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ever trusting him at all. I didn’t know anything about him other than what he drank and that he was a college student. Just as my panic rose, catching in my throat, I looked ahead to find an old, abandoned liquor store. To my shock, it was just past a field I recognized…the one from my dreams. I started walking toward the decaying building. Maybe I can find an address and figure out where I am . Hoping this was just another dream, I got up to the building and looked at the tattered numbers on the dirty window. I rubbed the dirt from them with my sleeve. It looks like 143 Anathema , I thought.
    A familiar warm and eerie breath rested on the back of my neck, chilling me to the core and making my beaten skin only burn more intensely. I turned to find my hooded attacker standing no more than ten feet in front of me. My eyes looked past him to see Cole’s car. I felt the man smirk. I stood there the same as before, waiting; but this time, I was not stuck. I was only holding my position. After several agonizing minutes, he took one step forward, letting out a short chuckle. My heart raced, thumping wildly against my chest, and I let a smirk escape. I felt it irritate him as I hoped it would and he lunged toward me. I ran straight at him, lining up a left hook. Just as I was about to follow it through, I dropped below him and ran, almost flying, to Cole’s car. He groaned in anger, overshooting his attack a good twenty feet. He adjusted and headed straight for me at an oddly fast speed. My feet slammed against the dirt road, pleading and forceful. I grabbed the car door and just as I leaped inside, I felt his warm breath on my skin. I held my breath and slammed the door shut.

 
CHAPTER 5
    My eyes shot open to see Jasmine re-slamming her car door next to us. I turned to Cole in absolute terror to find him smiling at me. The smile dropped from his face for a moment. “You okay?” he asked.
    “I am now,” I smiled back. It was the truth. I looked at him and just felt better. He warmed me down to my soul; it was so comforting. Still, no matter how good he made me feel, I knew whoever or whatever that was that attacked me was far from finished. We got out of the car and headed toward the bar. I walked to the back door and he pointed to the front and went inside. I reached out to the door and stood there for a moment, feeling anxious. My fingers gently touched the doorknob, sending the pain and memory of just a few nights ago surging through and tensing up my entire body. I did my best to shake it off and walked through the door.
    I wandered through the hall, clocking in and trying to miss running into Max. I knew I would have to talk to him soon, but maybe in front of patrons he wouldn’t ask too many questions. I walked up to the bar, sunglasses back on and set my stuff under the counter. As I did, I looked up to see Cole sit down with a smile. I smiled back, interrupted by Max, who came storming out of his office in my direction.
    “Where the hell have you been?” He demanded.
    “What? I’m not late; I said I would be here,” I answered.
    “I thought something happened to you. Take those ridiculous sunglasses off!” I turned my head, away allowing my hair to fall in front of my face, completely covering it. I removed the glasses as he commanded.
    It’s going to be ok , Cole said. I looked Max straight in the eyes and watched him tracing my bruises in horror. He allowed a short gasp to escape and quickly pulled himself together, regretting it moments later.
    “What happened to you?” he asked with pain in his eyes. I watched him putting together the pieces; I was afraid of that.
    “She got hit the other night. Probably a drunk driver,” Cole answered. I looked at him a little stunned at first, and then relief followed. Max turned his head and looked at me.
    “Are you okay?”
    “I’m fine. It looks worse than it is.” I hated lying to him. “Mind if I work my whole shift? I need the money to save up to fix