Page 63 of Roaring Flames

No! Stop it, Izzy! Get out of your own head!

Despite my best wishes, the familiar tendrils of panic rake themselves down my spine.

I debate texting Jake for a ride but remember Silas telling me that he has basketball tryouts. I have no idea if he’s still there, and the last thing I want to do is distract him.

Maybe I could call Hale or Gerry…?

But no, I’m not ready to deal with them. They’ll demand we talk, and I don’t yet have the words to say.

I plug in Grayson’s address into the GPS and see that it’s only a twenty-minute walk. Not too bad. And most of the trails are in a highly populated area of town.

My route decided, I drag myself to my feet and begin to follow the GPS down the darkened streets. The moon has fully crested the horizon, while the sun has burrowed low. The streetlights provide the only lighting.

I’m pleasantly surprised that I’m not the only person walking the streets at this time of night. I catch sight of a younger family pushing a child in a stroller and a couple holding hands. Some of the tension riding my shoulders dissolves.

I shove my hands into my pockets and quicken my pace. Without any sunlight to counter the wind, it’s cold out, almost painfully so. My cheeks and nose sting.

I have a scarf in my backpack?—

Dammit!

I curse when I realize I left my backpack behind in the employee break room. The good news is I have my phone and wallet on me.

I’ll have to message Silas tomorrow morning and ask if he can come in early to unlock the doors before school. I have a few homework assignments that are due.

The GPS instructs I take a left, so I do, entering a side street nestled between two brick buildings. The streetlights don’t quite reach this area, making the shadows appear particularly ominous.

Trepidation settles in my stomach at the unnerving feeling of eyes on the back of my head. Slowly, my heart hammering a mile a minute, I turn around.

But no one’s there.

Relief sweeps through me, and I turn to resume my walk when I run smack-dab into a hard chest.

“Hey, little girl. Just where do you think you’re going?”

I squint up at the man gripping my shoulders.

He’s middle-aged, with red hair peppered religiously with gray. Wrinkles bracket both of his eyes, and when he smiles, he reveals yellowing teeth. He wears a loose flannel over a stained gray shirt and ripped blue jeans.

I immediately step away, allowing his hands to fall back to his sides?—

Only to step into another chest.

I glance over my shoulder to see a blond-haired man standing there, leering at me.

“Where ya’ going, princess?” Blondie taunts with a lewd grin.

I take a second—only a second—to analyze the situation. Ginger is in front of me, and Blondie is directly behind me. There are brick walls on either side of me. There could be people on the streets, but would I be able to scream in time for them to hear me?

“Let me through, please.” I work to keep my voice calm.

Ginger licks his cracked lips. “We just want to talk to you.”

“Yeah.” Blondie chuckles darkly, and his hands begin to roam up my sides. “Talk.”

“Let me go.” This time, I allow a little bit of steel to enter my voice.

Both men chuckle.

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