Page 24 of Hide Me Darling

The blogger implied there is more than one of them, but I haven’t really seen a lot of interaction between the names, with the exception of the Sheriff and Deputy, and also Ty and Telvin.

However, the impression Telvin gave me is that he is almost scared of his own shadow. Everyone else appears to lead completely separate lives. But I have only been on the island now for two days, that may not be enough time to actually grasp a good understanding of any connections. Just earlier today Maddie even spoke fondly of Allegra, could they be the bloggers and potentially murderers?

If this is a group effort, their cohesion could be masked by seemingly separate lives. Maybe they coordinate subtly, in ways I haven’t observed. The challenge now isn’t just identifying suspects but understanding their interplay, if any.

I check the time on my phone again—it’s almost midnight and I feel like I’ve actually gone backward in my investigation. I have more doubts than answers now and nothing to show for my efforts. Their threat looms, but should I give it any credibility?

The phone in my hand buzzes with a message, my fingers moving to unlock it. When I open the message, my stomach drops to my feet and a cold sweat breaks out along my skin.

UNKNOWN

Tick, tock…

Chapter 11

Hydessa

Iglance around, scanning the dimly lit street and the deserted beach. No movement, no hint of a lurking presence. It's as if the island has swallowed its inhabitants whole, leaving me alone in the stillness of the night.

With a sigh, I decide this is all a waste of time. In the end, they are going to come to me so the least I can do is be ready when they do. I need to find a way to create a more even playing field.

The risks of staying out in the open, exposed to an unknown adversary, outweigh the potential gains at this point. I'm not getting anywhere standing out here, let whoever it is taunting come for me directly.

Maybe I could get Uncle Max to trace the text message. No doubt they are using a burner phone though.

The clock on my phone reads five minutes to midnight. I've spent hours combing over the businesses and observing potential suspects, yet I'm no closer to unraveling the mystery. The island remains silent, almost conspiratorial in its tranquility, as if holding its breath.

As I turn into the forest, darkness presses down on me like a weight as I slowly start making my way back to the house. The chill of the night air seeps through my clothes, sending shivers down my spine despite the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

The canopy above casts eerie shadows, and despite the mask concealing my face, I can feel the tension in every step. I listen for anything around me, but the silence is only broken by the rustling of leaves underfoot even as I tread carefully, and the sound of my own breathing within the mask.

I'm almost at the edge of the tree line, my house right in front of me, when a sudden flash of light to my right startles me. At first, it's a brief red glow in the distance, like a fleeting ember in the darkness. Just when I am about to assume someone is starting a bonfire, another pops up beside it, this one green.

They start to appear and disappear at random intervals, leaving me squinting into the semi-darkness watching as they move. The adrenaline that had just begun to settle spikes to an all time high, leaving my hands feeling jittery.

So much for trying to find an even playing field.

The rational part of my mind urges me to retreat and come up with a plan that makes me feel less like the prey. Yet, the investigator in me, fueled by a need for answers, compels me forward.

With each step, the shadows seem to grow thicker, the air heavier with an unspoken threat. Moments pass like an eternity as I move deeper into the woods, following the faint glimmers of light that appear and vanish like phantoms.

The lights disappear again, and although I push forward carefully, I have no idea if I’m still going in the right direction. Just as I begin to question my own sanity, the red light flares up again, this time closer, behind the silhouette of a large tree. My heart quickens, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I approach cautiously. The green light follows suit to the left, illuminating the darkness for a brief moment before fading into obscurity.

My eyes ache with the constant change from a glimpse of light then nothingness, making the darkness around feel even stronger each time they flicker.

I pause, my breath catching in my throat as a deep, echoing chuckle reverberates through the forest. It comes from my right, followed moments later by another echoing laugh from my left. My head whips around in both directions, but the darkness remains impenetrable, concealing whatever—or whoever—is out there.

Heart pounding, I fight the urge to run away. My body tenses, while silently cursing my own stupidity for putting myself in this situation..

Instead of creating neutral ground, I dove headfirst into enemy territory.

I inch closer, my nerves on edge while I try to get a tree behind me so that I feel like my back is guarded. But then I hear the chuckle again, closer this time. It’s a taunting sound, low and mocking.

My eyes dart around, but I see nothing. A rustle in the underbrush to my left makes me freeze. The laughter comes once more, this time just annoying me. I feel like my heart is now lodged firmly in my throat, and when the red light appears again, it’s a struggle not to scream.

“Looking for me?” A voice obscured by a modulator says as red illuminates the inches of space between me and a neon mask. It has X’s for eyes and a stitched shut sinister mouth.

It’s one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen, and though I don’t scream, I can’t help the gasp that falls from my lips, making the person behind the mask tilt their head as they chuckle.

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