Chapter 146

I hooked my keys on the little hanger right next to the stairs. I’d stuck around the mall until the shops started to close. I watched as employees pulled down their gates and said goodbye for the night. I stayed until the last showing of the movie theater let out a stream of people. The once packed garage of cars now was completely empty save for a group of cars that were most likely employees near the north end.

Even then, I didn’t go back to Thing right away. I walked around the streets. The still open shops and restaurants that worked past the nine o’clock were lighting up the roads that now had a light dusting of snow on them. I walked until my cheeks stung and my hands were cold in the pocket of my sweatshirt. There weren’t answers in walking though. Not that I was looking for them.

Raine and I got stuck in a loop of ‘what ifs’ without any proof and it seemed moot to continue going back and forth. I just didn’t feel like h