Chapter 13

• Kat drove deep into the woods, and I watched the trees pass by in silence. We drove for about ten minutes until we spotted another paved road. I let my fingers wander to my cheek, wincing at the soreness. Darren had never hit me in the face before, and I wondered how long it would take for my face to swell and bruise. Hopefully, it would hold off until I made it safely home. I didn't bother letting Lauren know where I was; I didn't have her number anyway.
• Kat turned down another road, and my jaw dropped as a small town nestled in the middle of the forest came into view. It looked shiny and new, with a sprinkling fountain in the middle of the town square. There were a few shops, including a coffee shop and a little diner.
• "Wow," I gaped, looking around the town square. People were out and about, walking down the sidewalk and sitting on benches. Some were planting flowers or maintaining the grounds.