Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75015 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
The security guard on duty had run off to the bathroom. No one could figure out how they’d gotten into the building. Many assumed they snuck in during business hours somehow and just waited for the right opportunity to strike. I was shaken after the attack. My eye was swollen and blackened for days. My rib had been fractured. My confidence was gone with all of my valuables.
After the assault, I had to go to therapy to deal with the trauma. There were moments I never wanted to leave home. Others where I wanted to sink into the floor and be swallowed whole. How could two people do that? Attack a defenseless woman for no reason? Ruin her in the short span of thirty seconds? Because that’s all it took for them to do a psychological number on me. Thirty seconds.
I’d read a lot of forums about what happened after people were attacked, women raped or assaulted, or others almost being kidnapped. This led me down a rabbit hole where I found a community of victims who swore that taking defense classes and buying a gun made them feel more secure. So that’s what I did. I started with the classes. Learned how to fight. Then, eventually, I walked into a gun store and bought one. That quiet community was correct. I felt much better walking around this world knowing I could protect myself no matter where I was.
Regaining a bit of confidence, I started up my walk again. I was being really paranoid. Attacks like that didn’t happen often. My community reminded us of that, every chance it could. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. It could’ve happened to anyone.
Relief sunk in when I reached a clearing in the forest. Off to the right was a view of the lake again. I took the right, hurrying toward the nearest bench and sitting. I glanced over my shoulder, just to be sure no one was following me.
No one was.
I faced forward, closed my eyes, and drew in a breath. Inhale. Exhale.
Just like my therapist had taught me.
When I felt well enough, my eyelids fluttered open. There was a dock nearby. I hadn’t noticed it before in my haste, but someone was sitting on the edge of it. The mist was thicker, so the person looked more like a dark blob in the distance. I frowned as they looked my way. The mist made it difficult to see them clearly. I stood up and stepped closer to make sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me.
Slowly, their details became visible. The figure was wearing an all-black T-shirt, jeans, and had short hair.
“Hey,” the person called out, pulling their legs up and rising to a stand.
I stumbled backwards as they walked in my direction.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Once again, my fingers twitched, ready to grab hold of my gun. But grabbing it was unnecessary. It was only a girl. Her skin was deep brown, and she had a buzz cut. She wore glasses and looked so thin it seemed she was malnourished. Her feet were bare and wet as she approached me with a wide smile. She couldn’t have been any older than sixteen or seventeen.
“Hey—oh, sorry!” She glanced at the gun holster attached to my hip, throwing her hands up. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” She shifted on her feet like she was ready to bolt. Clearly, I was the dangerous one to her.
“That’s alright.” I forced a smile at her and cocked my hip left a bit, so the gun wasn’t as threatening.
She forced a smile back at me, glancing at the gun again. “You know, it’s smart to carry these days. You just never know sometimes. I want one when I’m older.”
I pressed my lips together.
She focused on the lake again. “It probably looks weird that I’m just sitting out here while it’s all gloomy looking. Like the start of a horror movie or something, right?” She giggled.
“No, that’s your business.” I laughed. “It’s none of mine.”
“I’ve never seen you around here before. Are you renting the cottage?” she asked. “Twilight Oaks?”
I nodded. “I am.”
“So, you’re Rose, then.”
I hesitated and it took everything in me not to frown. “How do you know that?”
“I saw your name in the confirmation emails. Nothing weird or anything!” She threw her hands in the air, feigning innocence. “I live with Alex. He’s the one who rents the place out. We stay in the blue house along the main path.”
“Oh, okay!” I lowered my guard. So, Alex Reed lived in that house. Interesting. “That makes sense. What are you doing all the way over here?”
“I dunno. Just wanted to take a walk. Needed some air. Things have been weird at home. When it gets like that, I like putting my feet in the water and pretending I’m on vacation or something.” She gave me an uneasy smile. I sensed that wasn’t all she wanted to say.