Justin eyed a new group of people that had arrived.
He glanced at me, flashing his pearly whites. “Great, I’ll be right back.”
He walked off, and I flicked a burned marshmallow into the fire.
The smoke of the bonfire was billowing into my face, stinging my eyes. Irritated, I got up and moved around, looking for Katie or Eiryn, but instead, found Justin. He was sitting on one of the tailgates, practically eating some brunette’s face off.
I froze.
For a moment, I’d thought he was interested in me.
But no, he wasn’t—at least not romantically. Just morbidly.
I was a spectacle to these people.
A side show they couldn’t forget.
Honestly, I should’ve known better. It wasn’t the first time it’d happened—someone being nice because of the infamous murder and kidnapping that defined me here in Watauga County.
Catching his eye, my cheeks heated instantly, and I looked away, taking off in the opposite direction.
“Anna!” he called, but the only instruction my mind sent was to flee.
My heart was pounding, and my lungs ached by the time I registered where I was. I couldn’t hear the party anymore, and the pine needles underfoot were thick and spongy. I was on theopposite side of the campsite now, only a short hike away from my old house.
A wave of disbelief made me laugh. I laughed as if the outpouring of the most absurd reaction I could think of would somehow purify me of my humiliation.
I leaned on my knees, still panting, recovering from my mad dash.
Whatever.
Screw Justin.
It wasn’t as if I wasn’t used to finding out I was being lied to.
I wiped a tear from my eye as I scanned the dark forest ahead.
I stared into the trees. The hoot of an owl sounded in the distance as the leaves shook in a gentle breeze. Crickets chirped like the lead singer of the thrumming symphony of night. Nothing like my nightmares.
Crack.
A sound like a gunshot or a stick breaking echoed loudly. I stopped breathing.
“Hello?” I called.
I took a few more steps—nothing. The wind carried an odd minty scent, but it was gone before I could identify it. Perhaps it was nothing but my mind playing tricks on me.
Hearing a rustle behind me, my heart pounded in my ears as I spun around.
Eiryn stood, his eyes wide, and his palms out in front of him defensively.
I growled in exasperation. “Eiryn! I was about to kick you in the jaw. What’re you doing out here?”
“I saw you take off,” he said. “I saw Justin, too, so I thought I'd better come check.”
I sighed and stretched my neck.
“I’m over this party anyway. Come on, let’s go make s’mores,” he said.
