The Irrevocable Bargain

g had changed. The same tall buildings soared for the sky, the same busy streets were full of people, and the same heat st

l, but now that she was standing on the edge of the pavement, she felt lost. The people around her

s memories came back to her. The laughing. The promises. And then, the treachery. She fle

lly seeing them. She attempted to stay focused and control he

someone was looking at you. She halted in the middle of her step and looked at the fa

meone hiding, waiting for her to mess up? She suddenly turned to her left and stared at the person passing by. A guy. She couldn'

t be Al

was gone. Los

was nothing. It had to be. Houston was messing with her, bringing up memori

t a tiny table by the window, trying to escape for a little while. As she reached for her phone, her hands shook. Evelyn swiped to unlock the screen when it lit up, but there was

words were carve

ran down her spine and

? H

sat at a table, staring at his laptop. No one seemed to notice her upset, but her

e who might be the cause. Nothing. No one stuck out,

ouldn't disappear. She couldn't get rid of it. This perso

to do next. She could react and face them, but wha

e back in her bag. Not here; she couldn't let i

smile, but Evelyn didn't see him. Her thoughts were

the chill in her bones. She had to go. She couldn't stay here, couldn't stay

orld was going on around her, but she felt like she wasn't a part of it. The past, which she had tried so

t together were fleeting, delicate recollections that suddenly felt li

d on a weak basis. "I trusted you," he continued, his

appointed her. His eyes, which used to be full of love

e end of it all and the knowledg

eatened to overpower her. She fled not only because of what h

But leaving had never been the right thing

nt when she went

some cl

et be

p fast, and her heart skipped a beat. She thought sh

better look at him, he was gone, lost in the crowd. Her breath caug

as the perfect place to hide, quiet, isolated, and just out of sight. But even h

She felt a jolt in her chest whenever the floor creaked, or the wind rattled the blinds. She couldn't be s

he took it right away, and the message lit up the screen

ach drop. "I see you." You're not safe." She fell onto the couch, and the phone fe

ad to protect him. But how? Her phone buzzed again, a reminder of the peril

ic. "It's not too la

would

g from? Her gaze glanced toward the entrance, a heavyweigh

around her. Evelyn's motions were frenzied as she walked from window to window, checking th

s knew way too much. Her hand hovered over the door handle, but she couldn't open it. Every instinct shout

e. "It's not too late to go." The

o now? Where could she go? She felt vulnerable

yet. Evelyn had no idea what they wanted

hed got stronger. There wa