Page 1 of In Her Mind

PROLOGUE

A thick June fog cloaked Old Orndorf Road, swallowing the beams from the SUV headlights and reducing visibility to mere feet ahead. Amber Stevens squinted into the murk, clutching the steering wheel tighter as she drove slowly forward. Tonight, her familiarity with this uneven road offered slight comfort against the disorienting mist. This was a path scarcely traveled by others, and she usually found the solitude welcome. Even on a night like this, Amber had a sense of safety, guided by instinct and the intimate knowledge of every inch of the forgotten road that led her home.

As her SUV jostled over the pitted track, Amber’s thoughts drifted back to Paws and Harmony Rescue, where the evening’s work had left her with a wonderful warmth in her chest. There was a particular moment, an instance that reinforced her passion for veterinary care: successfully coaxing a frightened, newly arrived stray dog to eat from her hand for the first time. With gentle whispers and patience, she had bridged the gap of trust between human and animal, a small victory that promised the beginning of a new life for the terrified creature.

That sense of triumph helped fuel Amber’s resolve as she drove through this oppressive fog, a physical presence pressing against the windows as though demanding entry. After all, Orndorf Road, with its bumps and turns, was an old friend whispering secrets from her childhood, back when it served as her shortcut to school. Each dip and rise was etched into her muscle memory, allowing her to proceed despite the obscuring haze.

Her mind wandered ahead to the temporary refuge at her parents’ home. Summer break at college meant returning to a place where expectations hovered like the mist outside—thickand unyielding. The thought of her engagement ring, a modest but meaningful band tucked away in her suitcase, weighed heavily upon her. It was a symbol of a choice made and a new life promised, yet it remained hidden from those who should be happy to know the truth. She chided herself for withholding the news of her engagement from her parents. Tomorrow, she decided firmly, she would reveal everything to them. It was unfair to keep such joyous news under wraps, despite the complications it might stir up.

Her father, Otto, with hands that spoke of years beneath the hoods of countless cars, had always been vocal about his hopes for her future. He envisioned Amber settled down with the dependable mechanic from his shop, Jason Reeves. It was a comfortable picture, one woven into the very fabric of their small town. But comfort could suffocate, and their actual relationship had been more vague in Amber’s own mind.

Now she knew her heart lay elsewhere, with a different young man—her fiancée was a fellow student at Ozark State University in Pinecrest.

She wondered if Jason was going to be a serious problem.

Earlier that day, she had finally mustered the courage to clear the air between them. In her mind, the conversation replayed itself, sharp and jarring against the hum of her tires over gravel. Jason’s eyes, usually so familiar, had turned cold and distant, his words laced with an edge that cut deeper than their parting. “You think you’re better off without me?” he had asked, voice low and menacing in a way she’d never heard before.

She had tried to placate him, to explain that what she felt for Liam was different, something she couldn’t ignore. But Jason’s reaction was volcanic, a mixture of anger and jealousy. His veiled threat, a cryptic warning uttered as she walked away, now echoed ominously in her head. She hadn’t understood it then, and even now, it eluded her grasp, lost in the swirling fog of herown doubts and fears. Amber tried to reassure herself that Jason wouldn’t hurt her; it wasn’t in his nature.

But what about Liam? Jason had said some rash and disturbing things about going to Pinecrest and finding Liam and “having it out with him.” Surely, she decided, that was just Jason’s anger talking. He would never go to that kind of extreme.

Amber’s thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an unexpected sight ahead.

Red hazard lights blinked rhythmically through the fog, an unusual beacon on the seldom-used road. Curiosity piqued, she eased her foot off the accelerator, her eyes narrowing as she approached the distressed vehicle. It was uncommon for others to travel this way, especially at night. Although she didn’t recognize the car, it must surely be someone who lived in the area to be out on this old road at all.

Amber’s mind shifted gears. Her father’s lessons in auto repair came to the forefront. Otto Stevens had made sure his daughter knew her way around a car as well as any mechanic. Those afternoons spent in the garage, tools in hand, weren’t just a means to earn her keep through high school; they instilled a confidence that now prompted her to slow down and prepare to offer assistance.

