Obsession

Chapter 33

Leo

My heart is pounding in my ears. I know something's wrong. I can feel it. I keep staring at my phone, waiting for her to call, waiting for her to tell me she's okay. It's only been thirty minutes. Maybe I'm overreacting.

As soon as I found out Kai escaped police custody, I knew he'd come after her. It won't just be to talk this time. He knows his time is limited so he'll probably do anything he can to get his hands on her. I keep telling myself he won't hurt her. He's in love with her. But in the back of my mind, I'm afraid that's exactly why he'll hurt her. He knows she doesn't love him.

My phone rings and I quickly answer when I see it's Mara's dad. "Hello?"

"She's not at home. Daryl's accessing the security cameras down by the bus stop now. Hopefully she got on the wrong bus or something."

"Yeah, hopefully," I answer, knowing Mara's too smart to do something like that. "I've seen two buses come by and she wasn't on either. She's not answering her phone. I think...I think something..."

"Don't jump to conclusions just yet. Let's just keep our heads on straight and try to find her," he tells me.

I take a deep breath to steady my racing heart. "Okay."

After I hang up, I look around the campus parking area. I know she's not here. She's not on her way here. If he got to her, where would he take her? It doesn't seem likely he'd take her back to his place. He knows the police would look there first. So where else would he go? I don't know a lot about Kai, other than he's crazy, so I have no idea where to start.

Without a car, I can't just go out and look for her like I want to. But I can't just sit back and wait. I'm already driving myself crazy thinking about what he could be doing to her. I have to find him and when I do, I'm gonna make sure he's never able to come after her again.

My phone rings again and I look down to see Anna's name. "Hello?"

"Leo! Dustin loaned me his truck. Where are you? There's something I need your help with," she says frantically.

"I can't...I...she...I have to..."

"I know someone who can help us find her," she says.

"Who?"

"My Aunt Roma. Listen, I know you think she's crazy, but I have a feeling she can explain Kai's behavior and maybe help us to counter attack."

"How would she be able to explain Kai's behavior? She doesn't even know him, does she?" I ask.

"No, but...it's a long story. I'll tell you on the way. Where are you?" she asks again.

"I'm on campus, near the Performing Arts Center."

"I'm on my way," she says before hanging up.

A few minutes later, I hear tires squealing and I look up to see a large, black truck skidding to a stop in front of me. Anna pokes her head out the window and waves me over.

I hurry over to her and get in. She peels out of the parking lot and begins driving like a bat out of hell down the highway. I watch her, waiting for her to explain to me what we're doing and what it has to do with Kai.

She finally looks over at me and sighs. "Look, this is gonna sound crazy, but just hear me out. A couple of months ago, Mara, Rue and I went to see my Aunt Roma so she could mix Mara up some kind of...love potion...for Kai."

"Love potion?" I ask, shaking my head in disbelief.

"My mom tried it on my dad and it worked. So I told Mara about it and...well, you have to remember, this is back when she was obsessed with Kai. Before she knew how completely insane he was. Anyway, Aunt Roma gave Mara this...this rock. She told her to shake Kai's hand or something, holding the rock, and he'd fall in love with her. She warned her not to hold on to the rock more than three seconds, but I'm almost certain she did. I saw it happen."