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.

any telltale signs that might give away their true nature. But all I see are ordinary people, oblivious to the

I spot Selene waiting patiently, her bright

• 14:45 — ).

217

and Secrets

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

the door, burying my face in my hands as sobs wrack my body. Fear, frustration, and a deep sense of isolation crash over me in waves, threatening to drown me in their depths.

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

The tears flor

release of the pent–up emotions that have been building within me. I cry for the life I’ve lost, for the family that has turned their backs on me, for the constant threat of discovery that looms over me like a dark

awake, my cheek pressed against my knees as the last vestiges of a nightmare cling to the edges of

on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in

Paranoia and Secrets

Disoriented, I blink away the haze of sleep, taking in the familiar surroundings of my apartment, lit only

affection washes over me as I reach out to stroke

reminding me that I haven’t eaten properly since breakfast. With a groan, I push myself up

Selene a weary smile as I make

familiar motions of cooking are soothing, a

I move through the motions with practiced ease, the sizzle of the pan and the

air with a

and

work, 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

unmistakable glimmer of the purple crystal clenched between her jaws. A surprised laugh

her several times over the

you little troublemaker?” I chide, holding the crystal up

setting my nerves alight with a tingling sensation. I gasp, nearly dropping the crystal