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Straight to voicemail again. I try Juliana, but her phone rings endlessly without an answer.

“Please.” The walls of the stall close in on me.

What now?

Sebastian.

I tap on his name on my phone. Please.

“Hey, princess. What’s up?”

Hearing his voice is such a relief.

“I need your help. Please.”

His tone shifts from playful to concerned. “Are you okay? What happened?”

“I don’t know. I-I’m… I think someone was, I mean, is following me.” My voice cracks. “I’m locked in the girl’s bathroom, and—”

“Send me your location.” His tone turns sharp. Protective. “Now, Lil.”

I nod and send my location with shaky fingers. “Okay, I sent it.”

“Good. Now, stay on the phone with me, alright? I’m on my way.”

“Okay.” My voice is barely a whisper.

“Talk to me, princess. Tell me about one of those books you’re always reading.”

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I-I finished this romance novel.Dropping the handkerchief.”

“Yeah? What’s it about?”

“It’s about this innocent girl who falls for a notorious playboy. Classic story, right?” I let out a shaky laugh.

“Sounds familiar.” I can hear the smirk in his voice. “So, what happens?”

There’s something soothing about Sebastian’s voice and the way he listens and asks questions at the right moments as I delve into the plot.

“…and then, when it seems like all hope is lost, he shows up at her door, soaked from the rain, and declares his love for her.” I’m so caught up in the story that I almost forget where I am.

“Damn. Sounds like quite the grand gesture.”

“Right? I mean, it’s totally unrealistic, but that’s the beauty of fiction, I guess.”

“I don’t know, princess. Sometimes, reality can surprise you.”

I don’t know if I want to know the reality. Not when the monsters are already there.

“Lil? You still with me?”

“Yeah, sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m almost there. Just hang on.”

I nod again and close my eyes, concentrating on hisbreathing.

I can’t let the monster win. Not now, not ever.

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