their true nature. But all I see are ordinary people, oblivious

from my seat. Relief washes over me as I spot Selene waiting

• 14:45 — ).

217

and Secrets (I)

tail wagging, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders eases. Together, we hurry towards the safety of

burying my face in my hands as sobs wrack my body. Fear, frustration, and a deep

the midst of my turmoil. I cling to her, my

The tears flor

me. I cry for the life I’ve lost, for the family that has turned their backs on me, for the constant threat of

the last vestiges of a nightmare cling to the edges

Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access

Paranoia and

familiar surroundings of my apartment, lit only by moonlight peeking in

A wave of affection washes over me as I reach out to stroke her silky fur, her presence a constant reminder that I’m not truly

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

time, girl,” I murmur, offering Selene a weary smile as I

soothing, a welcome

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

air with a

and Secrets (11)

my mind drifts back to the events of the day, replaying the hushed conversation that had sent me spiraling into a panic. The fear that had gripped me so tightly begins to loosen its hold, replaced by a steely resolve. I cannot

reverie, and I turn to find Selene sitting in the doorway, the unmistakable glimmer of the purple crystal clenched between her jaws. A surprised

several times over the past few

chide,

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