15. Karolina
KAROLINA
The next day, I try to outrun the nightmare. I sprint down the riverside path, making my way towards the peace of the willow trees.
As my feet pound the asphalt, I can’t quite manage to escape my fear that the new life I was building for myself is about to be snatched away from me.
I can’t deny that I’m scared of whoever sent me that anonymous message: Rich’s murderer.
My stalker.
I stumble at the thought.
Professor Hirst referred to me as a victim when he trapped me in his office yesterday.
My teeth clench at the memory.
I’m no one’s victim. I proved that with blood and violence five years ago.
Brandon’s destroyed face flashes through my mind. My stomach lurches, and I swallow hard against the urge to vomit.
Guilt wracks me. I’ve never been rid of it since I killed the boy I loved, but I’ve at least managed to function since then. I’ve learned to pretend I’m not deadly to those I love.
Brandon. My parents.
Everyone I’ve ever dared to love is gone.
Rich barely even liked me, and that was enough to seal his fate.
I’m poison to those I allow to get close to me.
I put on a burst of speed, dodging a slow cyclist and a woman walking her dog. The landscape blurs around me—a lush green park to my right and the churning brown river to my left.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and my stomach drops. I consider ignoring it.
Not many people have my number now that I’ve moved to England, and Bones has cut me out of his life.
It could only be Amala, Professor Hirst, or my stalker.
I don’t want to face the latter two, but Amala deserves my support.
She was so distraught when we gathered with our classmates at the pub yesterday.
I can help her through her grief without allowing her into my heart.
I won’t put my new friend at risk of the curse that seems to follow me everywhere.
I brace my hands on my knees when I come to a reluctant stop, gulping air into my burning lungs. When I’m able to breathe more normally, I check my phone.
Anonymous
You shouldn’t run alone. Go back into town. It’s not safe for you out here. I might not always be around to watch over you.
Dread is an icy block in my stomach. My fingers tremble as I type out a reply.
Karolina
Leave me alone.
The response is immediate.
Anonymous
Never.
I breathe through the surge of fear.
Karolina
I’ll go to the police if you don’t stop.
Anonymous
No, you won’t. I know you. Now be a good girl and run back to town. It’s getting windy out here, and you’ll be chilled without your jacket.
Goosebumps pebble my arms as I become acutely aware of the breeze on my heated skin. My head whips around, and I search the park for signs of who might be watching me. There’s a young couple with a baby in a stroller, and a few students are kicking a football between them.
On the other side of the river, the willows no longer appear safe and inviting. Anyone could be hiding in the dense, overgrown foliage.
The back of my neck prickles.
I don’t want to obey this sick fucker, but staying exposed out here would be stupid. I’ll be safer in town, surrounded by tourists—witnesses if anyone tries to approach me without my consent.
Karolina
If you know me so well, then you’ll know not to fuck with me. Keep your distance, or you’ll regret it.
Anonymous
Don’t worry. I would never hurt you. Why do you think I got rid of Rich? He wasn’t good enough for you. He could never be worthy of you.
Karolina
And you think you are?
Anonymous
I know I’m not, but that doesn’t change anything. You’re mine.
I lock my knees to keep them from shaking. This freak is fixated on me, and I’m completely isolated. Not only because I’m outside of town; I don’t have anyone to turn to for help.
The police are out of the question. With my fake identity, I could lose my visa if they look too closely at my papers and realize I lied about who I really am.
Professor Hirst.
I have his number, and he knows about my stalker.
I might not want to lean on a near-stranger for protection, but I’m not stupid. I know it’s not safe to handle this on my own. If my stalker is watching me right now, he could make me disappear so easily. No one would even realize I was missing until I failed to show up for class.
Karolina
I’m done talking to you. I’m not yours. I don’t belong to anyone other than myself.
Anonymous
Liar.
My skin crawls. I can’t linger here.
I navigate away from the nauseating texts, find Rand’s number, and type out a hasty message to him.
Karolina
Are you free right now?
My phone rings.
That was fast.
I answer his call.
“What’s wrong?” Rand asks, voice slightly gravellier than usual.
I consider quipping that he’s making a big assumption, but he’s absolutely right. I wouldn’t contact him if I didn’t need his help.
“I got another message,” I say quickly. “I think he’s watching me.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m on the river path near Water End.”
“Go back towards town,” he says tersely.
Is he annoyed at me for contacting him?
“If you’re busy I can just—”
“I’m on my way. I’ll meet you on the path in less than ten minutes. Stay on the phone with me.”
“I really can handle myself. I didn’t mean to inconvenience you.”
He scoffs. “Your safety is hardly an inconvenience. In fact, you seem to minimize it more than is healthy. I didn’t take you for a fool, Lena.”
I bristle, but I start jogging back in the direction of town.
“I texted you, didn’t I?” I shoot back.
“And how long did you wait before you texted me?”
I huff. “You’re really living up to your nickname, Professor Asshole.”
That draws a chuckle from him. Some of the tension in my chest loosens.
Bantering with him is a merciful distraction from my fear.
