Page 28 of Shadowface

I frown and wipe away my tears as I grab my textbook.

“Don’t look so confused, Summer. I want to help you—I wasn’t lying about that—and this is my favorite chapter. It’s an introduction to ethics.”

CHAPTER

TEN

SUMMER

The week goes by. No texts or photos, just a swirling media presence on campus and a statewide search for Cali, who is still missing. Local authorities are refusing to connect Cali’s disappearance with the photo or Shadowface lore, stating there is no proof the two are connected and the distance between the towns is a driving factor in that decision.

It’s like they don’t want to admit what’s blatantly obvious to me.

The party is tomorrow, and even though no one knows who actually plans it every year, the rumor is it’s at the abandoned Fresh Mart.

Kinsmen is a secluded, quiet place. The woods run for miles and miles, very easy to get lost in. None of this sounds like a good idea.

I didn’t call the police after the dirty threats. We read together, then he tested my understanding of the subject matter.

For the next hour, I could almost imagine he was normal, and we were only talking about class. That he wasn’t pretending to be Shadowface and getting off on the pure fear he instilled in me. That he wasn’t controlling my every move by exploiting the persona of a serial killer.

I couldn’t stop listening to his voice as he talked to me, obsessed with every word and how different he sounded from earlier in the conversation. How deep and composed he was, how certain and confident. I pictured that boy in my kitchen but couldn’t place the two together.

As much as I hated it—the thought of it being him—I can’t deny that I finally read it and forced myself to start my paper, and even submitted it on time. It was nice having someone to work through the material with.

It’s psychology class again, the last of the week. Dani, Misty, and I take our usual spots in the back of the lecture hall. Lincoln is in the front row, ignoring everyone with his usual grace and sophistication. He hasn’t looked at me all week; I might as well be dead to him.

I can sense my nameless monster watching me, though… He’s somewhere in this room, even if I’m not entirely sure it’s Lincoln.

Grant and a few of his friends join us. He’s sat next to me all week. His eyes are on my chest during the entire lecture. I’m leaning into him and smiling, flirting more than usual. Not for Grant’s sake, of course, but for him. I’m sure he’s looking, and I’m desperate for some sort of reaction from Lincoln.

The lights dim and Dr. Garcia clicks to the microphone. At just five feet tall, the woman dominates the room. The hall falls silent, as it always does when she’s on stage.

“Congratulations. You’ve made it to the end of week two,” she says. “I hope you all understand the basic concepts of research. If you don’t, I suggest figuring it out quickly, as you will need to grasp the concept to be successful in this class. Your first reflections have been graded and will be available to view. Unfortunately, some of you failed. So let’s pay attention to instructions.” She waves her hands. “And keep up with your readings.”

My heart stutters. There is no way I failed. I submitted a decent paper. I stayed up so late working on it, and I worked with him on it.

“Students who wish to discuss their grades can meet with Lincoln during his office hours on Monday. You are free to argue about it with him, but I promise, he’s difficult and generally, I agree and trust his assessments. You may be better off focusing on your first paper due in a couple of weeks and your reflection on the burning building example due tonight. Today, we are going to finish our discussion on ethics, and next week we will dive into basic principles of psychobiology, otherwise known as the nature side of the coin, which we will discuss at length over the next couple of weeks.”

Burning building example, as if it wasn’t pure debauchery and evil, as if it didn’t really happen. Like it’s some theory in a textbook.

I spend the next hour feverishly writing everything she says in my notebook. I’m behind on readings, so I don’t join the conversation she facilitates at the end of class. No one leaves once the class ends. Everyone opens their phones, tablets, and computers, and checks their grades, including me.

My heart sinks.

An F. I got a fucking F?

Dani nudges me. “How did you do?”

My eyes shoot up at her, bloodshot, I’m sure, as the room crashes in on me.

Her eyes widen. “That bad?”

I press my lips together. “This must be some sort of mistake.” I steal a glance at Misty, who is watching me as if we are in some sort of unspoken competition. “How did you do?” I ask her.

“I got an A-minus.”

Dani gives me a half smile. “I got an A.”