Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Dylan pushed open the storage room door. The light was still on. Clara was sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes closed.

A sharp pang hit his chest. "Clara?"

She opened her eyes slowly, rubbing her temples. "Hey, you're done with work?"

Dylan reached out his hand, motioning for her to come over.

She walked over and hooked her fingers through his.

He led her out. "Didn't I tell you? If someone mouths off at you, don't just take it. Give it right back."

"She didn't say anything," Clara mumbled.

They stepped into the master bedroom, all understated luxury. Clara grabbed one

of Dylan's pajama shirts and disappeared into the bathroom.

The shower started up almost immediately.

Dylan lingered outside the door. "Are you upset? Did something get to you?"

Inside, Clara stared at herself in the mirror. She barely recognized her own reflection.

She didn't answer. Instead, she pulled out that photo again.

Every time she looked at it, her head throbbed so badly she wanted to scream.

She shoved the photo away, rushed through her shower, then crawled under the covers without another word.

the edge of the bed, took her wrist gently, and kissed the back of her

don't have a phone," she reminded him

right. Before she went missing, he'd been so paranoid he'd

"I'll have someone bring you

tomorrow."

closed her eyes, her voice soft. "I just want

for a moment,

went to shower. When he came back, she was already fast

couldn't sleep-never could, not in the

twisted restlessly, caught

strange and achingly

voice echoed in her

game? If you can hold a squat for an

"Really?"

keep time for

out across her forehead as

nearby, a small table on the bed, catching up on

"Coach isn't here today. I'll take you out. What do you

go to the

course. Never been? I'll show

flickered past, fast and blurry-like memories from a life she

clutching the stuffed animal she'd won, sprinting like she could outrun time

confiscated her prize, and her big brother got scolded too. She was punished with hours more of squats, and he stuck by her side the whole

coach so strict with

complicated,