Page 52 of Lust

“Taking time because it’s gaining strength from the first victim,” I say.

“And acclimating to a physical body,” Cody adds. “The next three victims were killed on the same night, so it clearly just needs to recover from its first meal.”

With this new information in mind, I go through everything we’ve discussed. “So this thing goes on a killing spree to feed off more blood and fear, which there’ll be plenty of at a frat party.”

“Exactly,” Cody says. “If we’re right, there’s no telling what it’ll be able to do after. Hell, it might kill everyone and have thestrength to come and take you right away, like a snowball of energy that can keep going without stopping.”

“Fuck, I hope we’re wrong,” I mutter, then try to refocus on what’s important. “These supposed Guides warned you that it’s after me, possibly because it might be able to use my powers to help it on its killing spree, right? That’s our working assumption?”

“At least we know he’s a good listener,” Seth says.

I ignore him. “So the plan is to meet here every day, you teach me some of these things you’ve learned how to do, and we find this thing and kill it before it has a chance to kill again so it doesn’t become this murder machine?”

“That about sums it up, yes,” Brad says.

“I don’t love the idea of waiting around while this thing is on the loose, but if we’re lucky and the Slasher doesn’t attack again until late November—big if—I guess that raises my next question: how long did it take you guys to figure out how to use your powers?”

“It was different for each of us,” Brad explains. “Cody had a more intuitive sense about it right away. Took me a few weeks. Seth a little longer than that. And then some time to figure out our…specialties.”

I’m curious how that played out, particularly given what his relates to, but I figure now’s not the time to ask.

“But we weren’t like you,” Cody says. “None of us had whatever it is that allows you to tap into the power without having these secrets from the Sinners’ bible, which makes me wonder how quickly you’ll catch on.”

“I wish I were that optimistic, but it’s not like I walk around doing the kinds of things you guys do. It’s simply happened, whether I wanted it to or not.”

“Speaking of powers you don’t understand,” Seth says, “that brings us to the next aspect of all this that we should discuss.”

“Seth,” Brad says, shooting his friend a glare.

“Seth means,” Cody adds, “we think it might help if we knew more about the Lust.”

My cheeks warm. “What did you tell them?” I ask Brad. Did he betray me?

Cody chimes in, “He hasn’t told us anything since he first started experiencing it after you arrived. The whole reason we’re bringing it up now is because Brad doesn’t want to talk about anything you’re uncomfortable with.”

Even though my defenses are up, it’s nice to know Brad hasn’t been sharing such intimate information with his friends. Although, this raises yet another issue. “I don’t know that it’s something I want to talk about.”

Cody nods. “We understand it’s a sensitive subject, but we’re not perving on you guys. We wonder if something about what you’re experiencing might help us understand this connection you share.”

“Not sureconnection’s the right word,” I say. “We just get hard for each other.”

I’m full of shit and I know it because it’s much more than that. Each time I get together with Brad, I see new aspects of him. As abrasive and intimidating as he was initially, I realize that was for show. The real Brad is sensitive and kind. Hell, if he wasn’t here advocating for me, I wonder if Seth and Cody would’ve even been willing to share all these secrets with me.

“It would help to understand what the Lust is doing to each of you,” Cody says. “Maybe by sharing, we can gain some insight into your powers. Like…is it that your specialty is also something sexual, and that since you came here, Brad maybe activated something in you?”

“I can see how that might help, but really, I’d rather keep it private. For now, at least.”

Seth scoffs. “So you want us to bring you into our secrets, but yours are off-limits?”

Before I have a chance to clap back, Brad says, “There’s nothing wrong with Luke setting a healthy boundary. Maybe as we work together and gain your trust, you’ll feel more comfortable sharing. And if not, we’ll work around that.”

Again, just as quickly as Seth put me on defense, Brad sets me at ease.

“Sounds like a plan,” Cody says, and Seth hesitates before nodding, maybe just to keep himself from making another snide jab.

“Okay.” I can work with this as long as they’re willing to include me and not push me to share anything I’m uncomfortable with. “So where do we start?”

Cody grabs his backpack and retrieves a small box. He approaches me and opens it, revealing a necklace like the ones they wear. Picking it up by the chain, he raises it to display the cross. “I made this one for you. Consider it your official invitation into the Sinners.”

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