The bus hissed as it came to a stop ,the doors folding open like a sigh.
The Night air of Crescent City kissed my skin ,cool ,salted ,unfamiliar.
I stepped down with a single backpack slung over my shoulder,gripping its strap like it was the last steady thing I owned.
My name is Ava Cole, and three hours ago I ran away from the life I thought I was safe in .
The city was louder than I expected.Cars honked,neon lights buzzed and music drifted from a bar across the street.
People walked with purpose ,moving fast ,like they had somewhere important to be .
I didn't.
I only had somewhere to escape from.
I exhaled shakily and pulled my phone from my pocket .
As expected, no message , no missed calls,
Nothing form him
Good,or maybe terrifying.
I looked around the street again.The buildings were talk and dark, but the city lights painted the pavements in warm gold. I needed to find the small café I was supposed to work at ,a tiny place called "The morning bell", where the owner agreed to hire me with no reference ,no questions, no past.
Exactly what I needed.
I dragged my suitcase behind me ,the wheels clicking over rough concrete ,The sound loud enough to make me flinch every few seconds.
When I finally reached the café, it was closed for the night, but a single light glowed inside.
I peered through the windows . A woman in her forties ,hair in a messy bun , I looked up ans saw me , she came to the door an unlocked it. " you must be Ava" she said warmly ." I'm Margie ".
Her voice was the first soft thing I'd heard in weeks. I nodded , unable to speak for a moment. " you're safe now", she added , touching my shoulder gently.
I nearly cried, but I swallowed it down.
Margie showed me the small room upstairs,barely big enough for a bed and a desk .To me , it felt like heaven .Four walls . A lock. A space that belonged to nobody else.
I showered , changed into an oversized shirt and opened the window to feel the city breeze.
Crescent city smelled like rain, cinnamon from the bakery down the street, and fresh possibility. I sat on the bed, that's when it buzzed (my phone)
My heart froze
One new message
unknown number
"Found you"
The phone slipped from my fingers and hit the floor ...
No...No it couldn't be .
I scrambled forward , grabbed the phone with shaking hands and opened the message.
But the number ….it wasn't his.
It wasn't familiar at all
Before I could react , another message arrived. " look outside your window ".
My breath caught
My fingers trembled as I turned slowly ,inch by inch ,toward the window.
A man stood across the street
Talk.still.watching
Not moving ,not blinking
The streetlight above him flickered,casting shadows across his face .I couldn't see his features clearly ,but I saw enough….
Broad shoulders ,Diamond defined face,Black coat ,Hands in pockets. Unmistakably focused on me.
Who was he ?
What did he want ?
I stumbled back from the window,heart pounding in my throat. Then the man turn around and walked away calmly ,disappearing into the night as if he'd never existed. My phone buzzed again
"Welcome to crescent city, Ava"