Page 91 of The Rookie's Second Chance

"At Godwin's liquor," Kayla answered, her voice steadier now.

"Right, okay, thanks," Jake said, and they exchanged a brief goodbye before hanging up.

As I ended the call, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Jake's questions were too specific, too calculated. He was trying to communicate something to Kayla, but what? I couldn't let my guard down, not now when I was so close to getting what I wanted.

I turned to Kayla, my mind racing. "You did well," I said, though my suspicions still gnawed at me. "But don't think for a second that you're safe. This is far from over."

I tightened the ropes around Kayla, ensuring she couldn't move an inch. Satisfied with my handiwork, I left her there, a heap on the moth-eaten bed, and headed out to the van. My heart was racing. This was it, the moment I'd been preparing for.

The van was a mess, cluttered with my hastily gathered belongings. I rummaged through the bag, finding my makeup kit and a brush. I needed to look perfect for Jake. He had to see me, really see me, as the woman he was meant to be with.

I lugged the bag back into the cabin, setting it down with a thud. The bathroom was a reflection of the cabin's overall state – rundown, forgotten. But it didn't matter. I could transform myself anywhere.

I started with foundation, carefully blending it into my skin. Each brush stroke was methodical, a ritual to calm my racing thoughts. I chose my eyeshadow – a soft, smoky hue. It had to be enticing, not overwhelming. As I applied it, my mind wandered to Jake, his smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. I'd seen that smile directed at me, even if he didn't realize it yet.

Next came the eyeliner, a precise line to accentuate my eyes. I wanted Jake's gaze to be drawn to mine the moment he saw me. Mascara followed, thickening my lashes.

My lips were last. I chose a subtle shade, nothing too bold. I wasn't trying to shock him, just... entice him. Show him what he'd been missing. I practiced my smile in the mirror – not too wide, just a hint of longing. Perfect.

Satisfied with my appearance, I stepped out of the bathroom. Kayla was still, her breathing steady. She'd finally fallen asleep. Good. Her constant whimpers and pleas were grating on my nerves.

I took a moment to look at her, tied up and helpless. A part of me felt a twinge of guilt. She didn't deserve this. But it was necessary. She was the only thing standing between me and Jake.

As I gazed at her, my mind drifted back to the plan. Jake would come; he had to. And when he did, he'd see me, really see me. He'd realize that we were meant to be together. All this... mess, it was just a means to an end. A way to show him the depth of my love.

The silence of the cabin was my companion as I sat there, waiting, preparing myself for the moment Jake would walk through that door. Every second felt like an eternity, but I knew it would be worth it. Soon, everything would fall into place.

I wanted to share this moment with someone, wanted to tell Jude how close I was to getting everything I ever wanted. But then the harsh reality hit me – Jude was gone. I killed him.

Anger boiled inside me. It was his fault, not mine. He was going to betray me, going to hand me over to the authorities. He was going to ruin everything we had worked for. I didn't want to kill him, but he left me no choice. He forced my hand.

My thoughts turned to my dad. He always had my back, always covered for me. He understood me, understood why I did the things I did. He saw the bigger picture. But he was gone, too. I killed him. It was a moment of panic, a reaction to his and Jude’s betrayal.

Sitting there alone, my actions started to sink in. Without Jude, without my dad, who was there to justify my actions? To understand that I had good reasons for everything I did? I wasn't a monster; I was just misunderstood. I was doing all this for love, for a connection that I deserved.

The cabin felt colder, emptier. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the creeping chill of isolation. They were supposed to be my allies, my protectors. But in the end, they were just obstacles. Obstacles I had to remove.

I glanced at Kayla, still unconscious on the bed. She was part of the plan, a means to an end. With her out of the way, Jake would see the truth. He would understand that we were meant to be together.

But doubt crept into my mind. What if Jake didn't see things my way? What if he saw me as a monster, too? The thought sent a shiver down my spine. No, I couldn't think like that. I had to stay focused and believe in my plan.

I stood up and paced the room, trying to shake off the uncertainty. I had come too far to back down now. I had sacrificed too much. Jake was mine, and nothing was going to stand in my way. Not Kayla, not the police, not the ghosts of my past.

I stopped pacing and looked out the window into the dark woods. This was it, the final act. It was time to see it through. Time to claim what was rightfully mine. And if anyone tried to stop me, well, they would learn the same lesson Jude and my dad did.

The rustling of leaves outside caught my attention. Footsteps? I couldn't be sure. Tension knotted in my stomach as I slowly approached the cabin door, my hand gripping the handle of the knife I had taken from the kitchen. The night was still, the only sound being the distant hoot of an owl. I stepped out, scanning the dense treeline, my heart racing. Nothing. No sign of anyone. Just the woods, dark and foreboding under the moonlit sky.

I circled the cabin, my senses heightened. Every little noise made me jump, but there was no one there. It must have been my imagination, the stress of the situation getting to me. As I made my way back to the front door, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. But the clearing around the cabin was empty. I was alone.

Back inside, the first thing I noticed was the empty bed. Panic surged through me. Kayla was gone. How? I hadn't heard the doors open or close. She must still be inside. The cabin wasn't that big; there were only so many places she could hide.

I began my search, moving from room to room. My heart pounded in my chest, my breaths coming in short, sharp gasps. The silence of the cabin was oppressive, every creak of the floorboards sounding like a gunshot in the stillness. I checked behind doors, under the bed, in the closet. Nothing.

The frustration was mounting. Kayla couldn't have just vanished. She had to be here somewhere. I retraced my steps, looking for any sign of her. What if she had managed to get outside while I was out? No, I would have seen her. She was still here, hiding, waiting for the right moment.

I returned to the main room, my eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. The tension was unbearable. Where was she? A sudden movement caught my eye, a slight shift in the shadows behind the old sofa. My grip tightened on the knife.

"Kayla," I called out, my voice steady despite the pounding of my heart. "I know you're here. You can't hide forever."

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