She glanced at her watch, biting down in frustration. Only seven minutes had passed. It felt like a lifetime. The shadows stretched long across the road, the hum of distant traffic mocking her with its normalcy. Nothing felt normal anymore.
The dog let out a sharp bark, then whimpered, pawing once at the blanket. The movement stirred the bundle, shifting it just enough for another squeak to escape. Tina’s body jolted. It was alive and seemed to be clinging to life.