A Stranger Among Them

Leah forced her legs to move, crossing the room toward the bar. The air felt heavier with every step, but she ignored the lingering stares and slid onto a barstool.

The bartender didn't speak. He just watched her, expression unreadable, as he set the polished glass down.

She cleared her throat. "Just water."

A flicker of amusement crossed his face, but he turned without a word, grabbing a glass and filling it from an old-fashioned tap. Leah drummed her fingers against the counter, pretending not to notice how the room was still unnervingly quiet.

The bartender placed the glass in front of her. "Not from around here, are you?" His voice was smooth, but something about it sent a shiver down her spine.

Leah met his gaze. "That obvious?" She took a sip, the cold water grounding her for a moment.

He smirked. "Very."

From the corner of her eye, she saw a man in the shadows lean forward, his intense stare never leaving her. Others whispered, but too quietly for her to catch what they were saying.

She swallowed hard. What the hell kind of town was this?