Page 18 of Whispers of Obsession

We park on the street and head to the shore, not even bothering to go into the house. There’s a massive fire, but I stay back, sitting on one of the benches as I sip the drink that Andrewgot for me. It’s nice out tonight. Not too cold, and with the moon reflecting off the water, I don’t feel so alone.

Lizzy and Andrew have been making out for what feels like an hour. Slater disappeared shortly after we got here, so I’ve just been sitting here the whole time, with nothing to do but get tipsy.

I have to pee, and as much as I don’t want to go inside and deal with the many couples making out, or banging, I force myself to do it anyway.

Lizzy packed a change of everything except shoes, so I’m still in my heels. They make walking in the dirt, sand, and grass difficult, but I manage to make it to the house eventually.

Inside, I make my way upstairs. When I check the bathroom on the first floor, I find it covered in vomit. That’s foul. Hard pass.

Going in search of a slightly cleaner bathroom, I walk in on three different couples in various states of undress before I come to an empty bedroom, with a bathroom attached.

Thank goodness.

Once I finish using the surprisingly clean toilet, I wash my hands, and head back into the connected bedroom.

The lights snap off and the door to the bedroom slams shut in front of me. The room is plunged into darkness, and I can barely make out the shadows of the room.

My heart thunders but I force myself to remain calm. It’s just the reminder of what happened earlier that has me on edge.

“Cora.” The voice is muffled, but vaguely familiar. I frown, anxiety filling my stomach. After the night I’ve had, I’m easily startled. That’s to be expected.

Who just shut me in here with them? Whoever it is, they know me. They said my name. So it’s probably someone from school. Nothing to worry about.

“Who’s there?” I call out. “Are you near the lights? Can you find the switch? Or just open the door?” I know it’s pointless for me to fumble around in the dark. I’ll only bang into furniture and end up covered in bruises.

There’s no response.

“H-hello?”

“Dirty Cora,” the voice tuts, and dread flitters down my spine.

12

CORA

Adark shadow advances on me, and I take an involuntary step backward, bumping into something as I do.

“Ow, shit!”

Suddenly I’m blinded by light, and my heart hits my throat when I see that I’m cornered byhim.

The mysterious masked man from the dugout.

That alone is enough to spike my heart rate, but what truly has me ready to expire is the weapon that’s trained on me.

“W-w-wha—” I stutter, unable to form a coherent word, as my body shakes in fear. I can’t pull my eyes away from the gun as the masked man takes a step toward me, and I retreat on instinct.

“You look terrified, Cora. What’s wrong? I thought you liked doing bad things for bad men?”

The masked man seems so relaxed. So calm. He’s insane. Deadly. I need to get out of here.

“P-please,” I manage to whisper. I want to scream, but my voice won’t work. What if I scream, and he pulls the trigger?

“Mmm, do you like to beg? I can make you beg, sweet, innocent, Cora.”

Oh, god. I take off for the door, ducking below his arm, but my fucking heels trip me, and I stumble, slowing me just before I reach the door handle. It gives the masked man the opportunity to grab me.

He spins me so that my back is to his front, and he clamps his arm across my chest, crushing my breasts painfully, but that’s the least of my worries. He has a freaking gun. I struggle, but it’s futile.

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