nda

or Davies, drove me back to my apartment. As I hobbled out of the

trying to break in. She' s really shaken up. I couldn' t leave her alone. I' ll

ded attention. I stared at the message, a bitter laugh bubbling up in my throat. He was still

other. I'm fine. I kne

door to see Benjamin standing there, a large insul

gured you' d need a good meal after all this. I made your favorite – chicken noodle

w made me want to gag. My body remembered the pain, the shock, the trauma. And

not hungry," I s

o eat. You' re still so pale. Come on, let me set it up

told you I'

oma wafted out. It wasn't chicken noodle soup. It was a rich, creamy seafood bisque. My heart sank. I was high

sbelief. "You... you

k at me, his face slowly draining of color. "Seafood

meals. He had brought me, the girl he supposedly still cared about,

yes wide. "It' s Jenna!" he gasped, fumbling to answer. "Jenna? Are you okay? I' m

m starving! And my stomach feels awful! You promised me chicken noodle soup, not... not this f

. I' ll be right there! Don' t eat anything else! I' ll get you the right soup, I promise!"

voice cold as ice. "Just...

stepped back, my eyes blazing, and pointed to the door. "Go take

is hand, his eyes wide and pleading. But I simply closed the door

d out the necessary paperwork, confirmed my acceptance, signed the forms. The professor' s words rang in my ears: They believe

wanted to let you know, everything' s finalized for Pari

d, a genuine smile touching my

fternoon, heading to the registrar' s office to finalize

sign? Absolutely stunning. That phoenix mo

e taken with her work too, I he

he bitter taste in my mouth. Let them praise her.

he sky a brilliant blue. A delivery truck was parked at the

evens?" he

I said, walk

d you to sign here." He ge

dragging me backward. I struggled, my heart seizing with terror, but a sweet, cloying scent enveloped me, and the wor

ng I saw before blackness consumed me was the back of