LOVE ALARM

e A

eet him here, away from the eyes and ears of their classmates and the nosy halls of Kingswell High. The park was quiet, illuminated by a few scattered lampposts, a

w, ten minutes had passed, and there was still no sign of her. His mind raced with worry, replaying the events from the night before. He

merged from the shadows, her slender figure outlined against the dim glow of the streetlights.

id softly, st

der her eyes, and she looked like she hadn't slept. "I wasn't sure if you we

her chest, her expression un

frowned

etting involved, Edward. Last night..." Her voice trailed off, and she loo

here, and I'm not sorry about it. Whoever that guy was, he w

isn't something you can fix. It's not some high school

m. "Then tell me what's going on! I've seen enough to kn

ere was no humor in it. "You don't wan

n from a challenge, and Mabel's resistance only made him more determine

the wind. Mabel stared at him, her expression hard, but there was something else i

mping in defeat. "Fine. But if I tell

odded. "

ke sure no one was listening. "You have to promise you won't tel

split second before nod

. She walked over to a nearby bench, gesturing for Edward to sit besi

-

l began, her voice barely above a whisper.

but he remained silen

ssman, and my mom ran a small art gallery. But then, a few years ago, everything changed. My dad got involved with these peo

tried to process what she

iminal syndicate that operates under the radar. They control everything-money, politics

ch churned. "W

ent. After that, they went after my mom and my brother. We had to leave e

tice of it all. "And the guy who was foll

, and they won't stop until they've found us. I thought we wer

ng was clear: Mabel was in far more danger than h

-

his voice steady despite the sto

here's no 'we,' Edward. You don't understand how dangerous t

rm but gentle. "I don't care. I'm no

just maybe, she didn't have to keep running by herself. But she knew better than to believe in fairy tales. The Order wasn't

rd," she whispered. "You don't

determination. "Maybe not,

een fear and something else-something

ing broke the tension between them. Mabel stiffened,

had pulled up to the curb, its windows tinted, its engine

bel whispered, her

ed. They had to g

-

Mabel's hand and pulled her to he

ing in the quiet night. The SUV's engine roared to life, and the car began to follow

htening. He didn't know where they were going or how they were going to escap

w, not

adlights swept over the park. Edward could hear the sound of tires screeching

the fence that bordered the park-a narrow ga

rd shouted, pointi

ard the fence. With one last burst of energy, they dove through the

ward's heart raced, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He

like this," she whisper

es burning with resol

-

ntinued.