Read Online Flashover by Dana Mentink - Free Book Online

squeeze and trotted off across the empty field toward the school gym.
    Ivy swallowed her frustration. As she covered the remaining half mile home, she wondered again about the man who she’d seen lurking around town. Was he the would-be purse snatcher? Or maybe he was part of her cousin’s new “interests,” whatever those were.
    She lay on the couch for a while, tired and grumpy, her stomach complaining about the amount of her mother’s delicious dinner she’d put into it. Finally hauling herself to her feet, she went to Moe’s apartment and gently tapped on the door.
    There was no answer.
    On her way back to her own apartment, fumbling for her keys, she did not hear the sound of soft-soled shoes on the carpeted corridor. The hand that grabbed her from behind was strong and ice cold.

SEVEN
    I vy spun around and screamed.
    The man cried out and fell back a step, flattening himself against the corridor wall. He was short, balding on the top, dark eyes settled close together above a large nose. His mouth twitched and moved as if he were saying a silent confession.
    â€œWhat do you want?” Ivy finally managed. “Who are you?”
    He shook his head, darting a glance down the hallway. “Tell him to hide what I gave him. Don’t let anyone take it.”
    â€œWho?”
    The man’s eyes widened in frustration. “Moe.”
    A realization struck her. “Are you Cyril?”
    He didn’t answer, only shivered slightly and took a few steps away from her.
    â€œWait a minute. Did you set fire to your house?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œIs someone trying to kill you?”
    He looked behind him and tensed. “I’ve got to go. Tell him.”
    â€œHold on,” she called as he took off. She jogged after him, plunging down the stairs in pursuit. His shoes pounded down the steps, heedless of the noise.
    She gripped the rail with one hand and held her injured arm against her side as she careened down after him.
    He burst onto the grounds a second before her. It was almost completely dark, the bare light from a half moon painting his features in stark terror. “I have to get out of here. Just tell him,” Cyril whispered fiercely before he turned and whirled away into the woods behind the apartment building.
    Ivy watched for a moment to detect which way he’d gone. Then her situation settled around her like a heavy cloak. She was alone, in the dark, having just met a man who was running for his life. Then again, maybe she wasn’t alone. Her skin prickled in terror. Whomever Cyril was fleeing from might be watching, waiting for a moment to snag her, too.
    She couldn’t go back up the stairwell into that dark space. The front door to the lobby would be deserted as well. She fumbled for her cell phone. Tim, she had to call Tim. A moment later that hope was dashed. He was at the gym, and she knew he always turned off his phone there.
    The car. She’d make it to the car and drive to the school. Flesh tingling with fear, she tried to look in all directions as she made her way through the parking lot to her covered space. The figure of a man detached itself from the shadows. Her mouth rounded in a terrified scream even as she prepared to run.
    Â 
    Tim saw her dart into the parking lot as he pulled up. He’d been right to come and check on her. Her fear was palpable, even from a distance. “Ivy?”
    She threw herself in his arms, nearly knocking him over.
    â€œWhat is it? What’s wrong? Are you all right?” He tried to pull her to arm’s length, but she clung to him tight until she was able to take a shuddery breath.
    â€œIt was Cyril. He’s on the run.”
    Tim waited until she’d gotten out some of the strange story. He could feel her shivering against his chest. “Cyril came here?”
    She nodded. “He was terrified.”
    He was silent for a moment, eyes shifting in thought. “Okay. I’m