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Present day
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As Rose put her books in her backpack, she could have sworn someone was behind her. She whipped her head around to see the shadow of someone sneaking behind the corner. She quickly picked up her backpack and headed outside to meet Spencer, like she did every day.
While heading to the parking lot, she felt a presence looming behind her. She turned around, clutching her cell phone in her hand. Indistinct features were covered up by a baggy black hoodie, oversized sunglasses, and . . . a mask? Shading her eyes from the bright sunlight with her hand, she squinted to try to make out the person’s features better. But as she squinted, they disappeared.
Rose turned around, glancing both ways down the sidewalk, but she didn’t see anyone wearing a dark hoodie and sunglasses. She blinked rapidly a few times. They must have gone into one of the cars in the parking lot. She hadn’t been able to tell which direction they went because the glaring sunlight made it impossible to see clearly.
She continued into the parking lot, where Spencer had been waiting for her, already in his car. Rose climbed into Spencer’s car, threw her backpack into the backseat, and buckled her seatbelt.
“Drive!” she commanded.
With a bewildered expression, Spencer turned to her. “Wh—”
“GO!”
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Rose rolled her eyes. He knew better than to question her. After a slight hesitation, he obliged her wishes by backing out of the parking lot and heading down the road toward her house.
“Someone was following me,” she whispered.
Spencer slammed on his brakes. “What? Who?” He glanced in the rearview mirror as if he was trying to see the person she was talking about.
Rose shook her head, and her wavy, red hair shrouded her face. “I don’t know. They followed me from my locker out to the parking lot. It’s so bright out I could barely tell it was a guy. He was wearing a dark hoodie and sunglasses with a mask on, so I couldn’t see his face.”
“Are you sure?” Spencer asked, driving again.
“Mmhmm. I think I know when someone’s following me.” Rose bit her lip and glanced behind them.
“Why would someone be following you?”
“I don’t know!”
“Okay, geez. I’m only trying to help.”
“Sorry. I’m freaked out. I didn’t mean to take it out on you,” Rose apologized.
“It’s okay. Should we call the police? Or tell your parents? What do you want to do? Could it have something to do with Lily?”
Waves of ice-cold fear washed over her at the mention of her younger sister. It couldn’t be connected to Lily. Whatever this was, it had nothing to do with her.
“No! This isn’t about her. She’s gone, Spencer. Just forget it.”