ge your mind,”

confused. “

” He looked down at her with his blue eyes gleam

lt warm with sel

he door and Aliyah quickly

these words. It’s like he’d accepted a near-impossible cha

*

ir mattress and blankets she’d brought. She sat cross-legged on the mattress with her phone playing a tv series she’d just recently

nder her sweatpants and huddled under the blankets. She wasn’t exactly comfortable, but s

ined his power as mayor, though that was just a guess. But that type of thing seemed likely. She also wondered why he'd drank two glasses of wine during a business meeting to discuss their contract. It seemed

only seen portrayed in movies. But the way he stayed so quiet, only answering her questions with other questions. What was that

e going to truly take her seriously. That’s all

closed her eyes to try to fall asleep. Eventua

*

e empty bedroom, Aliyah heard shouts of laughter drifting through the h

phone to see t

voices. Alyiah froze for a moment, unsure what she should do. Suddenly, she he

e muffled voices and rambunctious laughter moving u

ross the hall. She crouched down on the floor in the closet, her breath quickening.

he couldn’t make out what he was saying,

patcher finally answered. “

are people in the house. I’m at Charles

in a safe

. I can hear someone

ess and a couple of bags on the ground. Aliyah heard

I’m here,

” the dispatcher replied. “I’ve g

her mouth to quieten it. She grew hot with adrenaline and her

st for her to hear any real words. She could only hear her breath and th

ered, scooting as far back

o. But they were lighter, unhurried. And then there was the voice again, clearer now, right

ce reverberating through the wood floor and into her bone

the closet door flew

on?” the dis

He loomed over her with a sneaky smile creeping across hi

the dispatcher, but s

an jeered. And the other fo

person, only the thin black-h

ome on out of th

hrink back more,

with one hand, and with the other, he jerked her p