Page 11 of Shadowface

SUMMER

“Why do you want to go to this party so badly?” I ask Dani as we drive back to the house after class.

“Because we get to wear one of those creepy masks all night.” Dani says it without shame and with a devilish smile. Shame, however, rises from the pits of my stomach and blooms in my chest.

We cruise through the windy roads of our town as we pass giant brick houses, rows and rows of homes of people who seem to be thriving here, despite the endless fall and dreary weather. Opulence is evident, with luxury vehicles parked in each driveway.

I fiddle with the party invite, running my hand along the devilish face with eyes that seem to jump out of the picture—eyes that haunt my dreams and seep into my soul.

Shadowface is everywhere.

I grab the overhead handle to keep my balance because Dani drives so erratically. She always drives like a maniac and seems to thrive off fear and danger. Always forcing me on the scariest rollercoasters and cliff diving, doing whatever she can to get a thrill. It’s a wonder I’m not dead already just by driving with her or spending the summer in Europe with her.

“So we have to go worship him and dance around? I don’t really want to wear a mask all night. It’s weird memorializing him, given what he is.”

She seems utterly unconcerned. “That’s exactly why I’m going. It will be so exciting hooking up with a stranger.”

My stomach tingles, but not in a bad way…more like the way when you’re doing something naughty and don’t want to get caught.

“Ugh. Dani, gross. I would never fuck someone when I don’t know what they look like.”

Even though that’s exactly what I did…at least, I think. I’m still not convinced that night was real, but I remember his flesh as I dug my nails into his skin.

Two years ago… That night was two years ago, and I haven’t seen him since.

My nameless monster who tormented my nightmares for years before he finally had sex with me. Every few months, I’d sense him lurking in the corner. Watching. Waiting. Protecting.

I never once saw his face.

She turns her attention away from the road and gives me the most obnoxious smile. “I’ll bet Lincoln and Xander will be there.”

I press my lips together. “Lincoln is our TA. Why would he be there?”

“Ahem… PhD student. Emphasize the student, Summer. And he gave you eyes, I saw it. And he’s not that old; he’s only two years older than you.”

I don’t argue with that; he did give me eyes. Something passed between us when he walked by me and in class. Recognition maybe? My father must have spoken about me to him. My last name is also apparent. He would have seen it on the class roster and potentially made the connection.

“Fine. But Xander seems like he’s taken. Or did you miss that?”

A distant expression flashes over her eyes, and a hint of something predatory flickers in them. “From my perspective, that girl doesn’t own anyone. He was watching me the entire time she was kneeling in front of him. He doesn’t seem interested in her.”

I don’t argue with that, either. When Dani sets her sights on someone, men don’t stand a chance.

I cross my arms in one last act of defiance. “I seem to be the only person in this town bothered by the fact that some creep sent a photo of a nearly naked dead girl to everyone. Why does that not upset you?”

Her hand finds mine on the console. “Shadowface is part of this town, Summer. Don’t fight him; just have fun for once. And girl, you need to get laid. Now quit looking at that invitation like you’re going to throw up on it. We’re going to that party. At least it’s not for a week and a half, so you have lots of time to mentally prepare yourself.”

A spark of heat settles into my veins and starts to build in places it shouldn’t, so I clench my legs together to make it go away. I don’t say anything as desire pulses inside me the rest of the ride home.

We finally pull up on our street and she parks the car in front of our house, pulling the keys out of the ignition. A small Mini Cooper is parked in front of us with heart-shaped bumper stickers on the back. I already don’t like her.

“Relax, Summer. Don’t be so uptight. This party is a tradition, and students have kept it going for years. It’s obviously non-sanctioned, but the university can’t do shit about people getting together in the woods. Apparently, it gets wild, and I’m not missing it.”

The real reason Dani wanted to come to this school is because the parties are epic. We heard everything about them growing up.

I can’t help the nagging sense that something about this is different.

Someone is watching me. Whoever was messing with me last night could identify my exact outfit as I laid in my room. But she’s probably right; whoever Shadowface was, it was a different time. Over twenty years later, the game has changed, and whoever did it wouldn’t get away with it today. Not with wi-fi and surveillance cameras everywhere.