JUNIPER'S POV

My heart races wildly in my chest as I stare at the figure standing just outside my apartment building. The street stretches out ahead of me, long and empty, and I realize it will take forever to reach the end if I don't do something now. A part of me wants to scream, hoping someone in the apartment will come out, but I know it might only get me killed.

For a split second, I freeze, my legs feeling like they're glued to the pavement. My breath hitches, my pulse throbs in my ears. ...