Page 18 of Always Right Here

She released me and I immediately swung around, grabbing for her in the dark. Her tiny cell phone light shone in front of us and all my senses came rushing back to me. Hushed, panicked murmurs sounded across the room.More cell phone lights clicked on, casting dancing shadows over the walls.

My breath still heaved in my chest as Korie wrapped an arm around my shoulder and guided me to the couch, handing me over to my mom. I looked up, relieved to see everyone’s faces again, even if they were obscured in the dim light.

Korie crouched down in front of me, taking my face in her hands and guiding me to look at her.

“Do you have any candles we could light?” She asked.

I nodded, pointing to the armoire on the wall across from us.

“Good,” she smiled. “Good job. Can you go do that for me while I check everything out?”

“Wait,” I surged forward, only stopped by her grasp tightening. “Don’t go, please.”

“I have to go make sure everything is clear so everyone is safe. I won’t let anything bad happen.”

I let out a deep breath, squeezing my eyes shut as I nodded again.

“Very good.” She released my face and pushed to her feet, turning to Eddie and my dad. “The breaker is in the garage, can you two take a look while I check outside?”

They nodded and headed for the garage. Korie turned towards me again.

“I’ll be right back, okay? Get those candles lit for me.”

She disappeared out the front door and panic started to rise in me again. I knew she needed to make sure everything outside was safe, but I needed her with me. Next to me, my mom gently grabbed my elbow and guided me to my feet.

“Show me where those candles are, hon, we will set them out together.” Her sturdy, calm voice brought me down just enough to function. “Everyone try to relax. Edward and Eddie should have the lights back on shortly.”

I followed my mom over to the armoire and carefully took out all the emergency candles I had along with a few flashlights. As she gathered the flashlights and left my side to distribute them amongst the guests, the vibration of my phone lodged in the side of my bra broke my fragile concentration. I let the lighter fall from my hand as I fished the phone out.

Your little girlfriend is going to get exactly what she deserves.

I didn’t care how scared I was or who was out there trying to get me, I needed to get to Korie. I broke into a sprint towards the front door andslammed face-first into the wall that was my father.

“Where are you going, Riah? You need to stay here.”

He tried to take me into his arms, but I slipped past him. I didn’t care what happened to me, Korie could be out there hurt…or worse.

Right before I reached the door, the lights flickered on. The music flooded through the speakers. The whirring of the refrigerator started again. Then Korie walked back through the door, eyes glued to her phone.

I ran to her, doing everything I could internally to not throw myself in her arms.

“What happened? Did you find anything?” I settled for grabbing onto her forearm.

“Everything is okay.” She slid her arm back and took my hands in hers. “Let’s have everyonego home, I think there’s been enough excitement for the night.”

I agreed and recruited my mother to help me politely excuse the guests. Without hesitation, they all gathered their things and said their goodbyes and well wishes before filing out the door. Once they were gone, it was just me, Korie and my close family that remained. Korie summoned us all to the couch to debrief.

“So, what happened?” Chrissy asked, gently rocking the baby in her arms.

I grabbed the note and my phone from my bra, opened the text message and set them both on the coffee table between us.

“I found this note when I went up to my room to freshen up,” I pointed to the paper. “And then this text came in when Mom and I were lightingthe candles.”

Korie grabbed the note and phone. I squirmed as she read them both aloud. Gasps sounded around the circle and my stomach dropped, finally able to take in the severity of the situation. I wanted to resist thinking about how bad it really was, but there was no denying it now.

“What about the security system?” My dad asked. My stomach churned at the worry in his voice.

Korie stiffened. Her jaw tightened before clearing her throat.