Amber parked her SUV behind the stranded car, the red hazard lights cutting through the fog like a warning. She retrieved her flashlight from the door compartment and stepped out into the night, the mist enveloping her as if to swallow her whole. With the beam of light piercing ahead, she called out, “Hello? Anyone there? Need help?” Her voice sounded muffled in the dense air, absorbed by the fog that seemed to silence everything.

The only response was the intermittent click of the hazard lights. The passenger door of the mysterious vehicle hung open.It felt strange and unnerving, the familiarity of the road now twisted into an unrecognizable path.

Amber approached cautiously, shining her flashlight into the dark interior while continuing to call out. “Hey, don’t worry, I can help you!” Despite her expertise with auto troubles, the lack of response unsettled her. She wondered if someone had fallen ill out here.

As Amber peered inside the abandoned car, she noticed the keys still dangled from the ignition. No signs of a struggle or any belongings left behind—just an eerie emptiness. She turned her head, about to call out again, when the stark silence was shattered by the sound of footsteps crunched on the gravel behind her. A strong hand clamped onto her shoulder, its grip iron-tight, yanking her back.

Amber realized the danger she was in. This was no stranded motorist, this was an ambush. Panic surged, but her instinct took charge as she wrenched away, the flashlight tumbling from her grasp and rolling under the car. Shoving hard at her attacker, she turned and sprinted away down Old Orndorf Road.

“Help! Somebody, please!” she shouted, but her voice was devoured by the thick fog, leaving her feeling isolated and vulnerable. The road she had known so well now seemed alien, each step uncertain. And she could hear footsteps behind her.

She chastised herself for stopping to help at the abandoned car, berating her own naivety. But how could she have anticipated it was a trap? The road was seldom used, her presence there a fluke borne from habit rather than predictability. She couldn’t imagine that anyone would lie in wait for anybody here. Yet here she was, fleeing an unseen predator.

As she ran, her mind scrambled to pinpoint where she was, where help might come from before she was caught. In her mind, she saw the roads branching from Old Orndorf Road, themap etched into her memory since childhood. Yet none of those paths mattered now, for no one knew this was her route. No one would come looking for her here.

In a split second, her foot caught on an unseen obstacle, and pain lanced through her ankle. She stumbled, catching herself before falling completely, but the damage was done. A sharp twinge confirmed a sprain, the ache immediate and debilitating. Amber knew she couldn’t outrun her pursuer on this open road. Escape seemed impossible.

“Got to keep moving,” she urged herself.

Beside the road was a patch of woods that she’d driven by many times. Amber’s breaths came in harsh, ragged gasps as she veered off the gravel road, plunging into the dense underbrush beneath those trees. Each step was a blind gamble in the pitch black night, her only guide the uneven ground beneath her feet. Branches snagged at her clothes, scratching her arms and face, but she pushed forward, driven by a primal urge to survive despite the mounting pain in her ankle.

After a few moments, she stopped. Was her pursuer following?

When she heard the slight sound of someone else leaving the road and plunging into the brush after her, Amber turned to flee again. Her hands stretched out before her, grappling with the air as if trying to pull herself through the tangible fear that enveloped her. She stumbled over roots and rocks, each misstep sending jolts of pain up her already injured ankle. She willed her body to keep moving.

Suddenly, a light cut through the trees behind her, sweeping erratically across the forest floor. Amber froze, her heart pounding against her ribs. She threw herself to the side, diving behind a thick trunk just as the beam swept past her previous position. Her attacker was searching, the flashlight a roaming eye that sought to reveal her hiding place.

Amber waited, her breath caught in her throat, until the light moved on. Then, with great effort, she rose and hobbled forward, ducking low-hanging branches and weaving through the natural maze. The sharp sting in her ankle grew with each step, a relentless reminder of her vulnerability.

She risked a glance over her shoulder, the flashlight now a distant glimmer flickering between the trees. It wasn’t fixed on her—yet. Whoever was holding it didn’t know where she was. But her pursuer was methodical, and it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed again. With grim determination, Amber pressed onward, the pain in her ankle a burning fire that fueled her will to evade capture.

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