Page 119 of Pretty Little Fears

“Good, you know.So,Idon't have to be the one to tell you that you were friends with a complete sicko.”Grimmconcludes, grabbing his own glass of whiskey and throwing it back.

“Ididn't know at the time.Thisis a more recent discovery.Iassume you’re here asking for me to cover things up for you.Tomake sure no one knows it was you two behind his death?”

“That'scorrect,”Istate.Grimm’sdad is a reasonable man.Aloyal one, much like his son.

“Thatwon’t be an issue.Hewas involved in a dirty business.Thereare many enemies you can make in that world.Let'sjust say it must have caught up to him.”Tippingback his whiskey, he finishes his glass before setting it down.

“Thanks, dad,”Grimmsays.Wetalk for a few more hours, ironing out all the details and how to spin the story like a beautiful web, making sure to paint the most believable picture.

Withoutthe worry of the law on my back,Ifeel the last bit of remaining weight surrounding the past start to slide off my shoulders.Therewill be a burdenIalways carry, oneIcan't get rid of.Thememories will forever stay engraved in my mind, but at leastIwon't be stuck in jail or six feet in the ground.I’llbe able to live my life peacefully with my little obsession.

Afterour conversation withGreg, he launches an investigation for the missing students.Atour meeting, he confirmed thatJameshad never opened an investigation on any of the disappearances, which led the police to believe he was involved in every single one, besidesBraxton’sbut that’ll stay betweenGrimmand me.Jamesfibbed to appease the worrying student body, in hopes no one would question him any further.

Wewere the first to receive any and all updates fromGregabout the students and where they stood.Ittook weeks to track everyone down, butGregmade it happen.Hedidn’t rest until every name was accounted for.Unfortunately, some didn’t make it home alive.Instead, their lifeless bodies, or what was left of them, were returned to their families and laid to rest.

Thelucky ones, if we can call them that, returned home safely to their loved ones, attempting to return to normalcy as fast as possible.Moststudents chose not to return toBlackwood, the trauma and healing process being too much to handle on top of attending one of the most prestigious schools in the country.Andthe place that stole things from them that can never be returned.

Ifanyone understands their feelings firsthand, it’sBlair.I’veseen what it’s done to her.Howit’s affected her mental state, her bubbly personality has withered, but a fire has been lit inside of her.She’staken her fears and molded them into ammunition.Hergun is locked and loaded, ready for anyone who comes her way and tries to fuck with her.Myheart swells thinking of my brave girl and how far she’s come in such a short amount of time.

Unableto resist being away from her for too long,Idecide to pay her a surprise visit like the good old days.Crazythat those days seem like years and years ago but in reality, it’s only been a few months.Herpresence or lack thereof, has the ability to manipulate the speed of time.Toomuch time away, andI’mitching to feel her next to me again.

HereIcome, my little obsession.Backto you, always and forever.

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

BLAIR

I’mpackinga bag for my weekend trip when there’s a knock on my bedroom window.Myspine stiffens asIfreeze in place, unsure of who the fuck would be standing outside my house and knocking on my window instead of my front door.

Theknock sounds again andIslowly walk over to the window to peel back the curtains.Myheart hammers in my chest at all the possibilities of the unknown.

“Sofucking stupid!”Iwhisper to myself.Iresemble the dumb girl in the horror movies that everyone yells at to turn around because they’re very clearly doing the wrong thing and setting themselves up to get killed.

Itry to slow my breathing asIcreep towards the window.Imean, it’s early morning,I’msure no one is out there.Itwas probably just the wind or a branch hitting the glass.Convincingmyself it was nature and definitely not the knock of a human fist,Idraw back the curtain.

Myheart practically stops beating whenIsee the figure of an actual person on the other side.Thescream in my throat never makes its way out as the person beyond my window registers as none other than fuckingEmmett.Annoyed,Iunlock and push up the window.

“Youscared the shit out of me!Whydidn’t you go through the front door like a normal fucking person?I’malready yours, do we have to keep up with the creepy stalker vibe?”Iquestion.

Thealready devilish smirk on his face grows larger as he leans forward, placing his arms on the sill.

“Whatfun would that be?Iwanted to remind you of the last timeIcrawled through this window while you slept so peacefully in your bed.”

Heatfloods my core at the reminder of the timeIwoke up withEmmettbetween my legs.

Shakingmy head,Iignore the lustful thoughts and walk away from the window, going back to packing.Ican hear him crawl inside behind me andIdon’t make it very far beforeEmmett’sgrabbing my neck and pinning me down to the bed.Hishands immediately push up the skirtIhave on, bunching it at the waist.

“Emmett!Whatare you doing!Ihave to pack,” his hand lands down hard on my ass making me yelp.

“Yeah?Well,Ihaven’t eaten today andI’mfucking starving.Packingcan wait.”Hegrowls while grabbing my panties and ripping them.

Thesound of the fabric tearing can be heard vaguely under the gasp that leaves my mouth.Thefabric burns as it digs into my skin before it finally gives away and snaps.

“Emmett,”Igroan. “Iliked those.”

“Didyou?”Hecoos, fake sympathy lacing his voice.Igive a little nod and turn to look over my shoulder at him.Iopen my mouth to respond when he shoves them between my lips and clamps his hand overtop. “Betyou’ll like them even more whenIgag you with them.”

Withhis hand clamped over my mouth,Ican’t spit them out and my words become muffled.Hetakes his foot and kicks my legs open, spreading them.Myskirt raises higher.

---