Page 23 of Shadowface

Dani gazes down at the phone I’m gripping, my knuckles nearly white. “You like the mysterious types who don’t have a name.”

My eyes shoot upward.

“If you don’t want to go out with him, I will,” Misty says in a cheery voice from behind us.

I snap my head toward her. “He’s not into you; he’s into me.” My face turns as red as a cherry as I continue, “I mean, Grant was actually talking to me, Misty. He asked me out, not you.”

Misty freezes in her tracks and takes two steps backward, stammering, “I’m sorry, it’s just…you just said you weren’t interested in him.”

I run my hands through my hair and rest them on my hip. “I haven’t decided if I’m into him or not,” I tell her. Reflecting on my words as they come out of my mouth, I barely recognize myself.

It’s not me.

Dani releases my arm and frowns. “Summer, don’t be like that.” My gaze flickers between Dani, who’s scowling, and Misty, whose tear-filled eyes betray her efforts to remain composed.

As I watch the campus slowly empty, I breathe in the peaceful late afternoon air, savoring the stillness that envelops the trees. “I’m just stressed out about school,” I tell them quietly. “It’s more overwhelming than I thought it would be, and I miss my dad.”

I contemplate the late night I am about to have, thinking about the morbidity of what we are being asked to write about next week, and the fact that Dr. Gracia was here during the fire. I stomp off ahead, a flush hitting my cheeks, not wanting Misty to see me flustered.

“You didn’t mean what you said,” Dani yells. “It’s a forty-five-minute walk, Summer, and it’s raining! Let us drive you.”

I ignore her and keep walking. I’m unsure why I have these outbursts of jealousy. It’s like my nameless monster left a hole in my heart, leaving me with nothing but my insecurities I’m desperately trying to hide.

“I’m sorry, Misty,” I call over my shoulder without looking back as tears start to form at the back of my eyes. Maybe if I walk home through the woods, under the cover of the trees, he will finally show himself.

CHAPTER

NINE

SUMMER

Iwalked the path through the woods toward the forest near Dani’s and my home, yet he never showed himself. It was stupid to think he would, that he would chase through the forest and claim me.

Or kill me…since that was what he always said he’d do.

And that’s what Shadowface does.

He kills people.

He kills girls…

So why did he fuck me that night instead of killing me? That decision point I saw in his eyes through his mask, his hatred pouring out of him before something shifted and he became my lover instead.

Dani and Misty are both locked away in their rooms when I arrive home. I’m cold, tired, and utterly dead inside. The chill from earlier has settled deep into my bones, and I can’t seem to get rid of it.

I hover outside Misty’s door, ready to apologize, but I hear her on the phone, so I let it be. Instead, I head into the bathroom, discard my clothes, and run the shower as hot as it can go. Once finished, I wrap myself in a towel, step out into the hall, and dart up to my small attic bedroom.

I don’t bother shutting my blinds as I bend over and try to find something warm to put on. The cool air pebbles my nipples as I wring out my hair, realizing my window is open, though I distinctly remember shutting it.

A cool wind hits me as I stride to my dresser and pull out the lace bra and panties I bought three weeks ago that matches both pictures SF sent out. I pick a comfortable sweater dress that hovers just over my knees and settle into my bed, grabbing my computer and laying my head back on the soft headboard behind me.

I start clicking away on another assignment, but it’s not long before I hear a buzzing from my nightstand. I unconsciously reach for it, a small smile escaping my lips at the sight of his name.

I run my hand through my hair and take my time, not reading it right away. After a few minutes, my curiosity gets the best of me. I swipe my thumb on the message that’s waiting for me.

SF: You can do better than him.

I lean my head back on my headboard with my knees up, letting my dress hang loose over my thighs, and start clicking my response.