Page 2 of Little Empty Promises

She hoped for an answer this time, but once again, she was met with silence.

A second thought presented itself, one Cordelia didn’t want to entertain.It was enough to make her reach into her handbag, taking her time as she fumbled around until she felt the cool steel of her gun.It was the tiniest of things, a gift from Marlon.She’d scoffed when he’d given it to her years before, saying she had no use for a firearm.

Upon bestowing it to her, Marlon had said, “If the need should ever arise, all you have to remember is to point and shoot, dear.”

The need had never arisen—until now.

And what’s more, the gun had never been fired before.

Cordelia didn’t even know what would happen if she tried.

Hands shaking, she raised the gun in front of her, searching for the words she wanted to say.

“I don’t know who you are or why you’re here, but I’m leaving now,” she said.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

The words had been grunted in such a way to make Cordelia believe the person she was dealing with was going through great effort to mask his voice.

“Like I said, I’m leaving,” Cordelia said.“You should do the same.”

“What did you see?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“What.Did.You.See?”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.What did I see … when?”

“Youknowwhen.”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Stop toying with me.”

“I can assure you, there’s notoyinginvolved.”There was a click, a sound that made Cordelia fear she wasn’t the only one holding a gun.“You should know, I’m armed.”

“Makes two of us.”

“I’m not afraid to fire, if necessary.Though I’d rather not.”

“It’s too late.”

Too late for what?

With the door to the library locked, Cordelia would have to turn her back on the man to unlock it, a measure too risky to take.

“I see we’re at an impasse,” she said.“I don’t know what I saw or why it’s too late.Can we agree to disagree and call it a night?”

“We can call it a nightafteryou’re dead.”

Cordelia replayed the words in her mind a few times, her heart racing as she found herself out of ideas and with nowhere to turn.

“Do you think I’m afraid to die?”she asked.“I’m not.”

It was a half-truth at best, but she was hoping to appeal to the intruder’s humanity.

Maybe if she could do that, there would still be a way out.

---