I nervously usher him into the living room and go to the kitchen to get him water. When I return, I see his eyes wandering around the room and I wonder if he suspects anything. If he does, he doesn’t show it. He perches himself on one side of my couch and takes the cup of water from me. I don’t kn
KIAN’S POV Her warmth encircling me is everything—everything I’ve missed, everything I’ve craved and everything I thought I would never have again. With that one word, she has my knees so close to bending and has my rage at her disappearing into oblivion. I didn’t mean to be angry or to say those
LESLIE’S POV How I went three years without Kian is beyond anything I can comprehend. Before him, I felt like I was enough. I told myself often that I didn’t need anyone and if I’m being honest, it served me well. It made me focus, knowing that all I had was myself. Even with my found family co
LESLIE’S POV The blissful feeling instantly turns to horror at the sight of Cole. I know that his presence will change everything but I still hold on to the hope that the bond Kian and I have built in the last few days is strong enough to withstand this moment. I am to blame for Cole being here a
KIAN’S POVI walk past her and even though I know she is following, I don’t stop walking until I yank the front door open. Cole Tucker is still hovering around the house and he jumps, startled by the sudden movement at the door. “Hey, I was just about to leave.” He says, raising both hands in mock
LESLIE’S POV“You’re really not going to tell me what’s going on?”For someone who claims to be okay with me finally living life to the fullest after three years, Cole won’t stop hounding me with questions. Most of his questions are justified though since they all revolve around the singular and str
“What the hell is wrong with you?”“You won’t shut me out, Leslie. Start talking.” I drag my duvet up my body again, ignoring him. Big pain in the ass that he is, he yanks it off again. I yank it back from him and it suddenly becomes a game of him yanking it and me dragging it back from him. He dr
KIAN’S POVImmense relief floods me when I am told that I can finally get on the plane back home after spending not just any night at the airport but a really cold one. All because my flight got delayed for over fifteen hours.There was no exact reason or explanation given when I came in here last n
LESLIE’S POV I join Kian’s mother outside the room, closing the door behind me. She is still stewing in anger, face red with rage that’s waiting to be unleashed. Usually, I would do anything to pacify her so I wouldn't be at the receiving end of that unbridled rage. Now? Irritation is all I feel at
LESLIE’S POV (One Week Later) “If the police show up again, spray them in the face with the fire extinguisher or something.” Cole’s irritated voice filters through my phone’s speaker and it makes me crack a smile for the first time in a week. “Pretty sure I would get arrested for that.” “Not
LESLIE’S POV My reflexes work faster than they ever have. Fast enough to help me roll away, and bump into Beverly in the process. Mike relentlessly stalks towards me and that’s when I get a good look at his affected leg. I time his movement and before he can take another angry swing of his weapon
LESLIE’S POV Seconds after Beverly crumples to the ground, my breath is still caught in my throat. I’m still trembling as I watch her sprawled on the floor, body jerking uncontrollably. I’m amazed at my strength to still remain standing despite the traumatising scene in front of me. To still grip t
LESLIE’S POV Our hearts are already in our mouths before we see what jumped at us—a ginormous rat, every bit as scared as us. It runs at full speed and scurries into the nearby bush. “All clear.” She mutters and we both step into the shed using her phone’s flashlight. It’s a full shed; a bunch of
LESLIE’S POV We’re barely two minutes away from the abandoned school gate when the engine starts to sputter, the entire truck shaking with the intensity. “No…no…no…no, not now!” Beverly lets out a panicked groan. I am preoccupied with looking behind us to make sure we’re not being followed but at
LESLIE’S POV Kian doesn’t know it—the name of Mike’s sister. I can tell from the way his entire face has gone even paler than it was before. Earlier, it had been pale from the pain of the injuries from the accident that I still don’t know the extent of. Now, he has turned ashen from something m
LESLIE’S POV The sound of my name reaches me from somewhere distant. The sound is repeated just like the throbbing ache in my head. When I finally manage to pry open my eyes, the feeling of deja vu washes over me. My hands and legs are bound tightly just like three years ago in that warehouse.
BEVERLY’S POV The familiar beeping sound that comes from my phone causes me to jerk upright. My eyes train on the screen, following the movement of a blinking red dot on the map. He’s on the move. I slam a couple of bills on the coffee table before hurrying out of the cafe where I had been havi