There were musicians and clowns in the park, and children laughed with delight while adults shook their heads in disbelief at the street magicians. Laughter was everywhere when the street magician guessed a card and then pulled it out of some girl's hair. It was as if everyone else could feel my joy and elation too.

I glanced over at the women's bathroom and I frowned. God, of course, there was a line. Could I hold it until I got to Kingston and find another bathroom?

No.

I trudged over as the first hint of drizzle permeated air. Ugh! Fantastic.

As I stood in the line, I shifted on my feet. The chill I'd experienced when I first stepped off the bus hit me again. I frowned and turned around, but I didn't catch any glimpse of the man with the icy blue eyes. A woman with a baby squalling in a stroller came up behind me, and she reached in to stroke the little baby's hand. It was a toddler about age three, doing the universal pain-in-the-ass cry.

"You can go ahead in front of me."

The mother fed me a grateful smile and so did the little boy. All full of baby teeth and something blue sticking on his lips.

The woman in front of me saw what I had done, and she rolled her eyes before stepping aside and saying, "Yeah, go on you two."

In a tick, the woman was up to the front, the toddler boy saved by the kindness of strangers.

I watched as two teenagers holding hands giggled and ran by to the side of the building.

I looked ahead of me, and at least six women stood in line outside, which told me at least two more were inside as we waited. I could step around and catch a picture of the young teenagers in love then come right back and still be in the same spot. I skipped around the corner.

But I couldn't find the couple. "Hello?"

I was going to sneak up on them and just photograph them in the moment. I hoped I could get a photo of them at least hugging or something.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood at attention again. Something told me, run.

But like all those times when I’d made Easton angry, the way that little voice had screamed inside me, Run. Run away. Don’t come back. Run. I didn’t listen.

Instead, I whipped around, ready to confront whoever it was giving me the heebie-jeebies because I refused to be afraid anymore. And there was the man with the ice-blue eyes. "Boy, you are a tough one to get a hold of."

"Why are you following—"

I couldn’t finish my question. Something was shoved over my head and blackness surrounded me. Jesus Christ…

He was going to kill me.

To be continued in London Soul…