Tangled

22 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (III)

22 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (III)

I try to slip the crystal back into the drawer of my nightstand, but Selene darts forward, her body wriggling between me and the furniture like a furry battering ram. With a huff of frustration, I pull my hand back, the crystal still clutched in my fist.”

“Selene, down,” I scold, but she remains resolutely in my path, those pale blue eyes fixed on the object in my grasp.

Realizing this is a battle I won’t win, I shove the crystal into the pocket of my jeans, ignoring the uneasy weight that seems to settle in my gut at its presence. Selene’s tail wags, and she trots back toward the kitchen, pausing every few steps to glance over her shoulder, as if ensuring I follow.

The aroma of the sautéed vegetables greets me as I re–enter the kitchen, and my stomach rumbles in

anticipation. But as I move to finish plating the meal, Selene darts underfoot, nearly sending me sprawling. I sidestep her clumsily, shooting her a glare.

“What has gotten into you?” I mutter, stirring the

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22 Ava: Paranoia and Secrets (1)

contents of the pan with perhaps more force than

necessary.

Selene whines, her nose pointed toward the front. door, and understanding dawns.

“All right, all right.” I rush over to open the front door.

But Selene remains rooted to the spot, her gaze flickering between me and the door, an insistent whine escaping her. I frown as realization sets in–she wants

come with

resolute stare tells me

and shove it into the microwave, resigning myself to eating

of

furiously as I clip the leash onto her collar, and she darts out the door the second it’s open wide enough, nearly

air is a welcome relief after

2/6

Ava: Paranoia and

earlier unease fading into the background. Selene trots ahead, her nose twitching as she investigates every nook and cranny, but her path seems guided by some unseen force.

we venture too far from home, but some inexplicable force holds my tongue. Instead, I let Selene lead, trusting

months.

have at least a half hour of walking to

but she ignores it. “Selene. Come on.

direction.

almost yanks me off my feet, and I stumble, barely catching myself before I fall. “You’ve gotta be kidding

14:45.

38

and Secrets

usually one for these kinds of shenanigans. “Okay. Okay! I get it, you

once. Maybe

leaves and twigs beneath my boots echoing in the stillness.

her movements

has always been a relatively well–behaved companion, her antics limited to the occasional bout of mischief around the apartment.

trickles down the nape of my neck as the air seems to thicken around us,

14:45 –

Paranola and Secrets (III)

decaying foliage taking on an almost cloying quality. My pulse

an unfamiliar heat blossoms deep in

abdomen.

happening to

trying to get my bearings. But the trees seem to blur together, an endless maze of bark

of dizziness washes over me. The world tilts precariously, the shadows lengthening and distorting until they seem to reach out with gnarled tendrils,