Page 98 of Lust

Something’s happening.

I unzip his bookbag and retrieve a notebook and pen, placing the pen in his grip and holding the notebook out for him. I glance between his writing, the opening of the trench, and Alexei, my adrenaline keeping me on top of my surroundings.

Cody writes gibberish at first, but then I start to make out letters:

I AN KARM

I AM KYMS

I AM KYS…

He goes on like this, which is not getting us anywhere, so I release the notebook, but just as I do, Cody lets go of his necklace and grabs hold of the notebook, writing:

I AM KYSAR

LUKE LUKE LUKE

This is followed by squiggly lines, and then my name again, with even more squiggly lines.

“Cody, did you finish the spell?” I ask, but he doesn’t reply. Just keeps on writing the same thing over and over again, then turns the page and keeps going.

“Cody—”

A growl comes from overhead, sounding different than before—deeper, more menacing. This thing is fucking pissed.

I was so busy trying to keep the Slasher off us that I hadn’t considered how much I was irritating it. Like spraying a hornet’s nest with vinegar instead of Raid.

A few yards along the trench, something shifts, and I turn to see that black mass again, hunched over, making its way toward us, slowly, like something out of a horror movie.

We’re fucking dead.

And then I hear:

“Cody?”

“Luke?”

Brad’s and Seth’s voices.

The Slasher stops in its tracks, then turns in their direction.

“Luke?” Brad calls again as the creature climbs up the side of the trench.

“Brad! Seth!” I call. “Don’t come here!”

I turn to Cody, who’s still writingLuke, but the squiggly lines aren’t as erratic. It’s a drawing of…

Fire.

The image of me, burned to a crisp, springs to mind.

But I can’t think about that right now. I have to make sure the guys get the fuck out of here.

Before I can give that another thought, Cody drops the pen and snatches my wrist.

“Cody, what the—”

I’m lightheaded all of a sudden, and then a familiar sensation sweeps through me before everything goes dark.

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