Page 30 of Unnatural
For now.
Would they pay a visit to her home? Maybe. She’d deal with that when the time came. She’d even give the files back. After she’d scoured every piece of information.
She turned the corner toward the sign for the subway that would deliver her to the bus she’d taken into the city. She’d read her file as soon as she was safely seated in the back and headed home. Would it contain anything she didn’t already know? Something worth noting that no doctor had ever mentioned to her?
And what if there isn’t?
She’d been so fearful as she’d stolen her file, but now she was even more afraid the theft had been pointless.
She patted her bag as she hurried toward the subway stairs at the end of the block.If there’s nothing here, will you give up your search for answers? For the meaning behind your suffering?
Could she?
Is it time?
She picked up her pace, practically running again.
No.
No, I could not. It’s not in my makeup.
She thrust her shoulders back, determination filling her. No, she would not give up no matter what, because not doing so was important. She felt that. She knew it with every fiber of her being.
A sudden wind whipped up, causing her to turn her head. Across the street and up a ways, a man’s ball cap flew off, and Autumn’s heart nearly stopped. She gasped and turned, her neck craning as she watched him rush ahead and then scoop it off the ground where it’d landed before replacing it on his head.
His head of silvery-white hair, the color of moonlight.
It can’t be. It can’t be. Oh my God!
The world took up spinning again, the first two rotations overly fast and erratic, making Autumn feel as if she should grab something stable. She noted his size, a full head above the other men on the street, and the bronze tone of his skin.The world isn’t spinning, Autumn. You are. Now pick up your feet andmove.
She did, running across the street as a car stopped short of hitting her, its brakes squealing. She leaped for the curb, losing sight of him in the bustling crowd, weaving betweenpeople, and then stepping out into the street again—being mindful of cars this time—to get a better view.
She didn’t see him anywhere.
Her heart pounded, panic making her feel like screaming his name. But she didn’t know his name. She didn’t even know if it washim.
How could it be?It’s impossible.
You’re standing here on a street corner in New York, twenty-three years old and healthy.Nothingis impossible.
She pushed back into the crowd, again moving in the direction he’d gone, jumping sporadically in an effort to see above the people in front of her, some of whom were much taller.
She came to a four-way intersection, her heart sinking when she saw neither hide nor hair of the very large man with the red ball cap.
No, wait. There he is.
She squinted, heading toward a less busy neighborhood. The groups of people walking that way were much sparser, the larger crowd continuing on in the direction of the subways and the lines of taxi cabs, the office buildings, and the restaurants.
She saw a tall head far down the block, second-guessing herself when she began to move toward it. How could he have possibly gotten that far away in such a short amount of time?
Because he has legs twice as long as yours, that’s how.
The light turned green, and Autumn hurried across the intersection. There were smaller retail shops on this street and a large church up ahead. Now that the crowd had thinned, Autumn picked up her pace, jogging in the direction where she thought she’d seen his head.Even if it’s not him, which it’sprobably not, you’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t find out.
She heard the sounds of children playing, laughter and joyful shouts, and realized that what she’d thought was a church was actually a school. She looked up at the name on the front of the building:Deercroft Academy.
Her breath became short as she stopped for another moment, peering up the street where there were very few people and the shops turned into row homes. Had he gone inside one of them?
