“Yeah, I remember,” Jeremiah said stonily.
“I have a confession to make. I lied to you about something that day.”
Jeremiah scoffed. “No shit, Valcourt. I know you’re in the Dionysus Club.”
“Oh, I’m not talking aboutthatlie. I’m talking about something else.” The amusement was building in Julian’s voice. “I told you I don’t know your stepbrother. But I do. He’s one of our newest recruits. Although I’m sure Violet already told you that after she sneaked into our initiation ceremony.”
“You know about that?” Cherry asked, voice thick with disbelief.
“Of course. I’ve always known about your little investigation,” Julian replied. “Anyway, when I put Violet’s name on the List, I knew I’d have to look into her closest friends at BHU, because they’d be the first to offer her sanctuary during the hunt. And that’s you guys. So, I did my research on all of you, which included a conversation with Daniel. Want to know what he told me about you, Jeremiah?”
“What?”
“He said you used to lie to your parents a lot when you were younger, and that you had a tell he eventually noticed. Apparently, you always flex the fingers of your left hand when you’re lying.” Julian paused for a beat. “Guess what you’ve been doing for the last two minutes?”
“Oh, fuck off. I’m only moving my fingers like this because it’s freezing out here, and I’m not wearing gloves,” Jeremiah spat out.
“You’re lying,” Julian said, voice growing colder. “Violet never left this place.”
“Okay, fine, you got us!” Cherry snapped. “We told her to lock herself in the bedroom and hide in the closet. But we’renotletting you through this door! And if you eventryto force your way in, I’m calling the cops!”
That was my cue from Cherry to slip out the back door. I closed it behind me as quietly as I could before sinking to alow crouch and creeping along the back of the cabin, toward the woodshed at the edge of the clearing. As I moved, I heard the conversation continuing, the voices carrying clearly through the cold air.
“I see you, Cherry,” Julian said, voice still laced with amusement. “Acting your little heart out, desperately trying to convince me that Violet’s hidden inside. And you know what that tells me?”
“What?”
“She’s outside.”
Suddenly I heard footsteps. Running footsteps. Coming around the side of the cabin.
Coming forme.
“Run, Vee!” Cherry screamed. “Run!”
I bolted.
My legs pumped beneath me as I sprinted toward the tree line, abandoning any pretense of stealth. Behind me, I heard my friends shouting, but their voices were already fading.
The forest swallowed me up. Branches whipped at my face and caught at my clothes, and the wig Cherry had so carefully fitted was already threatening to come loose. I couldn't see more than a few feet ahead in the darkness, but I didn't dare slow down.
Behind me, I heard Julian crashing through the underbrush. No flashlight. Either he knew these woods, or he was justthatconfident he'd catch me.
My lungs burned, and my leg muscles screamed, but I kept running, deeper and deeper into the forest, with no idea where I was going or how I'd possibly escape.
All I knew was that Julian Valcourt was hunting me.
And he was getting closer.
24
Violet
As I sprintedthrough the woods, my foot caught on a rock and I went sprawling, hands slamming into the cold earth. Pain shot through my palms, but I scrambled back up, adrenaline overriding everything else.
Keep moving. Don't stop. Don't look back.
I could hear Julian. Still behind me. Still coming for me.
