Chapter 12: The Car

Ava

~~~

Sinclair goes to the mansion without me.

I stand outside the studio, a jacket draped over my shoulders, trying hard not to scream.

Does he just expect I’d find my way?

“Fucking Sinclair,” I mutter under my breath. But just before I mumble another curse, something parked in the corner catches my eye.

With a gasp, I realize it’s the car.

It’s a blue Jeep with odd tyres, so distinct I know I’ve seen it before.

I peer over my shoulder, wondering if Sinclair had come back for me.

Nope.

With nothing else to do, I walk over, my heels clicking against the pavement.

When I get to the car, it’s empty. The only thing inside is a mess: snack bags, plastic bottles, and a dollar-sign air freshener hanging from the mirror.

I stumble back.

No.

It can’t be.

There’s only one person I know who had that exact air freshener dangling from their blue car.

Could it be… him?

The sun is suddenly too hot, the air too thick. I feel like I might pass out if I don’t find shade.

No. No. No. No. No.

A hand g