Page 18 of Cruel Cravings

It takes several seconds for him to even acknowledge my presence. I have to clear my throat.

His eyes flick up at me, his reading glasses low on his nose. “Yes?”

“I’d like… do you have any rooms available?”

The way he appraises me, his gaze openly traveling from my thick afro to the wrinkled t-shirt I’m wearing to the chipped polish on my fingernails, only makes me more uncertain. I shift my weight from one leg to the other as he makes a sound with his throat.

“I’ll check.”

As if this entire motel doesn’t look abandoned. As if almost every parking space outside weren’t available and the halls empty.

I roll my eyes and stand by as he turns toward a desktop computer out of 1995 and slowly starts scrolling with the mouse.

Resorting to a motel was my last choice, but it’s something I’ve had to do.

The apartment I’ve been staying in was no longer an option for more than one reason.Heknew I was there. The police like Detective Laurent knew I was there.

And the family who the apartmentreallybelonged to had returned.

I’m in the middle of packing my things after fleeing Dr. Wolford’s office, stuffing what I can into my duffle bag and backpack. Sweat slicks my skin from all the running I’ve done, but I can’t slow down now.

Earlier I stopped by my sister’s apartment and returned her laptop. Just so they couldn’t say I had stolen it. Just so I could wipe my hands of all the bad things I had done.

It’s only a matter of time before they come for me.

Dr. Wolford’s going to send them. He’s working with the shadow man.

Just like Nurse Big Bird. Just like Detective Laurent.

Everybody’s against me. Everybody wants to make me suffer when all I want is to be with my sister. Why hasn’t she called me? How could she ever leave me behind? Doesn’t she know I’m looking for her?

She’s not dead. She must be hiding somewhere.

Waiting for me to find her…

Emotion pours out of me by way of tears as I sob and fight the zipper on my duffle. An ache starts up in my chest at the realization I can’t take everything. Not if I’m going to be on the run from the people Dr. Wolford sends after me. Not if the shadow man is going to be following along.

I frown and stroke Thorny, my cactus plant, affectionately. “I’m sorry… but you have to stay. Maybe someone will love you like I have.”

The lock in the front door clicks and voices trail from the hall outside.

I freeze, looking up in shock.

Oh no…

The door opens and the Klum family strolls in with their suitcases, in the middle of conversation. They stop a couple footsteps inside once they scan their living room and notice a few differences… and the stranger that’s clutching her things on her way out.

The father, a doughy man in a plaid shirt, explodes at once. “Who the hell are you?”

“I’m calling the police!” the woman shrieks.

The two children simply gape at me like I’m an alien.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble. “I was just staying here a while.”

“Are those our family photos?” the man asks, pointing at the photo frames I’ve stuffed inside a drawer. They were too big to fit all the way inside, one of the larger frames sticking out.“What the hell did you think you were doing? How did you even get in here?”

“I have to go! Thank you for the hospitality.”

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