Page 34 of Taking Adalisa

What happened for her to deteriorate and hallucinate? Was it seeing the first stuffed zebra? Did her mind start playing tricks on her then? I know it doesn’t help that she hasn’t been sleeping much, which is why I suggested sleeping pills to help.

“You are going to get better,” I mutter.

She has to. I need Margery in my life. I need her to get better so we can do things outside of work. I need her to get better so she can come back to work, and I won’t have to do this on my own. We agreed when we became friends that we would stick by each other's side, and we are going to do that.

That is not the only problem I have in my life. Matthias is another one. I haven’t worn the bracelet since that day, and I keep finding notes in my apartment telling me to wear it during the day at the very least. What is Matthias so worried about? That something is going to happen to me?

Sighing, I lock up the shop and head toward the bakery. This is one of the few bakeries that stays open late and that I’m willing to eat from and trust the food. I try not to go there often, but today I need it. Things are not going the way I want them to go at all.

“Welcome to Cherie’s Bakery!” a young woman greets me as I walk in.

I smile and stop in front of the display, looking over what they have left. What do I want? “Too many choices?” the girl asks.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “I normally get the chocolate chip muffin, but you are all out of it. I’ve tried the apple pie, but it isn’t my favorite.”

“Go with the banana muffin,” a deep voice I know all too well says in my ear.

“Matthias,” I sigh once again.

“You aren’t wearing the bracelet like I told you to.” His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me into him.

The girl’s eyes are wide as she stares at Matthias, and I don’t blame her. I was the same when I first saw him. Thankfully, he doesn’t have his eyes set on her, or I would feel bad for her and tell her to run away as fast as possible.

I turn around and glare at him. “I don’t need to wear it. No one is going to know what a silver bracelet means. Everyone has one.”

“Not like that one,” he replies. “It will keep you safe if anything were to happen. Everyone in my world knows what the bracelet means, and they won’t do anything if they see it.”

I chuckle. “And what if someone hurts me who isn’t in your world? The bracelet would have done nothing.”

He pins me with a stare, but I don’t back down. His logic is flawed. Sure, people in his world are everywhere, but the likelihood of them knowing and hurting me is slim.

“We’ll take two banana muffins.” Matthias looks at the young woman.

“And a coffee with some milk and sugar, please.” I smile sweetly at her. “Thank you.”

Matthias grabs my hand, pulling me close to him once again. I glare at him but don’t pull away. Are the people in this bakeryhispeople? Will they just smile and pretend like nothing is happening if I struggle?

I hate that I’m thinking that, but while his grip isn’t hurting me, I know it’s going to take a lot to get out of. I need to think long term. Will I exhaust myself right now and him then do something to me later?

“Here you are.” The girl hands our order over the counter. “It’ll be twenty dollars.”

I reach into my purse to grab money, but Matthias beats me to it.

“Don’t even think about arguing with me about who is paying,” he growls quietly. “I am paying, and you will accept it.”

I leave my wallet in my purse and take my food and drink, walking out of the store without waiting for Matthias. I don’t want to be close to him. If I can get away from him before he can catch, me I’ll be good.

I walk down the side of the road, making my way home. Or maybe I should head to the park and throw Matthias off. He probably thinks I’m going home, and if he sees that I’m not, he won’t know where I am. I quickly change directions, keeping my head down.

“You didn’t really think you could get away from me, did you?” Matthias asks, walking right next to me.

Groaning, my head tips back as I look up at the sky. How did he already find me?

“Do you have a tracker on me or something?” I ask, looking at Matthias.

“No, and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you,” he replies. “But right now I don’t. You are predictable in what you are going to do. I figured you wouldn’t be going home, so I thought for a second. Then I saw you duck your head, and I just knew.”

Great. Why did I have to try to outsmart him? Why couldn’t I have just not gone and been safe in my house?

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