Chasing Freedom (Book 2)

Chapter Three: Time Doesn't Matter (Skylar)

Chapter Three: Time Doesn't Matter (SKYLAR)

Cole was a liar, but I already knew that. He made it obvious when he didn't tell me who he really was, when he accidentally slipped what his plan had been all along.

But despite of that, I'd have to say The City of Lost Souls being small is the biggest lie he ever told me.

The city was extremely big, and it was even more intimidating because I didn't know my way around. The streets were dirty with trash and wet with puddles, the roads were quiet, it seemed to be cold all the time, (especially for a person wearing nothing but a stupid grimy dress) and the whole place was deserted; it was like I was the only person living here.

I didn't leave my house at all; I don't know what day it it or how long it's been since I last saw my family.

I didn't want to go outside because I was scared of what I would find.

So I remained inside, although I wouldn't call it my house because it was missing two extremely important people; people I knew that I would never see again if things continued this way.

I sit on the couch in boredom and stare longingly outside the window.

It seems as if the house was randomly placed in the middle of nowhere and I was afraid it'll disappear if I leave. It may be eerily quiet but it was still my home; the place that I had lived and grew up in all my life.

Things didn't seem so intimidating in the safety of everything I used to know; I didn't feel like I was such a failure.

But at the same time, there isn't much I can do from in here.

And I was running out of time. I could feel it.

I pull myself off the couch and out of the house, looking up at the sky and notice the dark clouds covering it.

I sigh, not knowing where to start or what to do and silently hoping Cole would just show up.

I don't really understand what that's all about.

His intentions clearly aren't pure; he stated that when he reminded me that he's been watching over me like some kind of stalker, but at the same time, I find myself wishing he's around, just so I could have someone to talk to.

Cole was the only bit of normalcy I felt in a long time; he was a dick, but something told me he understood a lot more than he was letting on. He may have been watching over me but it seemed as if he missed out on the most important part of it all.

Malum killing me is the exact reason I'm here and I don't know why Cole hadn't figured that out yet. I only knew him for a few hours but I felt-for some strange reason-like I could trust him.

I didn't know why though. He had given me so many reasons not to.

I walk the streets in silence and the deeper I go into the city, the more I realize that it's not as deserted as I thought. People crowd the streets every corner I turn; sending me glances of confusion, pity, or smugness.

I shudder, drinking in the creepiness of the whole place; taking in the fact that this is my home now.

Everything I had ever worked for in my life, everything my grandparents taught me and everything I taught myself, none of it seems to matter because I still ended up here, in the one state I didn't want to be in.

Confused and away from Derek.

I was naive to think all Malum wanted was family and my trust and because of that, Derek was alone.