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Inside the car, a heavy silence enveloped them. Neither Sheila nor Star seemed ready to break it just yet; both were lost in their thoughts. Sheila couldn't help but replay the events that had unfolded, reflecting on Star's vulnerability and her own desire to protect her. She glanced at Star, noting the girl's resolute expression, and felt a surge of pride for the young teenager's determination to push through her pain.
The silence was finally broken when Star turned to Sheila, her voice wavering but genuine. "Hey...do you think sometime you could teach me some of those moves you just showed me?" she asked.
Sheila glanced at the young girl and smiled. "Of course, I'd love to train with you sometime."
Star's eyes widened, and it was clear that a newfound respect for Sheila had taken root in her heart.
As they drove on, the scenery began to change, and the bright lights of the city gave way to a poorer, more rundown part of town. Buildings were worn and neglected, their once-vibrant paint peeling away to reveal the ravages of time. Trash littered the streets, and huddled figures lurked in shadowy doorways.
This was where Star lived.
Sheila slowed down as they neared Star's home, but the teenager spoke up. "Keep driving. Drop me off around the block."
Sheila hesitated, her mind racing. She wanted to ensure Star's safety, but pushing too hard might cause the girl to shut herself off again. "Are you sure you're actually going to go home?" she asked carefully.
Star remained silent, and Sheila recalled what her father had told her about the abuse Star faced from her own dad. Her heart ached for the teenager.
"Listen," she said softly, "if anything ever happens to you, you can always call me. Okay?"
Star nodded, but said nothing.
Sheila stopped the car at the corner of the block, her grip tightening on the steering wheel as she stared out at the desolate street. Star looked away, about to push open the door and step into the unforgiving world that awaited her.
"Wait," Sheila said suddenly, an idea forming in her mind. "Why don't you stay with me for the night?"
Star's eyes widened in surprise, her hand hovering over the door handle. "What? No, I can't."
"Come on," Sheila said. "It's just for one night. We can train together in the morning, like we talked about. You'll be safe."
The girl hesitated, her gaze flickering between Sheila and the bleak landscape outside. "I...I don't know," she mumbled, biting her lip.
"What do you have to lose?" Sheila asked, her eyes locking onto Star's. "Just one night, and then we can figure out what to do from there. I promise you'll be safe with me."
Star took a deep breath, her eyes darting back and forth between Sheila and the door. Finally, she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Okay. Just for one night."
Sheila grinned, relief and happiness flooding through her. "Great! Let's get going then."
They drove on in silence, the warmth of the car shielding them from the cool night air. Sheila's mind raced as she thought about what was to come. She knew that Star's trust was fragile and that she had to tread carefully if she wanted to help the girl. But she was determined to do whatever it took to make sure that Star was safe and happy.
As they drove along, Sheila couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She repeatedly glanced in her rearview mirror, scanning the sparse traffic for signs of danger. A blue hatchback caught her attention, appearing intermittently behind them—or was it merely her imagination?
"Something wrong?" Star asked, noticing Sheila's attention drifting to the mirror.
"Uh, no," Sheila replied, trying to sound unconcerned. "I just thought for a minute we were being followed. But it's probably nothing." She smiled reassuringly at Star to show her everything was okay.
And then, a few moments later, Sheila's eyes crept to the mirror again, waiting to see if that blue hatchback would reappear.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Sheila jolted awake, her heart pounding in her chest. The sheets were twisted around her body like a constraining cocoon, and her hands gripped them tightly as if they were lifelines.
It's not real, it's not real, she thought desperately.
She was clenching her teeth so hard that she could feel the pressure in her jaw. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she glanced around the room, disoriented.
In her nightmare, she had been at the cabin where her sister Natalie had taken her own life. It was a place of unbearable pain and loss for Sheila. In the dream, she tried to escape the cabin, running through the dense forest, but no matter how far she ran or how fast, she always ended up back at the cabin. The door creaked open, revealing only darkness inside, beckoning her into the abyss.
"Damn," she muttered under her breath as she wiped the sweat from her brow. She knew it was just a dream, but it still shook her to the core. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself up and swung her legs out of bed. She couldn't let the nightmare ruin her day—she had things to do, people counting on her.
