Page 49

Oh God.
Prayers had always been more of anideashe was only familiar with, having grown up with a set of parents who believed in playing it "safe" by offering to every god in every religion.
But even as a child, Summerine had always thought there was something wrong with her parents' examples. And in her heartof hearts, she always had this secret conviction that there was only one God—-
And You're there.
Right?
Because I have no one else to turn to.
So, please.
Please be there.
Summerine could barely hear her thoughts over the pounding of her heart. The best and worst thing about Evergreen, Texas was how spaced apart all of the ranches were. It was a place where one could enjoy privacy in ample ways...or feel helpless because of its isolated location.
Like now.
Their closest neighbor was miles away, and the farther she got away fromKagami, the darker and scarier everything seemed to be. The only shortcut she knew was through the cornfields, but since she had also watched her fair share of horror movies—-
Oh God, please help me.
Summerine heard something - someone? -scurry, but because she also seemed to have the worst night to make her escape, there wasn't even the thinnest sliver of moonlight to help her see. Even with her eyes having adjusted to the near-complete darkness, it was still impossible to make out anything.
Sticking to the highway was the quickest way to find someone to hitch a ride with. But it also left her exposed if someonewasfollowing her.
And meant her harm.
I know you're there, God.
But I also know it's not just you.
Summerine had always had this suspicion that Ryu's "darling" also operated on the wrong side of the law.
For all she knew, that woman might even be why Ryu had started a life of crime in the first place...and the reason Summerine couldn't shake off the feeling she was being stalked right this very moment.
Please, God.
Help me.
Please.
She broke into a run as soon as she finished praying.
Losing herself in the cornfields was her only chance of surviving.
And so she ran and ran and ran.
Save me, God.
Please.
Save me.
Because she couldhearit now.
Footsteps runningalongsideher.