Page 76 of Exes and Oh Hell No

A sound that is too human, too careful, is just beyond the trees.

I catch a faint shift of movement from the corner of my eyes.

Something barely perceptible.

Is it Ford? Did he wake up?

Did Connor hear the front door?

The thought should be comforting.

But somethingfeelswrong.

I push forward, disappearing deeper into the forest, sweat slicking my palms.

My fingers curl into fists as determination pumps through my veins.

The faster I get to the road, the faster I?—

A shape looms in front of me.

I freeze mid-step, my breath catching in my throat.

My eyes strain, zeroing in on the shadow among the trees.

It’s not moving.

Not breathing.

Just… watching.

Waiting.

I blink again.

My eyes adjust, searching for details in the dark.

The shadowed figure is tall and broad.

It’s the silhouette of a man.

My stomach twists, nausea creeping up my throat.

I catch a sliver of white.

My heart pounds in my ears when I realize it’s a mask.

Oh, God, no.

No, no, no.

My lungs constrict.

My body turns to ice as I stand there, frozen.

The mask gleams in the darkness, pale and featureless.

I blink again.

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