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Ballad of Rioting Hearts

Page 43

by Misti Murphy

“What’s somewhere like that close to where you were tonight?”

“Um.” Her breathing has quickened. “There was a whole slew of clubs on one block about five minutes from where we were. But I don’t know if I’m headed in the right direction.”

“That’s okay. Don’t stop. Keep moving. Can you bring up maps? Or will you need to stop to do that?”

“I-I think I can manage.”

Up ahead emergency vehicles block half the road. The sidewalk is crowded. That’s where they were tonight. I see a flash of pink.

The bike shudders to a stop under me. Micah peels off, dumps the bike, and pushes through the crowd. “Kelsey, keep talking to me, sweetheart. I need to hear your voice to know you’re okay.”

“Um. I have the app open. I think... yes, I’m about four blocks from there.”

“Which direction?”

“I have to go East.”

One of the guys in a firefighter uniform comes over. “You need to keep moving.”

“Where’s the block with all the clubs?” I yell over the bike.

He frowns at me. “You need to move on.”

I don’t have time for this. I grab a fistful of his shirt. “Where?”

He points ahead of us.

I let him go. “I’m close, Kelsey. Almost there. Are they still following you?”

For a second it’s dead quiet. Something inside my chest screams. I push the bike to its limit. “Kelsey?”

“I’m still here.” Her breathing is even quicker than before.

“Are you alone?” I zoom past the block with all the clubs on it. People are streaming out onto the sidewalk. “Are you okay?”

“I tripped. Tore up my hand. Oh my God, you’re here.”

“What?” My heart stops.

“Thank God.” Her voice gets distant.

“Kelsey,” I shout. “Kelsey, who is there?”

“You are,” she comes in clear. “I’m going to hang up.”

“No. Listen...” please don’t hang up. “Kelsey! It’s not me. Whoever is with you. It’s not me. Run!”

“Then I’m way more drunk than I thought I was. Because it’s definitely you.”

Up ahead I see her. She has the phone to her ear and she’s staring into the shadows next to a building. I dump the bike and run to her in case whoever she was talking to is still here. “Where is he?”

“He ran,” she says.

“Which way?”

She points and I run past her in the direction she last saw the guy. But he’s gone.

I focus on Kelsey. Now that I know she’s safe, I hold her upper arms while I check her over. No extra bruises. Nothing bleeding. “He didn’t hurt you?”