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Left Behind

Sang

I kept the pack above my head and continued to stare at the lot, as if the Jeep wouldspace

But the space we had parked in was empty

The rain that started up was ht to the handles of the backpack, keeping my head protected

I steadiedthe cars nearby No one was out here The cars seemed to be the same as e’d left

And as I approached, I spotted the white round, positioned a little too perfectly in the empty space

I closed er bubble inside of me like I hadn't experienced before in my life

Not now

Not while North was in the back of a truck heading to who knohere and I was alone

I went to theit was the same as other Volto masks, the same he wore all the time It couldn't have been a coincidence

I stood there, debating my options If he had the Jeep, what did that mean? And was it wise to stay here in the lot alone?

North had said if I couldn't reach the Jeep, to use the phone I ran to an awning off the back of the building to protectaround s, soaking my clothes

I took the cell phone out and used the bag to shield some rain from my body as best I could

I flipped the phone open and listened, retreating against the wall of the building

There was an answer instantly “What's wrong?” a feh it wasn't familiar at all

I hesitated Was I supposed to give her a random word to verify? “Fish?” I stammered out

“Nebula,” she said with confidence “Are you okay?”

She must be an Academy member, but because I didn't knoho it was, I wasn't totally sure what to mention and what not to

“Are you there?” she asked

“Yes,” I said “TheJeep isn't here”

She paused “It's gone?”

“I think it's stolen By Volto”

There was a quick gasp and then her voice returned, stronger than before “Where is North?” she asked

“In the back of the truck I don’t knohen or how he’s getting back”

“Listen I'rocery store nearby Go inside No matter what happens, stay in view of people Pretend you're shopping Keep me on the line”

I looked at , dirty and now soaked in the rain, but if she was ada somewhere safe, I wanted to listen Especially since she was the only one I was connected to that would have any idea where I was “Tell my team”

“Already on it,” she said “Trying to find soht”

“North was going to try to get back He’s not going to have his Jeep when he does”

“We’ll get to that First priority is you right now”

I hurried around the corner of the grocery store I scanned the front lot quickly, just in case I caught sight of the Jeep, but it wasn’t there

Just beyond the first set of doors that opened, warm air blasted down onmy hair I scrunched it into a bun and reset the clip Handbaskets sat in a stack near the second set of sliding doors, and I took one

As I entered under fluorescent lights, I keptand working With it being late, certain areas were closed, like the bakery to the far right, but there were plenty of eh shoppers that Volto would have been crazy to try to get me from in here