eeks. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the sharp scent of pine trees. She stepped

teps crunching against the

was red from exertion. She sprinted past Dakota and planted

Her eyes were wild with frustrati

at the spoiled girl in fron

ached out with both hands, aiming to rip

ed down on Cindy's right wrist like a steel vi

hroat. Pain shot up her arm, fo

throwing the girl off balance. Dakota raised her right han

he empty driveway. The i

y bloomed across her left cheek. She stumbled backward, her hands

voice cracked. "You worthless pi

hand, shaking off the

tting your hands on me," Da

atred. She dropped her hands, a

Cindy sneered. "Euless and I a

fiancé. Her heart did not skip a b

a step closer, trying to reclaim her power.

triumphant face. She let

aid. "You picked up the gar

ned purple. She let out a scream of rage and lunged fo

tared at Cindy. A heavy, suffocating p

Her feet stopped moving. Her hands droppe

her," Dakota said. She turned her back on Cin

the driveway. Her fi

n the gutter," Cindy sc

te. She stepped through the pedestrian opening. The heavy

pulled her phone from her pocket and checked

tered the quiet morning. It sou

paint was peeling off the hood. Thick black smoke pour

akes squealed loudly as the vehicle st

ul screech. A middle-aged man with a kind, ap

the man asked. He wiped

raised an eyebrow. She reached out, grabbe