Page 51 of Mine To Hunt

She sighs deeply, but I hear the resignation in her voice. "Fine, but only because I don't want you going alone. I'll head out now. And Ree, if we get there and something feels off, we leave immediately. No arguments."

Relief washes over me, easing some of the tension in my shoulders. "Thank you. I promise."

I hang up and stare at the phone, my mind racing with possibilities. If it was a dream, then I'm safe, but losing my grip on reality. If it was real, then the stalker is bolder than I thought, and Ryan might be in serious trouble. Either way, the fear lingers, making my stomach churn.

I get dressed quickly, pulling on jeans and a shirt, my movements automatic as I try to push down the anxiety. The cab arrives soon after, and I give the driver the address for the corner near Ryan's place. The ride feels tense, my thoughts spiraling with what-ifs that make my heart race.

When we pull up, Maddie's car is already there, and she steps out as I approach. Her face is pale with worry, and she pulls me into a tight hug. "You look exhausted. Are you sure you want to do this?"

I hug her back, drawing strength from her presence. "I have to. The not knowing is killing me. Let's just look and go."

She nods, linking her arm with mine as we walk toward Ryan's door. "Okay, but stay close. If the door's broken like you said, we call the police right away."

As we get closer, I stop abruptly, staring at the door. It's solid, not a mark on it. Confusion hits me hard, making my head spin. "This doesn't make sense. Last night, I heard the hammer smashing it."

Maddie squeezes my arm, her voice gentle. "See? Maybe it was a dream after all. Stress can do weird things to your memory."

Frustration mixes with doubt, tears pricking my eyes. "But it felt so real. The sounds were loud. Let's go inside. Maybe there's something upstairs."

She hesitates but follows me as I unlock the door. "Alright, but quick. I don't like this place."

We step inside, and the living room looks exactly as I remember it from before the fight. No blood, no overturned furniture. My heart sinks further. "Everything's normal down here. Let's check upstairs where it happened."

Maddie nods, staying close as we climb the stairs. "If we find anything, we leave and call for help." She repeats.

In the upstairs room, my desk is cluttered but untouched. No signs of a struggle. I search the floor, the walls, desperation growing. "This can't be. I fell against the table here. There should be something."

Maddie looks around carefully, her expression a mix of sympathy and concern. "Ree. Does anything feel weird to you? Like, even a little out of place?"

I shake my head, tears welling up again. "No, it all looks fine. But Mads, I swear I felt the fear in my bones. The stalker was here. He hurt Ryan so badly. If it didn't happen, why do I remember it so clearly?"

She pulls me into another hug, slower this time, as if she’s afraid I might break. Her voice is low, careful. “I believe that you felt it.” She says. “But sometimes… when someone’s terrified for long enough, the mind starts filling in gaps. Protecting you. Or trying to.”

I pull back, wiping at my eyes with the heel of my palm. My chest feels tight. “Then where is Ryan?” I ask. “If he’s fine, if none of this happened, why isn’t he here?”

Maddie doesn’t answer immediately. Her gaze drifts toward the hallway, then the staircase, like she’s listening for something. The house feels too quiet all of a sudden.

“He could be out.” She says finally. “Work. Errands. Anything.” She forces a small shrug that doesn’t quite land. “Let’s not stay longer than we need to. Grab your documents and let’s go. I don’t want him walking in while we’re here.”

That sends a cold ripple through me. I nod quickly and move to the desk, my hands clumsier than usual as I open the drawer. The folder is right where I left it. Untouched. Of course it is.

“Got them.” I say, holding it up. “You’re right. Let’s go.”

We move fast after that. Down the stairs, through the door, the lock clicking behind us a little louder than it should. Only when I’m in Maddie’s car do I feel my body start to sag, exhaustion crashing down all at once.

I lean my head back against the seat. “Thanks for coming with me.” I murmur. “I really thought I was losing my mind.”

Maddie starts the engine, then reaches over and squeezes my hand, grounding me. “You’re not crazy.” She says firmly. “You’re traumatized. There’s a difference. And we’ll figure this out.”

The drive back is quiet, the city blurring past the windows. My thoughts feel heavy, tangled, like they’re moving through fog. After a while, Maddie speaks again, gentler now.

“When’s your next therapy session?”

I unlock my phone and check my calendar. “Today.” I say. “In a couple of hours.”

She nods, relieved. “Good. Don’t skip it. Talk to Dr. Nathaniel about this, everything. He might help you make sense of what happened. Or… what didn’t.”

I manage a small, tired smile. “I won’t skip.”