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.

their faces, their mannerisms, looking for any telltale signs that might give away their true

stop, I practically leap from my seat. Relief washes over me as I spot Selene waiting patiently, her bright blue eyes

• 14:45 — ).

217

Ava: Paranoia and

a moment, the weight on my shoulders eases. Together, we

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

in the midst of my turmoil. I cling to her, my fingers tangling in her soft fur, drawing strength from her unwavering

The tears flor

life I’ve lost, for the family that has turned their backs on me, for the constant threat of discovery that looms over me

my knees as the last

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Ava Paranoia and Secrets

haze of sleep, taking in the familiar surroundings of my apartment, lit only by moonlight peeking in through

washes over me as I reach out to stroke her

that I haven’t eaten properly since breakfast. With a groan, I push myself up from the floor, my limbs protesting the prolonged period

smile as I make my

familiar motions of cooking are soothing, a welcome distraction from

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

filling the air with

Ava: Paranoia and

begins to loosen its hold, replaced by a

from my reverie, and I turn 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

over the past few months.

did you find this, you little troublemaker?” I chide, holding the crystal

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, my gaze locked on