Chapter 35: Book

I stood at the checkout counter moving mechanically. This job required no thought, which was good because my mind was zipping through countless scenarios where I could have saved Mila's life. It always came down to two things: I trusted too easily and I wasn't brave enough. I wished I could be like my sister. She seemed so confident and so knowledgeable. I needed to learn from her so nothing like this happened again.

I was the last one in the store again. I hated working last shift, but I had no choice. It came with a little pay bump. I stepped out into the night air. I was glad my car was working again, but I had left it for Lanie to use. It was another walk in the dark home for me. My eyes shifted from side to side as I walked through the parking lot. I was getting that feeling again, like it was okay if the darkness got me. I was pretty worthless, after all. But nothing seemed to appear. No black clouds, no burning embers, no shadow man tonight. Everything was just normal. It was a