WHY ME

A Strange

s Point

a drum. The woman's voice came again, sharp and smo

smile that didn't feel friendly. My phone sat on the table, the mystery text glowing: "Don't trust him, Elara. He's not who

ce shaky. I kept the door locke

I know Dante Sinclair. And you n

top it. I unlocked the door and opened it just a crack, enough to see her better. She was tall, with fancy e

I asked, keeping t

e growing. "Can I come in? It

of laundry on the couch. I didn't want her inside, but I needed answers. I sl

er nose wrinkling a little, but she didn't say anything. I closed the door and crossed my arms

said, my v

she said. "He's using you. That contract? It's a lie. He's done this before, you know

e you talking about? I

tell you about his promise?

said he promised someone to look

how he works. He finds girls in trouble, offers them the world, then takes

ok, and I clenched them into fists. "Why s

ids. I loved him once. I thought he loved me too, until he broke my heart. H

here I'd gripped it. I wanted to scream that she was wrong, that Dante's offer was real. But what

t me?" I asked, my vo

te. When I heard he was sniffing around some pregnant waitress, I

shaky. "Get out," I sa

. Sign that contract, and you'll regret it." She walked to the door,

aught. "Tha

behind her, my hands trembling so bad I could barely turn the bolt. I sank onto the couch, my heart racing. Celes

t what did I know? I was just a waitress, drowning in bills, with no one to trust. I put

morning, my eyes were heavy, and my head hurt. I had to decide. Sign the contract and take Dante's help, or

d before I even started, and my apron felt tighter around my belly.

a ghost," she said, eye

e, the contract, Celeste, but I didn'

't push. "Table two's waiting,"

les. But my mind was somewhere else. At noon, my phone rang in my p

I'm at the park a

face him. I told Mr. Jenkins I needed a break and walked to the park, the contract folded in

a suit. He looked up as I approached, his face un

ame to my apartment last night," I said, watching his face. "

leste Adam," he said, like the name tasted

bout the contract. She knew about

you. Celeste is... she's jealous. She's been trying to g

ud. A kid nearby stopped kicking a ball to sta

And she wants to hurt me back. But I swear,

it up. "Then tell me the truth. Who made you

a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. T

father? I don't even know him! H

ied, he asked me to find you. To protect you. I didn't know you wer

me in foster care? I didn't know what to say. It felt like t

out. I jerked away, and he

the park, its tires kicking up dirt. The window rolled down, and I saw a man inside, his face hidden by su

rm and pulling me behind the tree just