Page 169 of Untouchable

But she had to at least try with the last ounce of willpower she had left.

Kelly looked around her simple apartment and hardly recognized her surroundings. Nothing here was truly hers. Nothing felt real. It was all artificial, somehow surreal.

She didn’t belong here. She felt like a stranger. And she had no idea what to do about it.

Wandering blindly over to the window, she looked out and down to the street.

Caleb hadn’t murdered her father like she’d thought he had.

Caleb had said…

She couldn’t let herself remember what he’d said.

A strange sound came out of her throat. It might have been a sob, but Kelly was barely conscious of even making it. She jerked away from the window. Stared again at the quiet room.

She couldn’t stay here.

She was afraid of what she might do.

Kelly was blind. Strangled. Couldn’t stay still. So she grabbed her purse and then left her apartment again. Exited the building and turned to the right.

Started walking.

As long as she was walking, all she would have to think about was the motion of her body. Concentrating on her muscles, on the way the concrete was moving beneath her feet, helped to hold back everything else.

After a long time, she ended up at the door of Reese’s apartment. She felt an eerie sense of déjà vu as she knocked, being here once more when she had absolutely nowhere else to go.

But this time was worse. So much worse. Kelly actually longed for the agonizing confusion, anger, and fear that had led her here last month.

No one answered the door.

It was evening now. Reese was probably out with friends or a date.

But Kelly didn’t have anywhere or anyone else. So she slumped down to the floor of the hallway outside her friend’s apartment. She leaned against the wall in a blurry haze and just waited.

Reese found her there an hour later.

“Kelly,” Reese exclaimed, approaching her apartment door. Her face twisted in concern. “Kelly, what is it?”

Kelly opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

Reese reached down to help her to her feet. Then gently pushed her through the door she unlocked. After closing the door behind her, Reese turned to face Kelly again. “Now tell me what’s wrong.”

Kelly tried again. Wanted to say something. But still couldn’t seem to speak around the horrible constriction in her throat.

Something was stopping her from voicing the words. Something that didn’t want to hear it. Didn’t want any of this to be real.

“Kelly,” Reese demanded, dropping her purse and a shopping bag on the floor. “Kelly, you’re scaring me. What is it? Is it Caleb? Did he… hurt you?”

Kelly managed to shake her head, although her negative response wasn’t entirely true. Caleb had hurt her. He’d been partially responsible for her father’s death.

But that wasn’t the main thing. Wasn’t what was threatening to tear her open right now.

Reese urged Kelly farther into the apartment, and then she went to get her a glass of water.

Kelly accepted the glass. Wanted to drink it since her mouth was so dry it was burning. She tried a sip but could barely swallow it.

“Kelly,” Reese insisted, growing urgent in her anxiety. She put her hands on Kelly’s shoulders and gave her a little shake. “Don’t you dare do this to me. Tell me!”