Page 66 of Ethereally Redeemed

I watch him intently, analyzing every detail. A chill grips mewhen I catch sight of the badge clipped to his jeans, half-hidden but unmistakable. Nobody else seems to notice; oblivious to his presence, and even if they saw the badge, they wouldn’t recognize it.

But I do.

My mind sharpens, a persisting cloud of paranoia as I stay on high alert, haunted by inner demons and the predators roaming this world. In the dim light, the badge glints, his portrait and the words “Special Police” searing itself into my memory.

Lifting his gaze, he scans the bus. I quickly lower my head, hunching over and trying to make myself as small as possible. The color drains from my face, and I let my hair fall forward, creating a curtain to shield my features.Shit.

I feel his footsteps pounding against the bus’s floor as he walks down the aisle, searching for an available seat. Thunder roars inside my body, louder than it usually does in the skies. Deep breaths accompany my swallowing panic as I keep an eye on the man, settling down in the seat two rows before ours.

My entire body is on edge, waiting for the worst. The only thing I’m able to focus on is the immediate threat, making the rest of my surroundings fade into the background. My shoulders are too stiff, aching uncomfortably.

I’m unable to relax the rest of the journey, my leg bouncing up and down as I keep a close watch on the police farther ahead. My guard remains up, every nerve alert. When the bus finally arrives at our destination, I gently shake Grey awake. I press myself close to Grey as we exit the bus after everyone else.

The station is sprawling with people, despite it being night, with the moon hidden behind thick clouds. I quietly observe the other passengers as they grab their bags, hailing taxis or waiting for rides. My hand instinctively finds Grey’s as we stand in silence, waiting for the crowd to thin out—we can never be too careful. Just as we’re about to leave the station, a dark andcommanding voice stops us in our tracks. I swallow harshly, remembering that I never saw the police leave.

“Excuse me?”

Grey turns, and I lift my head, trying to portray a collected demeanor even as my insides are on fire. Hesitation flickers across his face but is quickly concealed.

“Yeah?” Grey asks in his grumbling voice.

The officer surveys us from head to toe, scrutinizing us inch by agonizing inch. A flat sense of anxiety settles over me, and I’m certain that if he met my eyes, he would see the barely contained note of hysteria.

He smiles, his eyes brimming with malice. His slightly down-turned eyes narrow as he pulls out his badge, holding it until it catches the dull glow of the streetlights.

“I’m with the police. I’ve received information that you fit into.”

Out of the corner of my eye, Grey takes a step back, me following shortly thereafter. The officer notices, his hand moving to the black belt at his waist, previously hidden beneath his hoodie. Everything feels like it’s happening in slow motion. Another step, and Grey’s eyes dart between the officer and the belt. Without warning, Grey turns and bolts, pulling me harshly along with him. I stumble, fighting to regain my balance, as we flee into the night.

The darkness devours us as we dash away from the building, quickly veering toward the adjacent one. Our train connects with the bus line, but we have to lose him before we board, only hoping he won’t follow.

“What the hell are we supposed to do?” I hiss at Grey.

“I don’t know,” he replies, voice strained as we sprint.

My feet hit the asphalt road at the same pace as Grey’s do, each thump mirroring the frantic rhythm of my racing heart.

Suddenly, a gunshot rings out behind us, ricocheting off myears and jolting me back to moments I never want to relive. It becomes harder to breathe, but I continue to push forward, clinging to the thought of freedom. Neither of us is hit, so we continue forward.

I make the mistake of glancing back right as we round the corner of the building, nearly slamming into the wall. The policeman is still standing where we left him, now slowly advancing forward with a gun in hand. He lowers it after firing into the air—he wasn’t trying to kill us.

One step, two steps, and he’s getting closer to us, but now we have rounded the corner, and I can no longer see him in my field of vision.

A heavy feeling settles deep within me at the realization that he might not have been an officer after all, but I don’t voice my thoughts.

What if he is associated with Emilio? The thought of it makes bile rise up my throat.

Adrenaline fuels my steps as I push forward, staying close behind Grey.

“The train goes in two minutes,” Grey grumbles.

It’s hard finding our way inside the massive building, but the signs overhead guide us, along with the last passengers overhead entering the train.

Distant rumbling echoes in my ears as the conductor prepares for departure. With a last surge of desperation, knowing this is our only chance, we sprint toward the platform just as the train’s doors begin to close. With barely a second to spare, we slip through, the hissing sound of the doors sealing shut behind us.

The world outside blurs as the train pulls away and picks up speed. There, on the platform, stands none other than the officer, a murderous glint in his eyes as he stares at us through the train’s window. We made it through.

And finally, we are on our way to Everlee’s book signing in London.

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