“Save your breath for running,” he says. “You can insult me later.”
“I’m perfectly capable of running and talking. Plenty of breath to tell you you’re being rude and patronizing.”
“Then I suggest you increase your pace. If you can tell me off, you’re not running fast enough.”
“Maybe you’re the one who should be running toward me if you’re so worried about me.”
“I am.”
“What, worried?”
“I’m running. But yes, I’m also concerned about your safety.”
“Oh.” He doesn’t sound remotely winded.
The thought that he’s running to my rescue makes my stomach flip. I’m not sure if it’s an uneasy response or feminine gratification.
I decide to ignore it.
“Thank you,” I say instead of needling him.
“You can thank me by hurrying up. Sprint, Lena.”
“Is this your thing?” I ask blandly. “Do you like bossing your students around? This isn’t class, Professor. You’re not in charge here.”
“No more jokes,” he commands. “I want you safely with me as fast as possible.”
My strides lengthen, and my pace quickens. There’s no good reason for me to defy him. I have a creepy stalker watching me, and getting away from him is all that matters.
“You don’t have to say anything.” Rand’s voice is softer now. “Just focus on getting to me. I’m close to Museum Gardens. I’ll be at the river in thirty seconds, and then I’ll come down the path to meet you.”
I fall silent, and so does he. All I can hear are his even breaths that indicate light exertion.
He really is running to get to me.
I don’t tolerate abusive men. I remember what he told me in his office.
Professor Hirst doesn’t know me at all, so he clearly has some sort of white knight syndrome.
Whatever his damage is that made him this way, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to learn his secrets. I just need him present to keep my stalker at bay. If I’m with Rand, the psycho won’t dare to come near me.
My blood goes cold, and I stop in my tracks.
What if my stalker sees me with my professor, and he decides that Rand is another unworthy man in my life?
“Lena!”
The ground seems to shift beneath me, leaving me unsteady on my feet.
Professor Hirst closes the last several yards that separate us. He lifts his hands as though he’s going to brace my shoulders, and I flinch away.
“What happened?” he half-growls. “Are you hurt?”
I take a step back. “This was a mistake. I’m sorry I called you.”
He straightens his glasses to peer down at me. “I’m not sorry. You’re pale. You don’t have to be scared anymore. I’m right here. No one will get close to you.”
I retreat farther. “Seriously, it was a false alarm. I guess I just got freaked out when I was alone. I’m fine.” I eye his professional attire and leather satchel. “Did you leave class to get to me?”
He waves my question away like an irritating fly. “Stop being evasive. Tell me what’s happening.”
Running in the opposite direction isn’t an option; that’s where I left my stalker behind. But Rand’s huge body is blocking my path back to town.
I try to skirt around him, but he mirrors me. Before I can evade him, he snatches my phone out of my hand.
Damn him. It’s unlocked; our call is still connected.
He finds the messages from my stalker, and his eyes narrow.
“This isn’t a false alarm,” he grinds out. “Why are you lying to me? What happened in the last few minutes?”
I try to grab for my phone. He holds it over his head, which is considerably out of my reach. I’m not about to start bouncing to swipe for it.
Instead, I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.
“I want my phone back.”
“And I want the truth. I’ll give it back when you’re honest with me.”
“This is ridiculous,” I huff. “You have no right to steal my phone.”
He quirks a brow. “And you won’t go to the police to get it back from me, will you?
No,” he cuts me off before I can issue another retort.
“You won’t even do that to report your stalker.
So instead, you have me. That won’t change, Lena.
I’m here for you, whether you like it or not. I’ll protect you.”
“I’m protecting you!” I burst out.
His stern expression softens, but he doesn’t lower my phone. “What do you mean?”
I press my lips together, unwilling to share more vulnerable information. I can’t risk a connection with Rand. It will put him in my stalker’s crosshairs.
“Ah,” he says, reading me far too easily. “You think my proximity to you will put me in danger.”
“I don’t want him to see you with me,” I say quickly. “So give me my phone, and go back to the university. I’m sorry I involved you.”
“I’m not afraid of your stalker.” He spreads his massive arms wide. “Look at me. I can take care of myself.”
“He has a knife.”
My stalker clearly isn’t afraid of using a deadly weapon. He cut Rich’s throat.
“And I have years of experience in MMA,” Rand counters, calm and reasonable. “I know how to disarm someone.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
I can’t bear it if I’m the reason he ends up dead. It’s happened too many times before.
He cocks his head at me, and he seems to peer straight into me. “I’m going to protect you. What you want won’t change that.”
I gape at him. “I didn’t realize white knights could be so rude.”
He chuckles, and the rich, deep sound soothes some of my jittery nerves.
“I’m no white knight,” he counters. “I’ll be as rude as necessary to keep you safe.”
I sigh, most of the fight going out of me. “Fine.”
“Fine?” he repeats.
I gesture at his bulky body. “As you said, you’re very intimidating. I don’t think there’s much I can do to stop you from staying with me if you won’t listen to reason.”
“Good,” he approves. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”