Page 3 of Saint

The figure stands still in front of the headlights, and my heart hammers against my ribs as I watch him.

“I don’t think this is a good idea.” It’s a whisper more to myself than Liam.

He glances over at me. “It’s fine. Watch.”

My heart hammers between my temples. Echoing warnings with each thick coursing of blood through my veins. My chest tightens as Liam reaches for his door, hitting the button to roll the window down.

The cool February night creeps in. A tickle that weaves through the car, fighting against the warm air filtering out of the heater vents. It skitters up my bare legs and tickles the back of my neck.

“Hey,” Liam calls out to the stranger. “Need a ride?”

The stranger’s still for a moment. Not flinching. Not turning. He stands, illuminated by the car’s headlights on this dark night. Seconds pass like hours as I dig my fingernails into the soft skin of my thighs, waiting for him to turn and murder us both.

My breaths are shallow, and my head is light.

One breath.

Two.

I try to tell myself that maybe Liam’s right. Maybe this is just another college student going to the same party in the middle of the woods.

Maybe good deeds can go unpunished.

But when the stranger tips his chin to the side, my breath lodges in my throat at the sight of the mask covering his face.

It’s solid black that melts into the obsidian darkness of the forest. And it’s lit with neon blue Xs for eyes and an evil grin.

He turns to face the car, and even if I can’t see his eyes, I feel his attention on me.

Watching.

Waiting.

Weighing our fate as his arms hang at his sides, and he clenches his hands into fists.

“So, what do you say?” Liam asks, sounding unfazed by the masked stranger walking alone in the middle of the empty forest.

“Sure.” The stranger tips his chin, and the growl of his tone sends a shiver up my spine as he makes his way toward the car.

Intuition.

Instinct.

Something flutters inside me with the heavy beat of my heart.

Butterflies.

2

Breakdown

Violet

The masked stranger climbsinto the backseat behind Liam, and his tall frame makes the sports car seem even smaller. He has to stretch his legs across to the other side just to make room for himself. He’s tall, and in the tight space, he takes up every square inch of it.

The leather seats.

The air.

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