Chapter 82

Celeste

I was ready to go home. Today had been a long day and I honestly didn't want to be at school anymore. All I wanted was to get into my comfortable pajamas and watch cheese romantic comedies.

I checked the time on my phone. Jack was late again. And I was, once again, a sitting duck. I glanced around nervously as the world became darker and darker. I could have called Matt, but by the time he got here, I could have already walked home.

I would just have to be extra, extra careful. I could do that. All it would take is to keep away from alley entrances. I'd pull my hoodie over my hair. I'd even brought a scarf today in case this happened to cover my face. I would look like any other student walking home.

I pulled up the hood, stuffing my hair inside it before wrapping the scarf around my neck. It wasn't quite cold enough to merit all of these layers, but I'd rather melt than get kidnapped. I could always cool down later. I couldn't magically come back to life if I were killed.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and began walking, keeping my head down and my ears open. If I heard so much as a pebble move, I'd start running. Not that running had done me much good last time. Maybe I should have asked Jack for one of his guns.

I laughed to myself. Jack barely let me have a cell phone. There was no way he was giving me a gun. Even if it was for my own protection. He would probably be afraid I'd shoot myself with it.

And to be fair, he'd be right to worry. I wasn't exactly known for precision. Or reacting well in these types of situations. Maybe if he hadn't coddled me so much…but it was too late for that.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen quickly. It was Jack. Normally I would have answered it, but I didn't want him to distract me. It would be just my luck that I would get grabbed due to inattention to detail.

I sent Jack to voicemail. He'd be angry, of course. But it was his own damn fault for not being there on time. He couldn't blame me for not wanting to wait out in the open.

I sighed. Yes, yes he could. And would. I knew I was in for an earful as soon as he got home. He might actually never leave my side after this.

I was halfway home before I realized it. My hair stood on end. This is where the man had appeared last time. I picked up my pace, my ears straining for any sounds other than my own footsteps.

I skirted past an alley, going as far away as I could without going into the street. I eyed it suspiciously, peering into the dark. A light shifted as I walked by, illuminating a pair of glowing, yellow eyes.

I froze, unable to move. I knew I should move, do anything other than stare, but I couldn't get myself to do anything other than watch those eyes come closer. They were intense…and hungry.

I wondered if the bear had come for me this time. There had been so many attacks around campus lately. I had almost forgotten there were other things that went bump in the night.

A paw appeared out of the alley, the shadows sliding back like a curtain. A stray black cat came up to me and sat, silently asking for food. I let out a shaky laugh and bent down to pet it.

It purred loudly as I scratched under its chin. I felt bad that I didn't have any food to give it. I bit my lower lip as I straightened up, guilt making my heart ache. Should I just grab it and take it home?

The distant sound of running feet reached my ears and I jumped, startling the cat. It ran back the way it had come, disappearing into the darkness of the alley. I guess I wouldn't be getting a cat.

The footsteps were getting closer. In a blind panic, I ran, not paying attention to where I was going. I just needed to keep enough distance between me and them. To be honest, it could have just been a late night jogger, but I didn't care. Better safe than sorry.

As I turned the corner, I ran into someone, bouncing off of them and onto the ground.

"I'm so sorry," I said, picking myself up and brushing the dirt off of my hands and onto my jeans. "I didn't see you there. I hope I didn't hurt you too bad."

"Don't worry, Celeste. You didn't."

It felt like my blood turned to ice. I finally looked up, slowly, like I was in a monster movie, and into the eyes of the man that had been following me for the past few days.

I opened my mouth to scream, but he roughly grabbed the back of my head and placed his other one over my mouth.

"I don't want to hurt you, Celeste. But I will do what I have to if it means you'll listen to me. Do you understand me?" He said and it was like the desperate man I'd seen a few days ago was gone, replaced by a calm and collected copy. I didn't know which was scarier.

The man shook me and I swear my brain rattled in my skull. "I said, do you understand me?"

I closed my eyes as I nodded, dizziness making my head swim.

"Okay, I'm going to remove my hand. Do not scream," he commanded and I kept my lips shut.

"Alright. Now give me your phone. Quickly, now."

I handed him my phone with shaking hands. Without looking at it, he slammed it on the ground, shattering it into pieces.

"I'm sorry to do this, Celeste, but you can't know where you're going. And we have to hurry. Your brother is almost here," the man told me as he slipped a cloth bag over my head.

It wasn't until my world went dark that I registered what he'd said. Jack was almost here. There was still a chance I could be saved.

The man threw me over his shoulder and I started to struggle. Who cared if I fell from this height. A broken arm was a much better option than going to a second location with this man. Isn't that what all the crime podcasts warned against? Your chances of survival lowered if they were taking you to a second location.

"I wish it hadn't come to this, Celeste. I really do," the man sighed and before I could ask what he was talking about, I was hit in the head hard enough that I blacked out. The last thing I heard was Jack calling my name.