Page 39 of Boys Who Taint

“Where are you?!” I scream, looking around with the bat held up high. “Show yourself!”

I march toward the streetlight, but the man who was there is gone.

Vanished, as if he never existed in the first place.

And the more I scan the area, the more I’m beginning to question my own damn sanity.

Was it all a figment of my imagination?

I walk away from the light and peer into the darkness beyond, where nothing moves except the leaves on the pavement guided by the wind. There’s no one. Not even a guard or a squirrel.

What the hell?

Unsettled, I head back to the sorority house, but when I glance to the side of the building, something on the ground makes me do a double take. I walk over and pick up a bunch of pebbles that I’m sure weren’t there before, and I gaze up at the sky.

My window is right there, and my blood runs cold.

With the bat held high, I backtrack my way into the house so I don’t get caught off guard. When I’ve finally closed the door, I place the bat back down and head back upstairs, my mind still reeling from what just happened.

I close my bedroom door and breathe out a ragged breath while I wonder if I’m losing my mind.

Until I spot the open window.

My eyes widen.

I rush to it and slam it shut, turning the lock.

Shit, shit, shit!

I look around the room and grab the first thing in my sight: my lamp.

“If you’re in here, say it now, or I swear to God I’ll hit you in the face with this!” I growl.

No answer. Not even a peep.

I waltz to my closet and open it up, but no one is inside even though I fully expected to catch the perp.

What is going on?

Suddenly, I spot something new on my desk: a piece of paper.

Frowning, I take a closer look and pick it up.

Do you want me to kill Levi Torres?

Come to the bonfire this Saturday.

Place this paper on the wooden stool nearest to The Edge.

And I will show you the price.

Your Ghost

I stare at the paper,which shakes in my hand.

So I wasn’t imagining things at all.

He was really here, in my room …

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