Page 11 of Reclaimed

It’s fucking empty.

Well… almost.

A torn piece of bandana lies discarded on the mattress. My eyes narrow as I pick it up and roll it between my fingers, crimson staining my skin in the process. It's still fresh, so she can't be far.

I turn to leave, barely making it two steps before a loud clatter echoes behind me. I whip around, crossing the room in three strides and ripping back the curtains.

A rusted metal ladder sways beneath the open window, a set of hazel eyes peering back at me from the bottom rung.

Found you, little stray.

5

JERSEY

A311

The crack of a gunshot echoes from the hall, my spine going rigid at the sound, one hand hovering above the doorknob. Pressing my eye to the peephole, my heart seizes in my chest at the sight of the guy who’d hit on me earlier slumped over. My gaze snaps from his lifeless body to the hulking figure with a predatory grin carved into his face. Dressed in all black, he stalks toward the door, a tattooed hand reaching up to adjust his vest.

Not just any vest, one with a skull and dagger emblem stitched on it.

Oh fuck.

Fuck.

My pulse kicks into overdrive as I whip around and sprint for the bedroom. Tearing back the curtains, my fingers fumble with the stupid window latch as I pry it open, every nerve ending in my body screaming at the sickening familiarity of my motions.

With practiced precision, I swing a leg through my bedroom window, the worn sole of my favorite Vans finding the top rung of the fire escape with ease. My other leg follows, and as quietly as possible, I descend to the dimly lit alley below.

There's no way I'm missing the Retrograde concert. Especially since Cody and Zeke are going to be there.

"Hurry up!" Hannah whisper-shouts. "We'll miss the subway!"

"No," I say, jumping down. "We won't."

Linking arms, we start running towards the subway station.

"Wait!" I shout as I throw my arm between the closing doors of a train car.

They slide back open, and we push inside, collapsing against the bench as we try to catch our breath. We get a few side-eyed glances from people as we jerk forward and surge towards downtown Northbrooke.

"How do I look?" I ask, running a hand through the 'effortless' waves I spent an hour perfecting.

"So hot," Hannah smirks. "If Zeke doesn't ask you out, I will."

"Stop," I roll my eyes and give her a playful shove. "I'm so freaking excited for tonight."

"Same. I'm so glad you decided to sneak out."

"Hush!"

"Oh, like anyone here cares!"

"You're right," I sigh. "I just don't want my dad finding out."

"He won't," Hannah reassures. Unscrewing a tube of lipgloss, she swipes it across her lips before holding it out towards me as she asks, "What was his deal, anyways?"

I pluck it from her fingers, doing the same. The sugary sweet smell of cherries floods my senses and I have to resist the urge to lick it off as I hand it back.