Vanessa's POV.

The cold night air burned my lungs as I sprinted down the sidewalk, weaving through the scattered groups of pedestrians. My legs ached, my pulse hammered, and a sharp stitch stabbed at my ribs, but I didn’t slow down.

I couldn’t.

I had to keep moving.

The neon lights of a convenience store fluctuated up ahead…a dull, buzzing glow against the darkened street. My stomach twisted painfully. Food. Water. Toiletries. I needed them if I was going to survive the next twenty-four hours.

I pushed open the glass door, and the sharp chime of the bell above rang out, cutting through the pounding in my ears.

Inside, the...