Page 28 of Born in Depravity

CATALINA

The feelingthat I was being watched came over me as I stepped over a cement block placed in front of a car in the parking lot.

I didn’t know why I’d been feeling this way all morning, but it was starting to freak me out. The three men from the diner popped up in my mind.

It was merely a coincidence that I ran into two of them at the gas station and then the diner. Nothing more.

I was being way too paranoid.

It didn’t help my paranoia that they paid for my meal.

Why would they do that?

The men and even women in my world didn’t do anything for anyone unless there was something in it for them.

But I had nothing to offer them.

I sped up my walk.

It was barely past one o’clock in the afternoon and the Arizona sun was beating down on me. I could feel sweat clinging onto the skin at the back of my neck. I was scared, paranoid, and really hot.

Almost to my truck. Just a few more steps …

Finally.

I let out a small sigh of relief when I got the driver’s door open. A shadow loomed over me before I could even climb in.

I only managed a small gasp before I felt a prickling on my neck. My knees gave out and my vision tunneled. I could feel my heart slowing down, even with the panic trying to claw its way out of my throat.

My last coherent thought wastrouble.

I was in trouble.

* * *

Sweat coated my forehead.

I was unbearably hot.

I let out a small, frustrated breath.

Where was I?

I tried to think back to the last thing I remembered, but I came up blank.

How strange.

Did I… did I hit my head?

My body felt heavy, like there was something pressing down on me and I couldn’t remove it.

“You’re awake.”

My heart raced at the sound of the familiar accented voice nearby.

I held my breath.

This couldn’t be happening to me.

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