Chapter 2: Danger, Still

(Mani’s POV)

It was well past midnight when Carl dropped me off. His headlights swept across the cracked walls of my building before the car rolled to a stop. I opened the door and stepped out without saying much.

My whole body was sore, my hands were still shaking, but somehow, the emptiness was worse than either.

I shut the car door and watched him drive away, his taillights shrinking until they disappeared around the corner.

I stood there for another moment.

Then I looked down at myself. Carl's jacket hung loosely around my shoulders, far too big for me. The expensive scent clinging to it mixed unpleasantly with the cheap suppressants on my skin.

I pulled the jacket tighter.

I didn't want to think about what had happened tonight. I didn't want to think about Carl. I definitely didn't want to think about how my first time had gone, because I'd imagined it differently. Not some romantic fantasy where flowers rained from the ceiling, but at least something that meant more than being another thing a man wanted and took.

Carl had taken my virginity like he'd been checking something off a list.

I unlocked my door and slipped inside.

The apartment was exactly as I'd left it: cramped, quiet and worn enough that every piece of furniture looked like it had survived a war.

I kicked off my heels, and my feet immediately thanked me.

All I wanted was a hot bath.

Something warm enough to loosen the tension from my muscles. Something that might make tonight feel like something that had happened to somebody else.

I took one step toward the bathroom.

Bang!!

I froze.

Another hit shook the front door.

Bang!

My stomach dropped.

I turned toward the living room.

Three shadows stood beyond the thin curtains beside my door.

I couldn't tell how men were there.

Another impact rattled the entire frame.

Someone shouted from outside.

I didn't catch the words, I didn't need to, I just knew they'd found me.

How?

I didn't know.

I'd gotten away from the club. Carl had helped me. I'd gone straight home.

And yet here they were.

My gaze landed on the front door.

The lock wouldn't hold. I knew that. This building barely held itself together on a good day.

I moved quickly.

First, I switched off the lights, letting darkness swallow the apartment.

I crouched and listened.

Another crash.

The door groaned.

I knew I couldn't fight whoever was outside.

So I didn't waste time pretending I could.

I ran to my bedroom.

My knee slammed into the dresser.

Pain shot up my leg, but I bit it back and yanked open the drawer.

My fingers found the envelope immediately.

My savings.

Money I'd been putting aside for debts.

I stared at it for half a second, then grabbed it. I can't pay debt if I die.

I hastily grabbed the first dress my hand reached, and wore it over what I already have on.

CRASH!

The front door gave way, and my blood went cold.

“She's inside.”

I didn't wait to hear more. I shoved open my bedroom window.

Cold night air slapped my face.

The drop wasn't far, but it was far enough to hurt.

I climbed onto the sill, tightened my grip on the envelope and jumped.

I landed badly.

My palms scraped against the rough ground, sending a hot sting through both hands.

I pushed myself up immediately.

Run.

I tore through the alley behind the building.

Trash bins rattled as I brushed past them. A loose fence caught on my dress, and I ripped myself free without stopping to look back.

My lungs burned, my legs were already protesting. But I didn't care. I just kept running.

I turned down one alley, then another, choosing whichever path looked darker and less familiar. I wasn't thinking about where I was going.

Only where I wasn't going.

Home.

The club.

Anywhere those men might look.

I finally reached a main road and stumbled onto the pavement.

Cars passed in the distance.

For one terrible second, I thought I might have to keep running until my legs gave out.

Then headlights appeared around the corner.

A taxi.

I stepped into the road and waved both arms.

The driver slammed on the brakes. “What the hell are you doing?!”

“Sorry!”

I yanked the passenger door open and climbed inside.

The driver stared at my scraped palms, disheveled clothes and bare feet.

“Are you hurt?”

“Just drive.”

He frowned. “Where?”

I looked behind me and saw nothing. No shadows, no men.

“The train station,” I said. “Please.”

He hesitated before pulling away.

I sank into the seat. Only then did I realize how hard I was shaking.

The city passed outside the window in streaks of yellow and black.

Every time we stopped at a red light, I checked the side mirrors. CEvery car that stayed behind us for too long made my stomach knot. I expected someone to appear.

A black car, a gun, a bloody knife… anything.

Nothing came.

Eventually, the taxi pulled into the train station.

I practically threw the money at the driver.

“Keep the change.”

I was halfway out before he could respond.

The station was almost empty at this hour.

Good.

Empty meant anonymous.

I approached the ticket counter and tried to steady my breathing.

“One ticket to Ridgewood.”

The attendant looked at me. “Tonight?”

“Yes.”

He handed me the ticket.

I stared at it.

Ridgewood.

I'd never been there, never had any particular desire to go, but I'd heard enough about it to know it was far away. Busy. Loud. The kind of city where thousands of people could walk past you without ever noticing your face.

Exactly what I needed.

No planning. Just instinct.

I'd spent my whole life learning how to disappear. Maybe this time, I could do it properly.

I glanced down at the envelope still clenched in my hand.

My entire life was inside that little piece of paper and cash. Not much, but enough to get me away.

A train whistle sounded in the distance.

I followed the crowd toward the platform.

Then stopped.

For a moment, I thought about my mother. She was somewhere in Ridgewood. At least, that was what I'd heard.

The thought didn't bring warmth. It didn't bring excitement either. Just a dull ache I wasn't interested in examining.

I pushed it away.

I wasn't going to Ridgewood to find her. I was going there to disappear.

The train pulled into the station with a long metallic screech.

Doors opened.

People climbed aboard.

I tightened my grip on the ticket and stepped inside.

Whatever waited for me in Ridgewood, it had to be better than what I'd left behind.

At least, that's what I told myself as the doors closed.