Chapter One

Sky

I'm lost.

A low groan slips out when I realize I have walked past the same coffee shop at least four times now. It's either that, or Austin has the same coffee shop on every block, with the same name and everything.

Something tells me it's the former.

Christ, this is not the time to suddenly lose my sense of direction. Not that there is ever a right time for that sort of thing, but this is definitely not it. As it turns out, I have been walking in circles. No clue how that would even happen since I've been following my phone's GPS, but here I am. Back at the same freaking coffee shop.

This feels like a horror movie where the actress keeps waking up to the same day and cannot move on until she finds a way to break the cycle.

Don't panic!

"You are not stuck in a movie, Sky. You're just a country girl visiting the city for the first time. I bet this has happened to everyone at some point in their lives," I reassure myself.

Long, deep breaths, Sky. . . slow and steady.

I tighten my fingers around my suitcases' handles and force myself not to hyperventilate, trying to figure out where I must have lost my way and why the heck I keep coming back to the same spot over and over again.

I can't keep doing this. It's getting late, and with the sun setting, I need to make sure I am off the streets and checked into my hotel before that happens. All the research I did prior to traveling suggested how unsafe the city is at night. An article I read a few days ago highlighted the nighttime muggings and other crimes done by the city's gangs terrorizing the people they catch outside in this part of town. A shudder races through my body just from the thought alone.

"This is what you get for leaving your little town behind and coming to the big city," a voice at the back of my head admonishes.

"No, this is my dream," I whisper firmly before doubt can take root in my thoughts. Besides, it's too late to second guess myself now. I'm already in Austin, and there is nothing waiting for me back in Marfa.

I rest my back against the brick wall of the coffee shop, shifting my focus from my thoughts to my surroundings, and for the first time since stepping off the bus, I take in the city.

I've dreamed of this very moment all my life.

The moment I would leave behind my dusty little town and move to the big city with its bustling streets and towering skyscrapers that seem to touch the clouds. The air here smells of car exhaust and coffee, neon lights illuminating the evening and casting a vibrant glow on the city. Hell, even the sunset feels different . . . almost magical as the sun slowly disappears behind the tall buildings.

And no, I didn't hate my little town, but I have always wanted more than what I could get there. I wanted to wake up to something other than the same dusty little shops and the mom-and-pop diner that's been there for at least three generations. It's a tight-knit community with the most caring people in the world, but somehow, I didn't fit, especially after my grandmother died.

Nana and I used to talk about this moment all the time, and she'd urge me to go out into the world. She'd tell me all these fascinating stories of her time in the city before she moved to our little town to marry my grandfather and have her happily ever after.

"You need to see the world, Sky. You're not going to find it in this little town."

Well, I'm here now. This is the dream we always talked about.

A smile graces my lips as a sense of calm settles in. It's the first semblance of peace I have felt since arriving in Austin, and I revel in it.

"See, it's not all bad," I whisper to myself, my eyes sweeping over my surroundings, and when my gaze settles on a group of teens leaning against the building across the street, chatting among themselves, my smile grows softer. The teens remind me of the kids back home with their messy hair and clothes. It seems the city and country kids all share the same brain when it comes to what they consider fashion. I bet their minds are wired the same...

Wait—

I straighten up in excitement as an idea settles in. I bet these kids are no different from the ones back home. The teens back home always jump in when you need help; I am certain I can ask these kids for help. My heart flutters with excitement as I pick up my bags before starting toward the boys.

There is a sunny smile on my face as I drag my suitcases behind me, watching for the traffic when I cross the road. I catch the boy's attention, and they briefly stop talking to watch me make my way to them. They say something among themselves before two of them break from the group and approach me with kind smiles on their faces. They look to be about high school age, and that puts me at ease.

"Ma'am," the taller of the two says kindly with a smile that I am sure charms all the girls in his neighborhood. "Do you need help?"

"Please," I sigh, relief clear in my voice. "Would you be kind enough to show me the way to Congress Avenue? I'm a little lost."

"Of course, it's just a few blocks from here," the other kid says with a smile equally as charming. "We'll take you there if you want. Those bags look heavy, can we help you carry them?"

My heart swells with warmth at the offer. These kids are indeed just like the ones from my hometown, always willing to offer a hand when needed.

I let them take the suitcases from my hands, as well my heavy backpack, groaning in relief when the weight drops from my shoulders. Those bags contain all my worldly possessions, so it makes sense they feel like they're full of bricks.

"Follow us," the taller kid says, and starts walking in the opposite direction the GPS kept sending me. I smile as I follow them down the street, taking in the massive buildings in fascination and thinking of all the exciting things I am going to do once I get settled in.

Austin is known for its historical landmarks, and the fact that it's famous for being the live music capital of the world only makes me want to start exploring immediately. I have all the time in the world to do that once I settle down and finish my college registration. I bet the boys know all the best spots to visit.

"What places would you guys recommend visiting?" I ask, shifting my eyes from the massive buildings to the boy walking beside me, except I am met by an unfamiliar face. I offer an apologetic smile before looking around for the boys carrying my bags, but I only see one unfamiliar face after another.

Oh God! Did I lose them in the crowd?

I palm my forehead with a chuckle. I couldn't look any more like a country bumpkin if I tried. I must've been so lost in my own world that I wandered away from them. They must have taken a turn or something, and I missed it. I rush forward, but find myself faced with a dilemma when I reach an intersection and still can't see the boys.

