𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐬🖤™

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕪

❝(𝐊𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐯)❞

The city lights blurred into streaks of neon and shadows as Kylie sped down the highway, her heart pounding in her chest. Every mile felt like a small victory, a step further from the life she was leaving behind. But with each passing minute, the fear gnawed at her—fear that her escape was temporary, that the powerful forces she had defied were already closing in on her.

Kylie didn't have a plan, just a vague idea of heading to the coast, where she could disappear among the tourists and travelers. She had cash, enough to last her for a while, and a fake ID she had managed to obtain through a friend of a friend. But she knew that her resources wouldn't last forever. Sooner or later, she would need to find a way to survive on her own, without the safety net of her family's wealth.

The car's headlights cut through the darkness as she turned onto a quieter road, heading toward the outskirts of the city. She needed to ditch the car soon, find a place to lay low for the night. The thought of stopping, of being alone in the silence, made her skin crawl with anxiety, but she knew it was necessary.

The road ahead was empty, a stark contrast to the bustling streets she had just left behind. The quiet felt ominous, like the calm before a storm. Kylie's grip on the steering wheel tightened as she scanned the area for a safe place to pull over. She spotted a rundown motel in the distance, its flickering neon sign advertising vacancies. It was far from ideal, but it would have to do.

She pulled into the gravel parking lot, her tires crunching loudly in the stillness of the night. The motel was as uninviting as she had expected—peeling paint, broken windows, and a general air of neglect. But it was also the kind of place where people asked no questions, where someone could disappear without a trace.

Kylie parked the car around the back, out of sight from the main road. She grabbed her suitcase and hurried toward the entrance, her heart racing with the fear of being seen. The night clerk barely looked up as she approached the counter, his eyes glazed over with boredom. She handed him the cash and her fake ID, praying he wouldn't notice anything suspicious.

"Room 12," he grunted, sliding a key across the counter without even checking her ID. "End of the hall."

Kylie nodded, taking the key with trembling hands. She walked down the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing off the cracked tiles. The motel smelled of mildew and stale cigarettes, the air thick with neglect. She found Room 12 and unlocked the door, stepping inside with a sense of relief that was almost overwhelming.

The room was as shabby as she had expected—faded floral wallpaper, a lumpy bed, and a flickering television in the corner. But it was quiet, and for now, that was all she needed. Kylie set her suitcase down and locked the door behind her, sliding the chain across for extra security. She knew it wouldn't stop anyone determined to get in, but it gave her a small measure of comfort.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of everything. She had done it—she had actually escaped. But the reality of what she had done was starting to sink in. She was alone, on the run, with no one to turn to and nowhere to go. The enormity of it all hit her like a wave, and for a moment, she felt like she was drowning.

Kylie closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She couldn't afford to fall apart now. She had to stay strong, stay focused. There would be time to grieve, to process everything, but not tonight. Tonight, she needed to sleep, to gather her strength for whatever lay ahead.

She lay back on the bed, staring up at the cracked ceiling. The silence was oppressive, pressing down on her like a physical weight. She could hear her own heartbeat, loud and insistent in the quiet room. The fear was still there, a constant presence in the back of her mind, but she forced herself to push it aside. She had made it this far, and she wasn't going to give up now.