Page 5 of Welcome to Carnage

As the night goes on, I can’t shake off the feeling that Nyx is watching me from afar. But I don’t see him in the restaurant. I saw him leave. I’m losing the plot.

Maybe Luna was right about Nyx being dangerous. But then again, she also set me up with James, and look how that turned out.

“While this was lovely. I’ve got to go,” I say, expecting James to pick up the check, considering how bad of a date he’s been.”

“What about your half of the check?”

I grind my teeth as my Walmart job doesn’t pay top dollar. I grab two twenties from my purse and shove them at him. “Here.” And then I walk away without another word, deciding that’s the last time I go on a blind date.

I pull my cell phone out of my pocket as I leave the restaurant and order an Uber. Nyx’s words swirl around in my mind over and over.

Your date has more reasons to worry than you think.

Was that a threat?

I honestly have no idea, but I don’t like the way he just showed up like that. Glancing around the quiet street, I sense someone is watching me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my stomach churns.

James is still sitting in the restaurant at the table, now chatting to someone on his cell phone.

Asshole.

He knows how to make a girl feel unwanted, that’s for sure. The Uber pulls up a moment later.

“Uber for Avina Michaels?”

I nod. “That’s me.” I get into the back of the silver Hyundai and settle in, scrolling through bullshit social media. It’s plastered with people airing their entire lives on it. At one time, I used to find it amusing, but now it just bores me.

Despite James being a dick on our date, I hope he gets home safely. After what happened to Darren, I’ve been freaked out ever since. Even if it was a coincidence, it was my first real date, and he got killed. We’d even set a date to see each other again.

“Here we are. Twenty-five Horfield Crescent, right?”

I smile. “Yep, this is me. Thanks!”

“No problem.”

I leave the car and walk toward the front door, fumbling in my bag to find my house keys. Once I get them out, I curse myself for drinking too much wine as I struggle to get them into the keyhole.

“Focus Avina.”

Suddenly, the door swings open, and Luna’s standing there. “What the heck are you doing, Av? The doors unlocked!”

I laugh to myself. “Oops.”

“I don’t know how to tell you this,” she murmurs, an odd look in her eyes. “Come in.”

My stomach churns at the tone of her voice as she ushers me into the living room, where the local news is playing.

I see the headline. It feels like all the blood drains from my body.

Local boy murdered outside Luigi’s.

“Please don’t tell me the boy is James?” I demand.

Pierce is sitting on the sofa, clutching a beer, his jaw clenched. “Yeah, it’s him.”

I drop onto the couch, feeling numb. None of this is a coincidence. Someone is targeting me. And then Nyx’s warning enters my mind.

Your date has more reasons to worry than you think.

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