ing a sticky residue on my skin and a s

ing against my chest, dialing every significant number,

Voicemail. M

lip was covered with blood; somewhere along the line, I had bitten t

mumbled, fighting for

amed. A car swerved and missed me by inches. The driver cur

id wa

e was

at was

near me, its windows as da

r window humm

roe?" a vo

nreadable

fighting against the we

his shapes. Tailored black suit. Unmoving stare. There was n

nswered, his words cutting thr

e just stretched across the b

ation

at me to run, fight, and claw my way out. But every critical p

was eve

d over my

vacant streets and onlookers who

teeth, I sl

ed with a soft

ut to tell you," the man mumbled as the

ide the car, thick

e door, holding my u

" the guy explained, his gaze never leaving the roa

truck harder

plied. "H

" State the t

ready to spit fire, but hi

re no longer listed. The school's system froze. You co

ch turned

w all this?" M

"Because I blocked the petition." Froz

grew, black

pered. "Why wo

into a half-smile

more important

unching over the old cobblestone alley

te elevator sleek, brus

p.

the pace. My heart wo

open, it was like ent

nt. Its floor-to-ceiling glass walls surrounded a city s

ered by us, bringing a tray of folded linen. She di

ow knew my name, kid, and fa

ff the main living

he

ten on a leather couch, clu

Asleep.

it, I had fal

, holding her smal

Relief washed over me so

repeating prayers I had stop

iet, his hands tucked behind hi

. Gratitude and somethin

t he call

y, Sadie still w

fronte

l the cops?" My vo

id not

d not

se people like me

at of

e things..

round us as I sat stiffly on th

o tumblers. He put one next

tired," he

out fun. "I l

studying me like a

enjoy most abou

ion was ab

the window,

said finally. "Predi

his words slicing t

self little for him.

cary appeare

sked the words cutting ac

d not

protect wh

pau

now, y

partment, Cole unlocked a door

pic

ll

ili

anothe

ther

ot

t S

is first famil

ll, but the hurt

stated. "She vanished before I could stop

anger emanated f

have pul

have prote

t of me saw the s

matche

served

whi

Sco

tea, steaming

touched as he

static leape

nstinctively,

d not

t wa

nths, a guy touched me wi

t causi

d the knot

want from me?"

h was so close that it made t

became lo

you're afra

velope as I grabbed Sadie in

e: A c

l. Pr

s: Temporary Pa

it with s

. Residency.

l appe

ntr

ner

omach

I said, throwing th

d not

ve years ago," he explained quietl

ustomer cannot fall in lo

a chill sinkin

ed up a

appens i

gerously, as if each step show

you d

jaw and traced my

k more than t

es pier

ll bre

walls, the city

shutter sna

tch

iti

was only get