Page 123 of The Fractured

My fingers interlocked behind my head as I tried to come up with an explanation for why Lily disappeared.

She hasn’t been missing that long. She’s fine. She’ll show up.

I have too many enemies not to worry about them doing something to her…

I paused when someone outside the glass front doors caught my eye. My heart rate slowed right down as I walked to the doors and stepped outside.

The weather had settled. It was still cold, but the sun had made an appearance.

Lily was sitting on a bench with her back to the building and her hands curled around the edge of the seat. Dressed in what she arrived in, her eyes were closed as the sun warmed her skin.

I quietly took a seat beside her, facing the building.

“What happened?” I asked gently.

She opened her eyes. There was a sort of distant stare about them.

“I got a Band-Aid from the front desk. And then had to explain I wasn’t going to sue the place for injury. I went to come back, but then realized our session was up soon, so I figured I’d get changed and wait out here.” She motioned to the sky. “The sun was out.”

Her intentions were innocent.

I stole a glance at our surroundings, watching as strangers passed us on the sidewalk. “I thought you were gone.”

Realization sank into her expression, and her eyes widened. “I’m an idiot. I didn’t stop to think about what Gabriele said.”

I reached for her hand and curled mine around it, noticing the faint stain of blood on her nails from the cut on her neck. “Maybe I overreacted a little… That prick has made me paranoid.”

She lifted her legs over the bench to face the same way as me. With our backs to the sun, she leaned into my side.

“I am sorry.” The words were so soft I barely caught them before the doors of the warehouse opened with a squeak.

“You might wanna come in and change,” Seb said as he leaned through the gap in the doors. “I think Scotty thinks you’re about to steal the coveralls, and he looks like he’s dreading that confrontation.”

I could see Scotty pacing behind the front desk, looking towards us nervously.

“We’ll be right in,” Lily said, smiling politely.

Several minutes later, we handed in our PPE and headed out, leaving Scotty to finally relax.

Seb and Kira were still riled up from the rage room, walking ahead of us arm and arm and laughing as they talked. They fed off each other’s energy.

Lily and I stayed in a comfortable silence. Mostly enjoying the company.

I looked down at Lily.

She was staring off into the distance as she held my hand, chewing the inside of her cheek.

Lifting the back of her hand to my lips worked to bring her back to reality. It almost startled her back into it, like she suddenly realized where she was.

“Talk to me,” I said.

She smiled, shaking her head. “I’m fi—”

Seb suddenly spun around, snapping his fingers. “We should get dinner on the wharf. Watch the sunset.” He wagged his eyebrows.

“Oooh yes!” Kira beamed.

Lily hesitated. “I’m kind of tired, but you guys go ahead.”