Page 82 of The Rookie's Second Chance

Desperately, I tried to regain my footing, to orient myself in the blinding cloud. My mind screamed for action, but my body was slow to respond, disoriented by the sudden attack.

I knew I had to act fast to find a way out of this, but the dust swirled around me, a tangible barrier that clouded not only my vision but my thoughts. The fear of what might be lurking in that cloud, waiting to strike again, sent a surge of adrenaline through me.

I reached down, fumbling for my gun, my fingers brushing against the cool metal. As I grasped it, I forced myself to focus and strained to hear over the cacophony of my own coughing. Another scream pierced the dust-filled air, morphing into a laugh.

"Mandy? Is that you?" I shouted, my voice hoarse with dust and tension.

The laughter grew louder, more sinister. I couldn't see her, but I could feel her presence lurking somewhere in the haze. Then, without warning, there was movement—a rustling through the cloud of dust.

Before I could react, a solid hit struck my arm, knocking my gun out of my grasp. I swung wildly toward the attack, but my fist met only air. Panic and frustration surged as I tried to orient myself in the chaos.

Mandy was quick, and she seemed to know the layout of the room better than I did. I kept stumbling over debris and furniture, each fall a painful reminder of my disadvantage.

I tried to fight back, to defend myself, but it was like battling a shadow. The attacker was always just out of reach, always one step ahead. I could feel the balance of the fight tipping against me. With every missed swing and every trip, my situation grew more desperate. I needed to gain the upper hand.

I gasped for air, the dust clogging my lungs and clouding my judgment. I couldn't let this be the end. I had to find a way to fight back, to overpower my unseen opponent. But as the struggle continued, with me losing ground, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling that I was running out of options.

The metallic scraping of metal against the rough wood flooring set off alarm bells in my head. Panic surged through me as I realized Mandy had somehow managed to grab my gun. My heart pounded against my ribs, echoing the fear coursing through my veins.

A gunshot shattered the tense silence, its proximity causing my ears to ring. Instinctively, I ducked, feeling the air shift as the bullet whizzed past my head, narrowly missing me.

"Shit!" I cursed, adrenaline surging through me. My hands trembled slightly, the reality of the situation hitting me hard.

From somewhere in the dust-filled room, Mandy's laughter, cold and maniacal, pierced the air. "Don't worry. I'm not going to kill you... here," she taunted. "Too easy for me to get found out, especially with Daddy gone.”

I whirled around, scanning the room for any sign of her. Panic and frustration swirled within me. Realizing I needed backup, I fumbled for my phone. I dialed the station, knowing I could get to Jake or the chief without the middleman of a dispatcher, my fingers shaking.

The call connected almost instantly, Jake's familiar voice coming through. "Kayla? What's happening? Are you okay?"

"Jake, it's Mandy! She's here, and she's got my—" My warning was cut short as a sharp, excruciating pain erupted at the back of my skull. The room spun wildly, a carousel of blurred colors and shapes.

I heard my own voice, distant and faint, "Jake—"

Darkness crept in at the edges of my vision, my knees buckling beneath me. The phone slipped from my grasp, clattering to the floor as I tried to grasp onto consciousness.

"Mandy..." I managed to mutter, the world around me fading into nothingness. The last thing I heard was Jake's voice, filled with panic and confusion, calling my name through the phone before I succumbed to the darkness.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

MANDY

Waking up in Jake's bed, the sheets still smelling of him, my heart twisted in frustration. He didn't come home last night. Didn't he see? I've been showing him, trying to be everything he could ever want. But no, he's still out there, probably with her, Kayla.

I sat up, pushing the blankets away, feeling a surge of anger. It wasn't fair. I did everything right. Just like with Lexi... I was always the perfect friend, always there for her. When Garrett was in the picture, I took care of that problem and made sure he was out of the way. He had to go. He was standing in the way of what was meant to be mine. And then, there was Jude. My cousin. I convinced him to date Lexi, to treat her poorly, so I could swoop in and be her hero. But Lexi, she never saw it. She never realized I was the one she needed.

I stood up, pacing the room, my mind racing. All those years, all that effort, and for what? Lexi got married and moved on without a second thought for me. But when I came here, to Silver Creek, it was like a sign from the universe. It led me to Jake, the real prize. Lexi was just a stepping stone.

My hands clenched into fists. I've been too passive, waiting for Jake to see what's right in front of him. But it's clear now. Waiting isn't going to get me what I want. It never has. It's time for action, just like with Garrett. I can't let Kayla or anyone else stand in my way.

I started getting dressed, each movement deliberate. I needed a plan, something to make Jake see that we were meant to be together. To show him that I'm the one he should be with, not Kayla. I glanced at the clock. Time was ticking, and I couldn't waste another moment.

With every piece of clothing I put on, my resolve hardened. Jake was mine; he had to be. I'd make him see it, one way or another. I couldn't let this slip through my fingers. Not again. This time, I'd take control. And nothing, and no one, would stand in my way.

As I walked out of the room, the determination set in my stride, I knew this was just the beginning. The end game was in sight, and I was ready to play.

I grabbed my phone and opened the app I'd cleverly installed. It let me keep tabs on Jake and Kayla’s phones. Thanks to a little hacking and their phone numbers, I was in control. I smirked, swapping their contact numbers in each other's phones to redirect to mine. This way, any communication between them would actually come to me.

Satisfied, I slipped the phone into my pocket and headed out. I drove to a secluded part of the woods, where my van was parked, hidden from prying eyes. As I drove, I remembered that night in this very van, the night I almost had it all.

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