He escorts me back down the hall, into the lobby. In a trance, I thank him. The woman’s pink knitting now reaches her lap, her needles continuing to clickclickclick. Several individuals seated along the benches lift their heads as I pass, their gazes following me through the one-way glass. When the sunlight hits my skin, I don dark glasses on autopilot and retrieve an elastic from my bag to wrap my short hair in a messy bun. A trio of men on the sidewalk stops their conversation to watch, and my body stiffens instinctively. I take off down the steps, around the corner, at a speed I hope is assertive and not intriguing, not even caring when my hair tumbles to my shoulders once more.

Valentin’s words ring in my head. Series murderer. If someone out there is aiming to finish with me what they started with Angela—to finish the task—it’s going to take a lot more than a change of hairstyle to stop them.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

from: Angela Darby <[email protected]>

to: “Darby, Shayna” <[email protected]>

date: Jan 12, 2015 7:32 a.m.

subject: Greetings from France (Adventures Abroad)

Dearest Shayna—

Holy stinky cheese, Batman, I’m in PARIS! Yaaaassss! This first week has been filled with pastries, poor directions, an abundance of body language (*wink wink*), and my French roommate seems pretty cool en plus. There’s this crazy-hot guy downstairs, and we haven’t talked yet, but I think he’s in my International Conflict class. I’m hoping he needs a study buddy this semester. Naw’m sayin’?

Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself: I miss you so much! Seriously, Shay, I’m sorry for the tiff we had at New Year’s. I know you were part annoyed at Teddy’s flirting with me (he’s not worth your time, honestly), and part worried that I was leaving, but I feel really, really good about this move. And it’s only for a semester. Here, in the Sorbonne’s massive international student residence hall, in the middle of Paris, with random French Army guards who walk around with automatic weapons (seriously. Democratic socialism is intense), I feel completely safe. Ever since the first day of orientation at UCSD, when we visited the Education Abroad booth, I’ve had visions of crêpes raining powdered sugar, and it’s so lovely being here now.

Being so far from you does feel weird, though. You never said it, but I’m well aware it’s the first time you and I have been more than one hundred miles apart. I hope you’ll come visit. Paris would freak over our American, sassy-pants twinning. (I’ll have the pants ready; you bring the sass.) Single births surround me, and while life is incredible here, it would be great to experience it with you.