Page 16 of Fight Or Flight

“Sure.” The driver sat back in his seat, pulled out a magazine.

“Good.”

She hurried up the sidewalk toward the office. There weren’t many people milling about, but she still put on her sunglasses and kept her head low.

She was nearly at the front door when something caught her attention. It was a young blond woman stepping out of a rusty red car parked in the river of luxury vehicles lining the street.She was wearing a sunflower printed dress over a yellow T shirt with white socks and black combat boots. She seemed far too artsy and way too interesting to fit into an oppressively perfect place like Mapleton.

As she walked closer, she looked more and more familiar. Then Natalie finally recognized her. The last time she’d seen her younger half sister, Chelsea was only twelve.

“Chelsea?”

Chelsea’s head snapped over, her bright-blue eyes stabbing at Natalie. She squinted through the sunlight before recognition came. “Oh my god, Natalie?”

Chelsea closed the three steps between them in record time and grabbed Natalie in a viselike grip. “I haven’t seen you since I was, like, twelve.”

Natalie returned the hug, adding a little pat to her back before pulling away. She didn’t know whether Chelsea would be happy to see her. She’d thought about her over the years, wondered what she was up to. But she always stopped short of actually reaching out. “I know. It’s been a while. What are you doing here?”

Chelsea let her go but kept staring at her with those innocent blue eyes. “I got a message from Mr. Speeler asking me to come today. He told me that Grandma wanted you to spread her ashes.”

“Yeah. It’s done.”

“Did it go okay?”

Natalie nodded. Spreading the ashes hadn’t been as difficult as she thought. It actually felt good to carry out Elizabeth’s wishes for her.

Getting attacked and fleeing the woods without the urn was another story. The homeless forest dweller and his band of venomous snakes had been on her mind ever since. She had to admit, she was grateful that he got her out alive. But she wasequally annoyed that he lectured her on her clothing choices. She may have been able to forgive him for that—it was a ridiculous outfit for the woods, after all. But then he tried to take her stick.

Unacceptable.

Besides, who the hell was that comfortable around such vicious creatures? A weirdo, that’s who.

Natalie looked at Chelsea, who was studying her with hard eyes that Natalie thought looked too old for a twenty-two-year-old.

“You still don’t talk too much, eh?”

Natalie shrugged her shoulder and let the corner of her mouth form a half smile. “What have you been up to?” Natalie asked.

“Oh . . . uh . . .” Chelsea looked up and down the street. “I’m in film school.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, it’s fun. But it’s been challenging. I’ve had some setbacks. But I’m finally in my last semester. I’ll be finished soon. What about you?”

“I’ve been working as a tour guide in Europe. But I’m moving to Australia next month.”

“That’s incredible. I haven’t been able to travel anywhere.”

“I’m sure you’ll have more opportunity after you graduate.”

“Yeah . . .”

“Maybe you could come on one of my tours? It’s eighteen-to-thirty-five-year-olds, so you’d be with people your age. And you’d get to meet people from all over the world.”

Chelsea took a breath as if she was going to say something, but didn’t. The conversation stalled out and became awkward. What did you say to a half sibling you abandoned a decade ago and barely knew?

Natalie walked a few steps and reached for one of the huge black door handles. She swung the door open and let Chelsea in, then followed her.

As soon as she walked in, she saw him.

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