Nothing knocks you awake quite like ice-cold wind slapping your face at five in the morning. My hands tighten on the bike handles in reflex, despite all my efforts to keep the necessary muscles relaxed—to make way for the real stars of the show: my legs.
Said legs are currently burning and yelping in protest as I pump them up and down the bike pedals, climbing the mountain. The fatigue and sweat pooling around my skin fill me with adrenaline, and the sight of the peak just ahead washes away every trace of tiredness. There's something about seeing your goal in plain sight that keeps you going.
I reach the top and turn the bike around, stopping once I've found a flat surface. I hop off and stare back at the view that greets me. Waking up early was so worth it. Despite the exhaustion tugging at my limbs, I bask in the morning air and the scent of damp leaves and pine—feeling, for once, rooted.
This is why I came here. Why I risked so much. For moments like this.
I stretch my arms overhead and try walking off the cramp forming in my leg. Stacey didn't come home last night—something I would normally freak out about—until she called to say she was safe and spending the night with Chase.
That must be the handsome blonde's name.
I'd tried to act nonchalant on the phone, asking who else was there, but couldn't make out which of them was my mystery man. So far, the candidate names were: Greg, Leonard, and Dominic. The first two don't fit that man, but the last one certainly does. Dominic. I couldn't exactly ask Stacey—Miss Perceptive—which one he was. It's fortunate enough that Chase had her so preoccupied she didn't notice my drooling. No one needed to see that—especially not the guy who caused it.
Groaning, I press my overheated hands to my face. Way to impress the hot guy.
I straighten, reminding myself that it's not like I'll have to see him again—unfortunately. I park myself on a boulder-like bench and stretch into a serene yoga pose, swaying gently with each deep breath.
Until I'm interrupted by a tinny ringing sound that makes me jump.
I grab my phone from the purse I left on the ground and answer it frantically, expecting my parents—except I'm met with a man's deep baritone.
"Hi, you must be Cece, right? I'm Chase—from the party last night."
A nervous sweat prickles at my forehead. Why is Stacey's cute blond calling me? Isn't she with him right now?
"Yes... where's Stacey?"
"Oh shit. She's not with you?"
"No," I say, my voice bursting with urgency.
"Well, she left a few hours ago with some guy—said he was her ex. Daniel, something. Yeah... she seemed pretty upset. I just wanted to know if she got home okay."
"She's not back yet." Panic rises fast in my chest. If I go to the police, they'll ask for ID. And I can't have anyone know who I am—or where I belong.
"Calm down. We'll find her. Tell you what—I'll send you the location of our outhouse. If she comes back, she might show up there. If she's not there in a few hours, we'll go look for her."
I nod instinctively, even though he can't see me, and cut the call.
Clutching the phone to my chest, I try to take deep, steadying breaths. A vibration startles me. It's Chase—he's sent the location.
I open it in Google Maps. The directions spread out before me: 12 kilometers away. I'll get there faster than I thought.
Swinging my leg back over the bike, I pedal hard. The ache in my leg—I choose to ignore.