“Here we go ... Girls, watch our backs,” I say to Goldie, feeling her turn around, her back to mine as Chase and Evie do the same, before we walk directly toward what could be our deaths.
The closer we come, the more the adrenaline builds, but it’s still not enough to counteract the visceral fucking fear.
We’re whispering among each other as we go through a hundred different plans, trying to strategize how we’re going to fend off an attack.
Billy managed to kill five people after almost being killed, so I’m wishing we had a few more of us going in.
“I love you. It’s still all clear back here,” Goldie says quietly, and Evie agrees.
“I love you too,” I whisper back.
“You make the best steak I’ve ever had,” Evie offers to Chase, since we’re doing endearments.
“Yes, I’ll marry you,” he answers back.
“Noah,” Chase says, looking over at me, but he doesn’t have to say anything else.
I can see it in his eyes—he’s as afraid as I am but still willing to risk his life for me. I nod and then turn my face back to Billy.
Fuck, this is unnerving, walking step by step toward the thing you’ve had nightmares about your whole life. He still hasn’t moved. And a part of me just wishes he’d fucking give himself away already.
“I’m done playing games, Billy. You wanted us here, so here we are, you motherfucker.”
Silence bleeds out, and none of us move because there’s no turning back. We’ve come as close as we can before the only way to the boathouse is through him.
Evie’s voice is quiet, so only we can hear: “Maybe he’s a fake one. Switch with me so I can get a closer look.”
“No. Stay there,” Chase orders, like when he’s in the kitchen.
But I’m barely listening because the longer I stare at that hockey mask, the more I can feel it—the rage.
It’s just like that night when I kissed Goldie in the alleyway. The rage is palpable, drawing me in toward him. I feel his hate, and his disgust. His disregard for life. I can feel him staring at us through that mask.
We’re standing in front of the real Billy.
We picked the wrong path.
Goldie’s hand tightens around my arm, and I know she’s turned around.
That’s when I see the knife.
Evie gasps, and slowly, as if he’s trying to draw out the terror, Billy reaches up and removes his mask, then drops it to the floor.
“Gotcha.”
He lunges forward, knife raised, but Chase and I are already running toward him. Billy spins, the knife slashing the air in front of him, making both of us jump back a few feet.
We stand off, staring at him as he glares back.
“Who wants to die first?” he asks.
Chase and I glance at each other, but Billy looks past us at Goldie.
“Here, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty.” He smiles at her. “Don’t worry, sunshine. I’m only gonna kill these pussies.”
I channel all the rage I’ve felt during a lifetime, looking back at him. “I’d like to see you fucking try.”
Billy waves his knife between Chase and me, his evil smile ever apparent.