Christ, which way did they go?

I bite into my lower lip, straining my brain, but this is a puzzle I am not going to solve any time soon, and the longer I wait, the harder it'll be to catch up with them.

I turn around to ask for directions, but it seems no one is willing to stop and speak with me as they all seem to have somewhere to be, but when an older lady finally stops, she points not at one of the streets in the intersection, but behind us.

"Congress Avenue is several blocks that way," she says pointing the way I just came. "You must've missed it."

No, that can't be right.

The boys . . . They said . . .

A wave of exhaustion settles in as I try to make sense of what's happening. Did the older lady perhaps get it wrong? That has got to be it because the boys seemed confident this was the right direction.

There seems to be some sort of misunderstanding here, and I refuse to entertain any negative thoughts that try to creep in.

This . . . all of this is just a misunderstanding.

Slow deep breaths . . .

I sold everything I own and used all my savings and my small inheritance from my grandmother to come here, and now . . .

No!

I shake my head and run my trembling fingers through my hair as the possibility that the boys might've robbed me creeps in.

A hysterical laugh bubbles up my throat as the scary thought registers, but I refuse to let it stay.

No way, I think with a panicked chuckle. There is no way I was gullible enough to have gotten myself in trouble only a few hours into coming to the city.

"There is just no way!" I whisper, turning on my heels and running back to the spot where I first met the boys. I'll just find their friends, who can certainly help me get hold of my helpers, and everything will be fine.

Except nothing is fine.

Neither the boys nor their friends are in the spot I found them earlier, and it fully settles in that I let myself get robbed. Hell, I literally handed them my bags with everything from my clothes to my college forms, cash, ID, and credit card inside.

"Oh God," I whisper, the tremble in my knees threatening to send me to the ground, but I force myself to stay up.

Breathe, Sky!

Christ, it's much harder telling myself to breathe when my lungs feel like they're collapsing. I should have followed my grandmother's advice to never trust anyone I don't know in the city, but those boys . . . They were so nice and kind.

They seemed harmless.

With a shaky sigh, I pull my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and look up the closest police department. As with my GPS app, the data connection doesn't work, and I have to into the nearest café and connect to the free internet. The closest police station doesn't seem to be far from my current location. Of course, I still manage to lose my way several times before finding it. I am greeted by a bored-looking man in his mid to late forties, who looks as interested in my story as one would be in watching paint dry.

"So, let me get this straight," he says with a barely suppressed yawn. "You arrive in the city and blindly trust a bunch of strangers to carry all of your bags and then act surprised when they run away with them?"

I bite into my lip and look down before nodding meekly. "Yes."

"Miss," he drawls lazily. "Why would you trust a bunch of kids you have never met?"

Why wouldn't I?

Do I need to look at everyone with suspicion? Is that the mentality I need to adopt for life in the city?

"T-they seemed like nice kids," I offer weakly.

In hindsight, I can see how much of a mistake that was, but in my town, something like this would never happen. The teenage boys would have gladly helped me carry my luggage with a charming smile before running off.

Everything is different here.

The people here frown when you smile at them, and the cops look at you with annoyance when you walk into their station. Hell, no one even stops to ask what's wrong when they see you distressed.

You wanted this,my conscience admonishes again. To be another faceless body in the crowd.

"This is what will happen, Miss Tyler," the officer says with a sigh, one of many he's let out since I walked in. "We are going to investigate and let you know if we come up with something, but in cases like this, it's pretty hard to recover anything."

"I can buy new clothes and shoes; I already called to cancel my cards. I don't care about those things, but my personal records, school forms, letter of admission, and ID are all in my backpack. I need them to register for my classes."

"Like I said, we'll look into that and get back to you," he says. "Write down your contact information and an address where we can reach you."

I grab the pen he hands me and gnaw at my lip as I try to think of what to do. I don't exactly have an address to note down. I was going to stay at a hotel for the night and report to college tomorrow where I would get a dorm assignment, but now, without any documentation or means to pay for a room, that's not going to happen.

"What's the matter?"

I lift my eyes to the officer. "I'm sorry, but I don't have an address to note down. I'll have one tomorrow when I can get moved into my dorm, but I was planning to stay at a hotel tonight."

The cop studies me for a long time before grabbing a notebook and scribbling something down. He tears the paper off the notebook and passes it over to me.

"This is the address to a women's shelter," he tells me. "Just tell them that Officer Rowling sent you, and they will take you in for a few nights. I'll let you know if we find your things."

"Thank you," I say, getting up to leave, but the cop stops me, his eyes flashing with something dangerous, but it's gone so fast I almost think I've imagined it.

"A pretty girl such as yourself should not be walking around this dangerous city. You'll be safest at the shelter."

I grow a little self-conscious when he runs his eyes over my body, so I thank him and quickly exit the station before he or anyone else can see the tears in my eyes. Tear droplets fall on the screen of my phone as I search for the address to the women's shelter, and want to cry when I see it's a thirty-minute walk. At night. I don't have the means to pay for an Uber or taxi. For the first time since coming to the city, I entertain the thought that perhaps I have been chasing a pipe dream.

The city is nothing like I imagined. When Nana told me to go out into the world, she didn't prepare me for how miserable the world would leave me feeling.

And just how lonely.