The Veritas Codes Teaser Chapter

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Rubber tires squeaked against the concrete as Kelsey turned her red sedan into the parking garage. Twelve in the morning was late, but not college late. She shook the growing fuzziness from her head. How could one drink make her feel this dizzy? Then again, it was champagne, and something about those bubbles always hit hard. The mix of alcohol, lack of sleep for the past couple of weeks, and an anxiety level tipping towards an eleven on a ten-point scale… She was surprised she could hold a single thought at this time of night. Her bed beckoned, and she graciously would accept its offer to sleep. 

She wasn’t the only one returning from a night out this weekend. The gray Honda in front of her took the last available spot on the second floor. Circling up to the third level, she found an open space and squeezed in between a Prius and a F-150 who took considerable space over the line. Jerk. Kelsey muttered under her breath, pushing her purse out the cracked door before sliding sideways out of the car. 

She glanced in the backseat. There was no way the ratty cardboard box was fitting out either side. She’d come back for it tomorrow. Ugh. She pinched her eyes shut. It was already tomorrow. Homework, labs, and laundry…there was so much to do, and the day hadn’t even started. She debated if it was worthwhile to open the trunk and crawl through in order to retrieve the box. It would save the trip back to the car later. She stifled a long yawn with the back of her hand; she would come back later. 

Walking up the ramp to the south corner stairwell, she heard a car door close somewhere on the same level. Funny. She didn’t remember anyone entering the garage after her. She glanced behind her and saw nothing. Kelsey gripped the handrail and a frightening thought popped into her head. Was someone hanging out in a car at this hour? Her entire body seized up. Her mind shot back to the warning note stuck under her wiper two weeks ago. She knew their threat was real and had tried to keep a low profile since. Even tonight, she was cautious about returning to campus. Taking extra turns to make sure she wasn’t being followed. There was no one… And yet could someone have been waiting this whole time?

Hastening her step, she entered the second level and ducked behind the tallest car she could find. If someone was behind her, she could let them take the stairs all the way down, then continue for herself. She strained to listen for footsteps over the sound of her beating heart. She waited, reminding herself to breathe. Then she heard it, echoing like a metronome keeping time. Hard boot heels thudded against the steps and then scrapped against the paved concrete. The sound was coming closer. Kelsey’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a scream. She wasn’t paranoid. She was being followed! 

Her instincts urged her to run. Run fast. Run far. But her mind fought the impulse and bartered for a plan first. Fleeing to her dorm wouldn’t be smart. They knew where she lived, and it wouldn’t guarantee safety. No, her car was the best option. One floor up and she could drive somewhere safe and hide. Kelsey found the longest, sharpest key on her ring and gripped it between her knuckles. She was ready to run, but if it came to it, she would go down swinging. The footsteps echoed away from her position. She bobbed between cars, staying low. She passed the last car before the stairwell, and heard a noise right behind her. Her grip on the keys tightened and a jagged edge scraped the inside of her middle finger drawing blood.

 It was go time.