Chapter 6:
It was all I could to do stop myself from screaming. I stuck my fist in my mouth, willing my voice to stay inside my head. I counted to ten backwards, then twenty backwards, going higher and higher to help calm my frayed nerves. This guy is stealing my letters!! I thought to myself. I have to stop him; these letters are my purpose in life. As his shadow faded, I slipped out from behind my dumpster. I followed his sound, silently thanking Raziel that I still had my gear and stele with me.
As we got further and further away from my area, I started to get nervous. We were leaving the city, fast. The giant skyscrapers were already giving way to suburbs, which would soon turn into country clubs. I'd never been past the country club, but I refused to feel fear right now. To keep calm, I kept saying a chant over and over to myself, whispering it so quietly that the wind couldn't even pick it up
"Get the letters and go to London.
There you'll see Tessa in person.
You'll finally know who sent the letters,
and she'll help you be even better.
You can go if you get them back,
back from the man cloaked in black."
Over and over, I sang this jingle. As cheesy as it was, it helped keep me focused on the hunt than my shaking fingers. I was halfway through it for the twenty-fourth time when he finally stopped. I scoot back into the shadows and try to blend in, waiting for him to do something. We are completely surrounded trees, and I feel at loss in this new terrain. I attempt to adjust to the weeds that are tickling my ankles and the itchiness of these pine tree needles scraping my arm soundlessly, but I accidentally snap a twig.
Even as I freeze, the silhouette turns in my direction and advances. He grabs me and pulls me into the light, but somehow his face is a shadow.
Then he starts to laugh. Oh. God.
