Page 6 of Dangerous Beginnings

As I stand there, eyes glazed from the haze of fatigue, my gaze drifts to the mirror. For a moment, I catch sight of something—just a flash. A scar, faint yet unmistakable, just below my collarbone. I freeze, my fingers lingering at the edge of it as my thoughts spiral for a moment.

I blink, pulling myself out of the trance, quickly looking away, as if the scar itself might reveal more than I want it to.

I then make myself a quick dinner, pasta. One of my favorite methods is to throw whatever I have in the fridge in the pan, it’s almost always tasty.

I eat dinner while watching an episode of my favorite series ever, Friends. I have been rewatching it repeatedly about three times now.

As I’m watching TV, my phone suddenly rings. It’s from Nadia—one of my best friends, someone I’ve known since I was four. Her family has always been there for me, stepping in when my own couldn’t. I put my empty plate down and answer the call, only for her voice to blast through the phone, already on full volume.

“Isabel! You won’t believe what just happened!”

Every time Nadia calls, it’s usually because she has one of the most ridiculous ideas imaginable.

“What’s up, Nadia?” I say, mimicking her over-the-top excitement.

“I’ve been asked out on a date by Jaxon!” she practically screams into my ear. I hold the phone a little farther away to save my hearing.

I sigh, already feeling the familiar disappointment.

“Nadia, that sounds... fun, but Jaxon has a body count of nearly 400.”

There’s a beat of silence before I hear her voice, now slightly annoyed, cutting through the phone. “Isabel, why can’t you just be happy for me? Istilllike him, and that 400 thing is a little exaggerated.”

Rolling my eyes, I reply, “Iamhappy for you, but he’s not good for you. I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t share my honest opinion. I’m just saying, don’t get your heart broken again.”

She’s the most stubborn person I know, but I can’t help it—Iwant to protect her. She has a heart of gold, but Jaxon has used her before, and I don’t want to see it happen again.

“I know, I know,” she says, sounding defensive. “But I want to take it slow, seriously, Isa.”

I can practically hear her eyes rolling through the phone. “It’s your decision, but don’t come crying to me when you end up heartbroken. You know I’m just trying to look out for you.”

We end up chatting for almost an hour after that. Between both of my jobs, I haven’t seen her in weeks, so I’m excited that we finally have some time to catch up. We’re both taking the day off this week to hang out, and I can’t wait to have a day to myself for once.

I tell her about my new job at the prison and how this one inmate is seriously giving me the creeps. And, of course, her response is exactly what I expect.

“Is he hot?” she asks, that playful tone creeping into her voice.

I laugh, shaking my head at her. “Yes, Nadia, he’shot. But that’s not the point—”

She cuts me off, teasing me. “Is he though? I mean, hot enough to break your ‘I’m never dating anyone’ rule?”

I groan. “I’m telling you about a serious issue, and you’re worried about if he’s hot? I don’t even know the guy. No one knows anything about him. As far as I can tell, he doesn’t even speak English.”

I can practically hear her smirking through the phone. “Well, sign language exists, you know. So, what language does he speak then?”

I roll my eyes again, even though she can’t see it. “I’m assuming Russian.”

Nadia’s laugh is audible through the phone. “I mean, you still didn’t answer my first question.”

I smile, shaking my head. I’ve been single my whole life, and there’s a reason for it. I’ve never had a good example of love, andI’ve heard too many stories that don’t end well.

“Well, I’ve definitely seen uglier men,” I say, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “But I don’t have a death wish, so I’m not going anywhere near an inmate from a high-security prison where I work.”

Nadia bursts out laughing. “You’re such a nerd, Isa.”

I can’t help but laugh along with her, knowing I’ve just dodged another one of her attempts to make me spill my secrets.

We keep on talking for a few more minutes but eventually, I tell her that I have to go to bed. Otherwise, I won’t be able to get up tonight for my shift. I will see her anyway tomorrow. We hang up and I brush my teeth. I make my way over to my bed and turn off the lights. I wrap myself in like a burrito and soon sleep catches up with me and I am thrown in the dark.

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