Page 121 of Beautiful Prey

“You’re weird.”

“Lance, give me the bag of bones.”

They repeated a few words and the light of the fire grew a little brighter as I heard the bag of bones being thrown into the pit. A small breeze slipped by but nothing changed.

“See, that’s it,” Kayla said.

“Great. Now, for the actual fun. Who's coming with me to the house?” Jason asked.

Both of us tensed. His eyes finally left mine to glare at the group. Mine widened in horror.

Oh no, he really didn’t like that.

“You really think you’ll get in this time?” Lance said.

“I barely got to try last time, remember?” Jason said.

“That’s because that asshole neighbor caught us last time,” said Kayla.

“He usually watches the house, doesn’t he?” said Mal. “But I haven’t seen him.”

“He wasn’t home. Who knows, probably went down to Florida early.”

“So, we're getting in,” Jason said. “Windows might be boarded but a good crowbar will get one of those doors open.”

“I don’t like this,” said Mal. “I’m not going.”

“Oh c’mon, don’t be a pus—”

“Leave her, Jason,” Kayla said. “I’ll stay with her and you two can go.”

“You're seriously okay staying out here alone?”

“Why? You think we can’t handle ourselves?”

“I didn’t say—”

“Whatever. When you get back, I’ll go in after,” said Kayla.

“Cool.”

“I gotta pee first,” Lance said as they started to leave.

“Just do it on the side of the house.”

The boys laughed.

“Alright, see you gals. Scream if you see anything.”

The boys moved into the woods toward the house. As silently as possible, Emery shifted off me. I peered around the tree and saw the girls moving over to the opposite side of the fire toward the oak, their backs turned to study the treehouse. I glanced back at Emery who looked ready to kill. I could see the gears turning. He either had to go after them and leave me behind or we had to go now and hide somewhere else, compromising our position. I knew the occupied houses nearby had cameras around them just like ours so we would risk being seen.

Emery started to step away, but I caught his arm.

“Please,” I whispered. “Please, don’t. If you hurt them, you won’t see me again,” I warned.

We entered a stare down. Gently, he pried my hand from his arm then tilted his head back.

He raised his hand up to his mask and slipped it off. Then he gave it to me.

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