Page 4 of Boys Who Taint

“Fine, I’m coming too, then,” Talon says and grabs Océane’s hand. “And you’re coming with me.”

“What the—You scared I’m gonna win?!” Apollo scoffs.

Talon narrows his eyes. “Hell no. Later tonight, we wrestle.”

Apollo grins. “Then I’m coming too, so I can make sure you keep your damn promise.”

“I think I’m gonna go to bed,” I mutter.

“What?!” Mavis shines her flashlight right into my eyes, making me squint. “It’s too early for that.”

“I’m tired.” I yawn.

Levi gets up from his wooden stool and steals the flashlight away from Mavis. “Are we going or what?”

“Didn’t think you were the fright-night type, but I’m cool with it as long as you behave.” Mavis smirks as she throws her blue-streaked brown hair over her shoulder.

“Where’s the fun in behaving?” Apollo cracks his knuckles. “I’m good at scaring people.”

“With what? Muscles?” Cecelia snorts.

“You’ll be the first I’ll pin between these biceps,” Apollo retorts, pointing at his arm like it’s a weapon, which is not too far off.

I sigh as I get up and pat myself down. “Have fun, guys.”

Cecelia, Apollo, Elliot, and Mavis all waltz off toward the edge of the forest, where the night owls and crickets are having a party, but Levi stops right before he exits the camping area. “You sure you’re not coming?”

I swallow away the lump in my throat, intimidated just from the glare in his eyes alone. “Yeah, it’s fine.”

His nostrils flare, and I can’t help but home in on his flexing muscles as he turns and walks off. His hands are in his pockets like he’s trying his hardest not to lose control.

I breathe out a sigh and open my tent, then get in, taking one last look at the bright light shining through the woods before I zip up the flimsy cocoon keeping me safe from the darkness… safe fromhim.

A violent shriekwakes me up.

I sit up straight in my sleeping bag and wipe the hairs off my forehead.

Did that scream really happen, or was it all in my head, like a dream?

Another squeal pierces the sky.

I immediately crawl up from my bed and zip down my tent, racing out into the cold, dark of night with nothing but my pj’s and the flashlight on my phone.

“Who was that?” I yell.

“Aspen!”

Cecelia’s screams from the cliff’s edge kick my adrenaline into gear, and I bolt through the small forest area that separates our clearing from the drop-off. The gusty wind swishes my dyed red hair in my face as I zigzag between the trees until I reach the same cliff we were at just this afternoon.

Cecelia and Levi peer down at something below the ledge.

In a split second, Cecelia rushes toward me. “Aspen! Over here!”

Talon rips open his tent and steps out together with a very sleepy Océane, who’s still rubbing her eyes. “What’s going on? Who’s yelling?”

I run to meet Cecelia, and she grabs my hand to drag me back to whatever it is that made her scream.

“What happened?” I ask as we approach Levi.

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