Page 38 of The Honor Society

With shaking hands. I set down the glass and go retrieve the envelope from the floor.

Inside is a picture a little girl who looks a lot like me, in pigtails, sitting on a man’s lap. I don’t recognize him. Even in the picture he’s older.

I flip over the picture.

Sterling: Famine always comes hungry. Famine must always be fed.

What does that even mean?

I flip the picture back. Is that me?

Who’s Sterling?

Who’s the man?

I squeeze my eyes shut and swipe the glass from the table and carry it along with the picture into my room. I close the door behind me and lean my forehead against it.

“Long day?” Comes that same masked voice.

I jump a foot. “What the hell!”

A silhouette shifts in the chair beside my bed. Slowly, he stands to his full height. Black coat. Black gloves. Stupid black mask.

“You.” I glare.

“Me.” He crosses his arms.

“Get out.”

“No.”

Furious, I stomp towards him. He plucks the picture from my hand and looks it over. “Interesting. I’ll keep this.” He shoves it in his pocket. “Did you think you’d sleep without me?”

“Get out! I did what you said.”

“I know.”

A chill washes over me. “How?”

“I told you,” he taps my nose with a finger. “I’d be watching.”

Fury washes over me. How dare he! I shove him with both hands, then grab the nearest book which just so happens to be an old copy of Pride and Prejudice and raise it over my head.

“Always was a fan of the classics. It’s the yearning.” He side-steps me and plops just plops onto my bed and puts his hands behind his head.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“You look tired. Sleep.”

“You threatened to murder my boyfriend!” Is he insane!

“Ex-boyfriend.” He corrects patting the spot next to him. Yeah, because let’s focus on details psychopath who’s in my room!

I lay down and snap my head in his direction. Smothering him is out of the question. I can’t un-mask him. I can’t do much of anything.

“Word,” he says, “Travels fast.”

“You’re an asshole!” Rage washes over me this is the last thing I need right now.