Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 883(@200wpm)___ 706(@250wpm)___ 589(@300wpm)
I looked more like myself again, for now.
I brushed my teeth slowly and forced my thoughts to stay in the room, not drifting back to her. I dropped the brush into its holder after I clamped the mint cap on, then I reached for the dish by the sink. I slid the first barbell back where it belonged.
Then the second.
Each piercing, every scar, every drop of ink—I made a vow with all of them. I couldn’t forget marked moments, even when I wanted to. I still had one more to go for each. A little more ink wouldn’t hurt, especially if it was for her. I had a few tattoos. Some meant more than others, but none were random. I hadn’t turned myself into a doodle board. The symbol behind my ear was for family and legacy. The Latin on my ribs was for the oath I took. Inked close to the center of my chest—SFV.
All three letters of her name.
It was etched into an infinity symbol, with the date of the promise we made when we were kids. Just below that hung my half of the heart necklace, strung on a blackened chain I never took off. I kept it tucked under my jersey when out on the field, considering the pendant a good luck charm.
I pumped some lotion into my palm and worked it into my arms, chest, and shoulders. When I finished, I let the towel fall to the floor and climbed into bed. The sheets were cool and clean, smelling like detergent and me. No other body had touched them, but mine.
I grabbed my cell and tapped out a quick text.
Goodnight, Sass.
I set the phone face down on the nightstand, exhaled slowly, and let myself sink deeper into the mattress.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
SANJANA
For the second time that week, the relentless chime of my phone jolted me awake. I groaned, blindly reaching toward the nightstand, fingers walking across the surface until they brushed over the screen. I dragged the phone off and cracked one eye open.
“What the hell?”
Seventy-four messages?
I opened the other eye. No, this wasn’t a text, but a group chat I was added to with seventy-four participants. Did I even know that many people? I blinked against the light, trying to make sense of the mess. The name of the thread glared back at me in bold caps:
TEO
Right at the top was a pinned message from a four-digit number, different than the one I kept blocking.
1225
What’s your favorite scary movie?
Doesn’t matter. I’m about to rewrite the script.
The message count climbed faster than I could read.
Mehgan Darnell:
What kind of bullshit is this?
Eric Grady
Yo, who the hell made this group? Not cool, man.
Olivia Martinez:
LMAO! What’s your favorite scary movie? Serious? I’m going to say Scream just for the vibes.
😂😂😂
Ashton Hayes
Whoever this is, you’re going to be reported for harassment.
Rachel Thompson
The Shining easily. Redrum all the way.
Cade Voss
Have I been officially Marked? Finally. Everyone was getting notes but me.
Ellie Newton
Ohhh, this is getting mysterious. Who’s behind this? I might just like it 😏
Then, like a shadow stepping into the light, a new admin appeared.
0426
You’re just dying to find out, aren’t you?
Careful… curiosity killed the cat. Or maybe something worse.
↳ Replying to Ellie Newton
Jason Rowe
Crows Hunt baby!
Roxxanne Sterling:
Nicholas, what is this?
Ryder Voss
I'm impressed someone managed to get all of our phone numbers.
Nick Blackwell
That’s not my fucking name, Vixen.
I didn’t do this, tf. I’m added too.
Also, good morning.
A new reply lit up immediately beneath his:
Brandon Dawson
Woah. A simp.
↳ Replying to Nick Blackwell
Aiden Carter
Woah. A dead guy.
↳ Replying to Brandon Dawson
Brittany Klein
It can’t be Nick. He’s the Hemlock Host this year and has done absolutely nothing worthy of the job.
Nick Blackwell
You volunteering?
Ethan Light
How do I leave this chat?
0426
When you die.
↳ Replying to Ethan Light
Cade Voss
I’m going back to bed.
More names and messages flooded in. Everyone had something to say, and there was a major difference of opinion on how to take the chat. A few people were annoyed. Others were too amused for my liking, amped that The Hunt was one day closer, like this was a game they couldn’t wait to play.
I scrolled to the top of the thread and tapped open the participant list. I recognized more names than I expected to, including my closest friends.
I almost dropped a reply in like everyone else, pretending I wasn’t the least bit rattled, but I had been doing too good of a job ignoring the private texts to throw myself in a whole gauntlet of them. This wasn’t some random prank. It was tied to The Hunt, and I wasn’t about to give whoever was watching the satisfaction of a reaction. I muted the chat and tossed my phone onto the bed as I flopped onto my back, my eyes fixed on the ceiling.
Last night had been... a lot.
I may have had a tiny breakdown and gotten too deep in my own head, overthinking everything I possibly could. It lasted until the food showed up. Of course, I ate every bite. I wasn’t letting that Alfredo or tiramisu go to waste. Afterward, I pulled myself together enough to face the girls. All the while, they weren’t having a much better day than I was—Ari excluded. She’d been on emotional standby in her room, waiting for the all-clear. Roxxi was halfway to getting dressed in all black, like she was about to commit a robbery or murder.