Page 67 of The Catalyst

“Yes, I would. She has, but I’ve ignored it.”

That’s not completely true. She said something about how Nigel was going to flip out when he finds out my heart isn’t with him anymore.

I don’t know how she knows about the affair, but to some extent, she does. She hasn’t said anything to anyone else though. It would be clear if she had. I could just imagine the uproar.

How does she know though? Ollie and I have been careful every step of the way. We only have sex or even talk to each other when no one else is at the house or we go to my mom’s house, which is still vacant.

For right now, I’m just enjoying being with him in whatever capacity I can. Maybe Nigel won’t ever come back and just becomes a distant memory for everyone. Maybe he will try his best to pretend that nothing happened.

But then…what about me and Ollie? Where does that leave us?

“Fine, fine,” Judy grumbles before crossing her arms over her chest, pouting. She’s freaking adorable.

“Now, let’s have some fun.”

* * *

I leftJudy with Shanti and snuck off because I wanted to explore on my own for a bit. Shanti turned on all the lights and the different attractions, so I should be able to do pretty much anything here, even investigate the house of mirrors. I’ve heard people say it can be a brilliant mix of fun and scary and I like being scared. I love the adrenaline associated with fear.

I listen to the circus music as I walk into the dark entrance to the hall of mirrors. Red lights glow down on me as I stroll, but then I hear something not associated with the music. It sounded like a cough.

“Hello?” I ask as I step inside the lines of mirrors distorting my figure. “Is anyone in here?” I call out again, but then the music scratches to a stop and the lights switch off, bathing me in darkness. I could hear a pin drop in the silence from how quiet it is, but then I make out the sound of footsteps. Snapping my head around, I feel the anxiety settle in my belly as I make out the distinct shape of a mask in the darkness. Half glows in the dark while the other fades into the blackness.

My heart stops as I realize every mirror picks up the mask.

“Who are you?” I demand, but I don’t know where the person wearing the mask is.

Then, out of nowhere, a psychotic, feminine laugh comes through the speakers and the lights flicker on in a rainbow of colors. The mask disappears the second the lights come on, but with every flash, I see it.

What the fuck? Where are they?

I spin in a circle, trying to find them, but…there’s no one here.

Fuck this shit.

I dash off through the rows of mirrors, figuring if I can make it out of here, I’ll be fine. I keep seeing the mask in every mirror, but then I pick up the sound of the heavy foot falls coming up behind me.

Goddamn it. Why did my ancestors have to grace me with the curse of being turned on by the chase?

I run harder, my feet pounding into the ground, and the exit comes into view. I’m almost there. I’m almost out of this hell.

My heart pounds against my chest as I grab the door knob to escape, but then my body is slammed against the door, one hand on the back of my neck and another covers my hand.

I scream out a war-cry, ready to fight, but then the masked figure leans into my ear and chuckles. “Relax, princess. You’ll give yourself a heart attack.”

That. Fucking. Bastard.

He spins me around as he pulls off the mask and reveals his devilishly handsome face. I glare up at him.

“You asshole! Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

He chuckles. “The opportunity was too good to pass up.”

He is not remorseful at all and I’m not surprised, either. Is that a part of being a psychopath?

And, he’s a psychopath I have grown an attachment to. More than I ever was to Nigel or Shawn.

If I had to make a choice today and I actuallyhada choice in it, I’d choose Ollie, hands down. I’d pick him.

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