“Fifty dollars.”
“Here you go.” I handed him three $20 bills. “Keep the change.”
“Thanks.” He grinned. “Need help with anything?”
“No.” I shook my head, grabbed my bag, and got out of the car. I slammed the door and disappeared into the crowd without another word. It felt weird to be back in the sea of tourists and natives all walking somewhere with a purpose. All going their own ways, not bothering to pay attention to those around them. What stories did these people have? Where were they from? What did they do for a living? What secrets did they hold? Why were they really here? I felt safe in the crowd of nameless and faceless people. I knew why I was here. I was here to remember what it felt like to be in a city with millions of people. Something in the sounds of beeping horns, screaming kids, and buskers was beautiful. The cacophony allowed my mind to focus on something other than the deception that had occupied my every second for the last two days.
I walked down the pedestrian mall in the center of Times Square and stared up at the bright lights surrounding me. They advertised Broadway shows, businesses, TV shows, everything and nothing. I spun around until I felt dizzy. Stopping, I looked around to see if anyone was watching, but no one was paying attention to me. It made me smile, and then I started laughing. I could do anything I wanted and no one would think it was strange—I would just be part of the makeup of the city. That was why I loved New York—anything and everything was accepted. Though that was part of the reason I hated it as well. I didn’t want to be nameless. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted . . .
My phone beeped and I grabbed it from my bag. I frowned at the text message from “unknown.” It’s not over yet, Bianca. It’s not over until everyone pays. Enjoy the bright lights. Darkness will soon be yours again, but don’t fear. I’m always here.
I dropped the phone and looked around me slowly. Was Jakob here? Who had sent the text? Was I being watched? I shivered as I bent down to pick up the phone, relieved to see that it hadn’t broken.
Who is this? I texted back, but a failure message bounced back to me right away: Sorry, this phone doesn’t accept text messages.
Frowning, I put the phone back in my bag. I walked over to the McDonald’s and took a seat against a wall. All of a sudden, the random crowds of people didn’t seem so safe anymore.
Pulling out my phone again, I called the only other person I could think of. The one person I knew had to know something.
“Bianca,” David answered on the second ring, and I almost cried out in relief.
“David, is that you?”
“Yes.” He sighed and lowered his voice. “What are you doing?”
“I’m back in New York.”
“What?” His voice dropped even lower and I could hear the shock in his voice.
“Surprised Mattias let me go?”
“Bianca, you’re not safe.” He sounded worried. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”
“What are you talking about? Why didn’t you tell me about Mattias? He kidnapped me, David. I was on a—”
“Bianca, listen to me. You need—”
“How could you do this to me? Why didn’t you tell me?” I was so emotional, I couldn’t even think straight. “I really liked you, David, and you used me. You should have—”
“Bianca, I wasn’t using you.” He sighed. “Listen to me, please. Let me help you.”
“Why? Why should I trust you?” I cried out. I could see several people staring at me as I talked. I jumped up and walked out of the McDonald’s and down the street quickly. The lack of safety in the crowd could not outweigh my need to hold a private conversation.
“Bianca, there are things you don’t know.”
“Yeah, I gathered that.”
“Where are you?” he whispered. “Let me—”
“Hold on,” I whispered into the phone as I stopped at a newsstand and stared at the front page of that day’s Times. The headline read, “FTC Approves $10 billion Bradley Inc. Merger, Deal Signed This Week.”
“I gotta go.” I hung up fast before quickly picking up the newspaper to read the article.
“Hey, lady, this isn’t the library. You buying that paper?”
“How much?”
“What does it say on the paper?” he snapped.