After they locked up their bikes, Celia hooked her arm through Madeline’s and started strolling down the street, chatting away as she pointed out different shops like she was born to be a tour guide.
The street wasn’t anything fancy, just a cozy stretch lined with little stores all in a row. Celia seemed to know everyone. She stopped to talk with a few shop owners, and whenever they noticed Madeline, they’d send her a warm smile, probably curious about the new face in town. Some of them stared at Madeline a little longer, as if she reminded them of someone they couldn’t quite place.
After they’d wandered for a bit, Madeline slipped away to find a restroom. It was tucked down a narrow alley. Celia didn’t want her to get lost, so she waited right outside, leaning against the wall next to a shop and half-listening to the sounds of the street while she scrolled through her phone, thinking about where they should go for dinner.
That’s when a group of men in black suits came walking up. They spotted Celia standing there with nothing to do and headed straight for her. One of them held out a phone with a photo on the screen.
“Excuse me, have you seen this person?”
Celia was the kind of person who liked to help if she could, so she leaned in to take a look.
She froze. For a second she just stared, then looked up at the men’s sharp suits. She glanced back at the photo, just to be sure.
It was Madeline. No doubt.
Celia’s mind raced. She eyed the men and asked, “Who are you?”
She remembered the news she’d seen online yesterday. She wasn’t clueless about what was going on with Madeline. Julian had left Madeline here to keep her safe while he tried to fix some mess back in their city. This place was off the beaten path. Strangers usually didn’t show up asking questions.
Now, these men were here, and Celia could feel her guard go up.

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