Page 120 of Beautiful Prey

“God, but can you imagine? Losing your whole family to a psycho, thinking you're safe and then years later having him hunt you down to finish the job? It’s so fucked,” said the other girl.

“Where do you think he took her?”

“News said the upper peninsula, right?”

“Yeah, still no trace though.”

“Definitely got her tied up in some cabin in the woods straight out ofEvil Dead.”

“Hope she’s okay,” Mal said. I could hear the tremble in her voice.

“Been only a few days.”

“A lot can happen in a few days.”

There was a pause. “You think he raped her?” Jason asked.

“Raping. He’s still got her,” Lance answered.

“Can we not?” said Mal.

“Bet he’s messed her up good though, for real.”

“Can’t imagine how terrified she is.”

My gaze didn’t leave his as the group talked about me…about us. I tried to keep my face blank but I knew Emery saw something in my eyes, some emotion I couldn’t hide.

I could scream. Right now, I could make a noise and alert them to our presence. Even if Emery caught one or two, hecouldn’t catch them all if they started to run. Those who got away could go to the police and tell them…

I knew Emery had some clue to what I was thinking, yet he didn’t cover my mouth again. Not yet. He was waiting to see what I would do. Testing me.

I heard the flick of a lighter again and not long after the smell of a joint.

“She’s probably dead,” said Jason after what I imagined was the joint being passed around. “If they haven't found them now…he probably left her body somewhere in the woods and has fucked off to Canada by now.”

“Think I heard online somewhere they stopped looking up there already…”

“Really? They gave up?”

“I don’t know, guess so?”

“No way. They got to be still looking for leads.”

“I hope she’s found,” said Mal.

I tried not to tremble myself as Emery kept me pinned to the tree. His face tilted a little, watching me curiously.

The group talked off and on for a while longer, then someone kicked a can. “Alright. Let’s get this ritual going,” said Jason.

“Do we really have to do this?” asked Mal.

“Don’t be a little bitch about it or you can go home.”

“This is dumb,” she whispered. “Why do we have to do this again?”

“Kayla is a satanist and thinks this will appease the devil.”

“I do not!” the other girl, Kayla, said. “And it’s a form of wicca. It’s just to help cleanse the place and keep the evil from coming back.”

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