Then whip around. There’s nothing there.
It’s hard to take in air. My lungs feel constricted. But I race back to the car, hurrying inside, and lock the doors. Probably just an animal. Either way…it’s not safe to sit out here.
A sharp crack hits the side window, and I scream. Grip my throat. My pulse thunders in my ears as I scramble to grab my phone and press the one person I feel could save me.
“Hey, tulip—” His voice is warm. Steady. So soothing, I tear up.
“Apollo? Help me.”
The darkness fades in and out in front of me. My blinking hazard lights around the car, creating ominous shadows. Was that something moving? Or am I just going crazy?
“Wha— Where are you?”
“I’m out on state route one fifty. And…” I hold my breath at the sound of a click. I don’t know what it was.
“And what, baby?”
With a sinking feeling in my gut, I look at the doors…
They’ve been unlocked. I press the button again, but they unlock once more.
“And someone’s following me.”
A rock the size of a boulder slams against the windshield, spider-webbing the glass into a million cracks. Like a feral animal, I scratch at the steering wheel and shriek. My fingers fumble over the lock button, and I press it again.
It unlocks.
And again, and again. I’m in a battle with an unseen enemy.
I think I have mace in my glove box. I rip it open and almost go blind with panic. My head fills with cotton.
Inside sits?—
A lollipop in its plastic wrapper.
Dizziness swallows me whole. When I sit up, a murmur of Apollo’s voice brings me back.
“Stay with me! I’m almost there. Fuck! This light! I’m running it. Scout? Tulip? Hello? Fuck my life!”
“I’m-I’m here,” I say, but my teeth are chattering and myvoice comes out like a whisper. “Apollo?” I can’t help the crack that breaks through as I plead with him. “Help me.”
“Stay on the phone. Donothang up.”
I whimper as the locks bounce up again. My thumb presses against the button until it almost breaks under the pressure.
“Listen to me, Scout Griffin. I got you.”
His stern call out of my new name stuns me to the point I almost focus out of my terror.Scout Griffin…
I’ve never wanted to be her more than right now.
As I lift my blurry eyes to the rear-view mirror, every muscle in my body locks tight. A hooded figure looms in my back seat. And before I can move, scream, blink, or think…
It pulls a lollipop out of its darkened mouth with a pop.
And gives it a twirl.
I bolt. Not waiting to play the locking game again. I pull on the handle, throw the door open, and sprint down the road. The back door opens behind me, so I pump my legs faster, diving toward the misty woods.