Page 33 of Thy Kingdom Come

And this is the reason I shouldn’t have come.

Punky is smart, and he will eventually figure out why I’m here. That’s a given. What remains unknown is what he will do when he does.

“Nothing,” I reply, and I mean it.

“I don’t believe ya,” he rebukes calmly. “I think yer here for a reason. I just haven’t figured out what that reason is.”

The reddening of my cheeks betrays my horror because if he continues to dig, I wonder what he’ll find.

“Well, good luck with that. Goodbye, Puck Kelly.” I push past him, and this time, he lets me leave. With my back turned, hand poised on the door handle, Punky makes it clear, however, that I can’t run forever.

“But I will, Babydoll. I promise ya that.”

His cautioning isn’t meant to scare, but rather, warn me of what’s ahead.

Needing to get out of here before I crumple, I quickly open the door and walk briskly down the driveway with Punky’s warning sounding loudly in my ears.

I am so fucked.