Chapter 44

The Prey

“Where have you been?” Her voice was calm yet pierced through me as I avoided eye contact with her. The kind that made my heart twist painfully.

“I was…” The words died in my throat.

“You always disappear without a word.” She took a step closer, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “I looked for you everywhere. I was fucking worried, and you didn’t even see it necessary to text me?”

“Alina—”

“Is someone bothering you?” Her tone softened and her eyes searched mine as I swallowed hard. “Are you in some kind of danger?”

My breath hitched. Why did she think that? A chill ran down my spine as I avoided her gaze, staring instead at the floor.

“Why… why do you think so?”

“Because I know you spend most of your day out, barely in the hostel.” Her voice wavered slightly. “I know you go somewhere and come back looking like…” She gestured at my clothes, the ill-fitting ones I hadn’t even noticed were wrong.