Page 33 of Dead Pretty

And I turn and walk out of the coffee shop, unable to keep the smile off my face, thanking God that Jack can’t see it.

“Thanks.” I pay the cab driver, exiting the car.

Palming the building’s security fob and my apartment keys in one hand, my rape alarm in the other, I walk quickly toward the entrance to my apartment building, hearing the cab drive away behind me.

I don’t usually like to take cabs. Getting in a car with someone I don’t know is not exactly my favorite thing to do.

But it was either that or walk home in the dark.

I ended up working late, covering for a member of the staff who had called in sick today and monitoring a book club that met tonight at the library. So, I said that I would stay while they were there and locked up after they left.

Hence the cab ride home.

And at least a cab driver is registered. So, if I were killed, there would be a good chance of catching him.

If I walked home and got grabbed, severely less chance of catching the killer.

I know; I’d end up dead in both of those scenarios, which wouldn’t be good for me, obviously. But I’ve escaped death at the hands of a psychopath before. I don’t think I can do it twice. Don’t get me wrong; I would put up one hell of a fight, but I don’t see myself being so lucky twice.

Which is why I’m not keen on ending up in a situation like that ever again.

I didn’t fight back when Tobias had me … and I hate that so much. I hate that I was frozen there with terror and did nothing to try and save my own life.

I was tied up, so it wasn’t like I could have done much. But I did nothing.

I didn’t even try.

The only reason I lived was because he let me.

But I won’t make that mistake again. That, I know for sure.

I swipe the fob, letting myself into the building, hearing the door click shut behind me.

The well-lit entry hall is devoid of people.

Not that I usually see many people when I come home at my normal hour. But it’s daylight then, and it doesn’t seem as eerie as it does right now.

Goose bumps skitter up my arms, moving me forward. I jog up the stairs, my bag bumping against my hip, until I reach my floor.

I fast-walk to my apartment, unlock the door, and let myself inside. It’s pitch-black in here. My heart is banging in my chest. I hate the dark. Shutting the door closed, I flick on the light switch. It comes on, followed by a pop, and I’m plunged straight back into darkness.

Shit.

The lightbulb has blown.

I scramble to get my phone out of my bag, somehow dropping my rape alarm and keys at the same time.

“Fuck.”

My hand curls around my cell, and I yank it out of my bag. I touch the screen, illuminating it, and turn on the Flashlight app.

Light shines out from my cell. But it’s not enough. It hardly illuminates anything.

My breath is coming in quicker. Fear of the dark starting to take over.

Calm down, Audrey.

I shine the flashlight down to the floor to find the things I dropped. I locate my keys and rape alarm. Bending down, I pick them up and pocket them. I put my bag down near the wall by the door.