“I don’t like it.”
“Not exactly wanting to sing from the rooftops either, Kayla, but I have to try something.”
“You’re absolutely, one hundred percent sure it’s her?”
“Yes. Absolutely,” I say. “I’ll be with the others. It’s fine.”
She drops her arm. “Please, please stay safe.”
Kayla would never come. She won’t do anything remotely dangerous.
“You sure you’re coming?” Olly asks.
I turn to him and smile. I probably look like that cringing emoji. “I’m sure.”
“All right, let’s head out,” Andy says. “We stick close together. Cora, stay with Tia and Rebekah, watch the cabins, make sure no one gets near the campers. Mary and Catalina, watch the forest but don’t go into it.”
Olly holds my hand tight and we follow Andy.
I take a breath as we step into the dark woods.
The temperature drops.
Goose bumps raise along my arms.
27
A thick white blanket coats the ground ahead of us.
“Mist,” I say, swallowing a lump of fear. Well, that’s not at all ominous.
I wrap my free arm around my tummy and squeeze Olly’s hand.
“Do you want to go back, Esme?” Andy asks.
“No, I want to keep going.”
Want isn’t quite the right word.
You are fine.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“We’ll check this area and see if there’s anything suspicious. I don’t think we’ll find anything, but it will make everyone back at camp sleep much easier.”
Does he think that the stalker dropped their driver’s license in the forest?
Our feet disappear as we walk into the mist.
“If I was terrorizing a camp, I’d be very careful about leaving Scooby-Doo clues everywhere,” Olly says.
I smile at his Scooby reference.
“If this asshole has left anything, we’re going to find it and catch him,” Jake says.
“I’d like to get my hands on him,” Olly agrees.
Andy looks over his shoulder. “I’d like that too, but we have to be careful with this.”
I can’t imagine Andy in a fight. Not winning one, anyway.
Snap.
We all turn to the left at the sound. My long hair whips against my face.
“What was that?” Olly mutters.
I blink as a sudden flash of light blinds me.
Pictures.
This time the flash is brighter, like our stalker is much closer.
Flash.
Not again.
I spin around. This one came from the opposite direction.
Flash, flash, flash.
I slap my hand over my eyes. The onslaught of light from both directions makes it almost impossible to see. The fraction of a second between each one isn’t enough for my eyes to adjust.
There are orbs of red behind my eyelids.
“Back to camp!” Andy shouts.
I let go of Olly’s hand and we all turn around.
I blink again, wincing at the light. How is it possible that it’s this bright? The flashes are constant.
Without thinking, I take off. My feet thud against the ground as I sprint, the wind whipping at my face.
I can’t see, and I don’t know where the others are.
My stomach coils around and around.
What is she doing?
Does she want to get to me?
The air is cold, and I can barely see between each painfully bright flash of light.
Flash, flash.
Flash, flash, flash.
They’re nonstop now, one after the other, like a rave without music or fun.
“Olly!”
Where is everyone?
“Olly! Andy!”
I cover my eyes with one hand, leaving a small gap at the bottom so I can see the ground a little. My other hand is stretched out in case I hit a tree.
“Where are you?” I call.
Whimpering, I push forward and shout, “Answer me! Olly! Jake!”
Flash, flash, flash, flash, flash.
My head hurts from the bright light, and I cry out.
Biting my lip, I stumble forward.
I can’t hear anything but my own heavy breathing and my own heavy footsteps.
“Andy?”
Where are they?
The light stops.
I gasp and squeeze my eyes shut. When I open them again, all I can make out is the outline of trees and dancing circles of light.
Turning around, I look for the others.
But no one is here.
A chill travels down my back.
Where am I?
I turn my head and crouch on the ground. Fear claws my throat.
Where is everyone?
Where is camp?
I’m lost.
Digging my fingernails into a tree, I say a silent prayer. I’ve never thought much about whether I believe in God, but I will start if I can just get out of here.
In the distance, a sharp crack sends goose bumps up my arms. I turn my head and strain to see into the forest.
My heart stutters.
I don’t know which direction the noise came from.
Whoever is out there, they could be anywhere.
I want to go home.
I flatten myself against the tree when another crack comes closer. Pressing my palm against my mouth to stifle a scream, I slowly lean my head to one side to look around the tree. I stay close to it, my forehead touching the rough bark.
In front of me is someone dressed head to toe in black, with a hood pulled over their head.
I press my lips together as my stomach bottoms out.
Please don’t see me. Please, please, please.
“Esme!” Olly calls in the distance.
“Where are you?” Jake shouts.
Their voices echo through the forest.
My heart leaps. They’re not too far away.
The figure—I’m fairly certain it’s Lillian, even though I can’t make out her face—turns in the direction of their voices.