Chapter Fifty-Three

Emma's POV

If someone found me out here, they would ask questions I couldn't answer right now. My footfalls were almost silent as I made my way through the underbrush, my breath visible in the early morning chill. Wrapping my arms tighter around me as I scanned my surroundings for any signs of life. The pre-dawn sky began to shift from inky black to a soft gradient of blue and orange. Relief washed over me as I finally saw the outline of my apartment building in the distance. The pace of my steps quickened, fueled by the need for the sanctuary of four familiar walls.

As I approached the front door, my heart sank when I saw Grace standing there, arms crossed and feet tapping impatiently. She had been waiting for me. Her expression morphed from worry to relief to irritation in a matter of seconds.

“What are you doing here, Grace?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady even though I felt far from it.

She gave me a strange look, her eyes narrowing slightly. “I wanted to check up on you