Page 7 of Into the Night

Without taking her eyes from the scene below, Ms. Smith jerks her head toward her own apartment door.

“Use my fire escape. It drops straight into the car park. I’ll tell them you’re on holiday… since yesterday morning, I think.” She winks and turns toward the stairs to meet the officer before he makes his way all the way up. “And put your hands in your pockets if you don’t want to look guilty.”

Without another word, I slip into Ms Smith’s apartment and then climb out the window onto the rickety, old metal fire escape. As I slide down the ladder, a sick feeling twists in my gut. John warned me my control would slip eventually. I didn’t want to believe it, but I should have. I might have hurt someone because I was too afraid to admit there’s something seriously wrong with me.

It’s time to figure out what that is.

5

KALI

With her apron still on under her raincoat, Maisy stands out a mile in Evan’s dimly lit bar. It could well be the first time she’s set foot in here.

“Why is this place still open? There’s a storm on its way.” As if to emphasise her point, the windows rattle, and there’s a crash as a trash can tips over outside. Great. I can guess who’s going to be left to clean up that mess.

“Evan’s up at John’s place helping Holly with something. As soon as he’s back, I’m off duty and headed straight home. I promise.”

Maisy presses her lips into a thin line, displeased, but not wanting to interrupt Evan either. She doesn’t like me still being here with the weather turning bad, but much like the rest of us, she’s enjoying watching my bad-tempered cousin fall head over heels for Sutton’s newest resident.

If Evan has found a woman strong enough to put up with his crap, then none of us wants to get in their way.

“Fine. But if you’re not going to hunker down at Evan’s, you might want to go to the hardware store tomorrow and get stocked up on torches and the like. I doubt anything left behind still works.” Maisy warns, her motherly instincts showing.

That’s a good point. I haven’t checked to see what supplies are in the cabin. It could be a long, dark night if I don’t have any lamps or batteries, and the power goes out.

“Or come and stay with me. I have lots of beds.”

It’s a sweet offer, but I love living on my own, and I don’t want to create extra work for Maisy. I already feel bad accepting the steady stream of muffins and bread she sends my way.

“If my power goes, I’ll make my way to you.” I promise, and that seems to satisfy Maisy enough to move away from the bar.

With a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek, she’s gone, telling everyone that she passes to be on their way. I follow her out and wave goodbye from the top step until her car disappears around the corner. There are still some residents darting back and forth across the main street, loading stuff into their cars, despite the weather’s best attempts to stop them.

With a satisfied smile, I close the door, leaning my shoulder against the wood and giving it a hard shove when the breeze catches it.

This is supposed to be the relative calm before the storm, and it’s already getting wild.

I better pick up everything I need to batten down the hatches. This is part of being independent, and I don’t want to need to run back to Evan’s, or my parents' house, if I can help it.

I’m relieved when Ben blows through the door a couple of hours later, shaking the water from his coat like a dog, and tells me to clear off. Looks like Evan’s still helping Holly out. Stunned that any woman is voluntarily spending this much time with his big brother, Ben shakes his head and pours himself a stiff drink.

“I have a feeling it’s going to be a quiet one. No need for us both to be bored out of our minds.” Ben shoos me toward the exit before going back to the bar and settling in on the wrong side. He shoves me outside and slams the door behind me.

Yanking the collar of my jacket up over my ears, I duck my head and make a run for the main street.

The hardware store is busy when I get there. Well, busy for a small town like Sutton, that is. It’s not normally open on a Sunday, but with the storm coming in, they’ve opened for a few hours to let people grab last minute supplies. Because people here care about each other, unlike Zora Hills, where everyone is just trying to keep their heads down and get by. That’s something I’m still struggling to get used to.

Normally, I’d go out of my way to avoid other beasts, especially ones that I don’t know, but this is a trip I have to make. The bar is fine, because even if Evan’s not physically there with me, his reputation is. Everyone knows that I’m under his protection, and that gives me confidence that nobody will cause me too much hassle.

Steeling myself for some uncomfortable stares as I duck inside, the bell jingles on the door, but I barely get a second glance when I wipe my wet boots on the mat. The residents of Sutton are far more interested in the bad weather that’s rolling in than in my uncommon hair colour. I love it.

“You need me to take any of those up to the till?” The smiling assistant tips her head politely to the stacks of candles and batteries in my arms, holding out a shopping basket.

“That would have been a good idea.” I laugh, tipping my supplies into the basket before taking it from her with a shake of my head.

“Is there anything else you’re looking for?” Her eyes crinkle, amused at my confused expression.

I must look as out of place as I feel.

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