“Kaitlin, don’t?—”
My warning comes too late. She steps directly into the dirt, unknowingly dragging her shoe through the print before continuing toward the kitchen. The impression smears into nothing.
“No!” The word tears out of me louder than I intend.
Kaitlin spins around, her eyes widening. “Maddie?”
“You just ruined it!”
I rush toward the destroyed footprint, pointing helplessly at the floor.
“There was a footprint!”
Confusion flashes across her face before realization sets in.
“Oh my god, I didn’t even see it.”
“I know you didn’t!” My voice cracks. “But it was the only thing they left behind.”
The frustration that’s been building inside me all day boils over. “We could’ve?—”
“Mads.” Warms hands settle gently on my shoulders. “Hey.”
His voice is calm and steady. “It was an accident.”
“No, you don’t understand.”
“I understand that this isn’t Kaitlin’s fault.”
I pull away from him, wrapping my arms around myself.
No. He doesn’t understand. He can’t. This isn’t just some random break in. This is him. He’s escalating. He’s getting closer. Every second I stay here, I put these people in more danger.
“Shit, Maddie,” Kaitlin says quietly. “I’m really sorry. I swear I didn’t see it.”
The guilt on her face is immediate and heavy. I close my eyes for a moment, taking a slow breath. She’s right. It wasn’t intentional. None of this is her fault.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, rubbing my forehead. “I know you didn’t mean to.”
The apartment falls silent. No one knows what to say. I pull my phone out of my pocket, hoping for even a second to gather my thoughts. The screen lights up almost immediately.
Unknown: Have you learned your lesson yet, Madelyn?
Every ounce of blood drains from my face.
He’s watching me.
Again.
14.Miles
Another fucking unknown text message.I’m getting tired of this. Trash my apartment. Break all of my shit. I don’t give a damn. But blaming Maddie for it? That’s where they fucked up.
I’m not angry with her. None of this is her fault, no matter how much she tries to convince herself otherwise. But I can see it all over her face—the guilt and fear, the way she’s already carrying the weight of something that was never hers to carry.
Soft tears slide down Maddie’s cheeks, and she quickly wipes them away like she’s embarrassed that I saw them. Then she throws her phone across the room.
“Goddamnit! I’m over it!”
