Page 11 of Prey

“Okay. How much would it cost?” I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have a second alias, but then I’d have to remember two fake names and birthdates.

“Fifty dollars.”

I wavered, knowing that I couldn’t afford to part with fifty dollars, but the sacrifice must be made to get a job to bring in money. “Okay. Deal.” I offered my hand again, but she refused to shake it.

Rejected, I found my wallet, took out a fifty-dollar note from there, and handed it to her. Strangely, she pulled her sleeve down over her hand and took the note in the fabric so she didn't have to touch it.

“They’re pretty germy, aren’t they?” I sympathized, and she squirmed like she smelt fresh sewage.

“I’ll need a recent photograph of you,” she said, taking out her phone and snapping a shot before I could say anything. We’ll need to exchange numbers, too, so I can tell you when your ID is ready.”

“Oh…kay. Is that all you need?”

“Yes,” she responded and swiftly left without a goodbye.

6

The science school was a twenty-minute walk from Hallen Hall, and I had tracked the path three times so I didn’t get lost when it was time to start class. My enthusiasm was high, and my stomach was full of butterflies at the thought of studying marine biology and ecology. Judith pointed out Gotland University to me because of the highly regarded animal biology school, and part of the marine biology curriculum was field trips to the ocean, where we’d scuba dive and study marine life.

I studied the map of Gothenburg to find natural lakes, water holes, springs, creeks, and rivers. Unfortunately, there are onlyseveral creeks, a small lake on the edge of town surrounded by wealthy homes, and the ocean, a two-hour bus ride away. I’d already figured out which buses to take to get there.

Armed with a paper cup of coffee and a turkey sandwich I bought from the nearest café, I found my usual spot on the bleachers to watch students playing casual games on the field. I looked out for Cheetos but wasn’t surprised she wasn’t there because she was likely organizing my fake ID.

Then it occurred to me that there was a possibility she had screwed me over, and my fifty dollars had gone forever. I’d put that money aside to buy bus tickets to the ocean before class started, but now that idea was down the drain. I so needed to get a job.

The more I thought about it, reflecting on Cheetos, who did not give me her name or phone but took mine, the more I concluded that she might’ve played me. She didn’t look like the type of girl that would screw me over, but she also didn’t look like the type of girl that made fake IDs. But then, what did a thief and liar look like?

As every minute passed, while I drained my coffee, which was too weak and disappointing, I’d convinced myself that I was a victim of a fake ID scam. Damn, I needed the fifty dollars.

Luckily, Gothen Hall hosts free dinners every evening for freshmen and sophomores, so I should take advantage tonight and fill a plate with vegetables and meat. Bad coffee, turkey sandwiches, and Cheetos were hardly nutritious, and when I get a job, I’ll need a lot of energy to work and attend class.

Halfway through my turkey sandwich, my phone beeped from an anonymous number I assumed was Cheetos. Okay, maybe she wasn’t a scam artist.

A piercing scream cut through my thoughts, coming from the edge of the field. A group of students were walking across the field in fits of laughter over something that frightened them. Ifollowed their stares and pointed fingers to the bleachers at the head of the field, but I couldn’t see what they were pointing at.

I kept my eyes on the bleachers as another group of students was startled when they looked at something underneath the canopy of the seats. It seemed someone was playing tricks on people just for fun. I stifled the surging jealousy of being alone while the group of friends shrieked in laughter.

Being alienated seemed a recurring theme at Gotland, and I hoped it didn’t continue. Even when I left the Student Job Search Center and walked past two of my roommates in Hallen Hall, I was about to say ‘hi’ when they made eye contact. But they glanced at me and then looked away. Immediately, my cheeks burned, and I wondered if Carly, the director at Hallen Hall, told them I was nuts after accusing her of sending someone into my room without my permission. Let’s not forget the crazy disappearance of the wordTRAITORfrom behind my door.

This was going to be a lonely year.

Another scream bled out from the bleachers, and this time, the guy scaring them emerged from behind the seats. He wore a Scream mask and acted alone, which was odd since trickster frat boys often moved in herds.

His freak face locked into my direction, and I assumed he was targeting the three girls sitting further along from me, and I leaned back so I didn’t block his view. The three girls had noticed him and laughed and jeered at his gall, whereas I was more fascinated by the interaction between him dressed as a horror figure and the reaction of everyone around him.

I pushed my glasses back against the bridge of my nose, feeling uncomfortable by his macabre face, unflinchingly gazing in this direction. His body remained frozen, arms hung by his side, and he ignored every student who reacted to him being there. I glanced back at the girls I assumed he was staring at and wondered why he was taking so much interest in them. But Ideduced that because they were pretty and prettiness stroked the ego, and for some men, that was enough.

“Your ID,” Cheetos appeared before me, and my attention was drawn to more important things.

“I’m relieved,” I stated honestly. “I thought you might do a runner with my fifty.”

Her eyebrows dropped low over her eyes as if confused. “You put the order in only,” glanced at her phone, “two hours and forty-six minutes ago.”

“Okay, but that’s pretty quick. You didn’t tell me your name and just took my money, so I had no idea if you were for real,” I reasoned.

The girls moved away from their spot, running down the stairs, and I turned to check with the Scream guy, who was still watching with a penetrable freaky stare.

“Ew, who’s that?” Cheetos exclaimed, screwing her face up.

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