Page 7

I’m going hunting.

Chapter Six

While he’s watching her, I’m watching him.

Waiting to make my move. What would he do if I followed him inside? Plunged my knife straight through his precious Delaney’s heart like all the others. She’s not as perfect and innocent as he thinks. The bitch isn’t good enough for him. None of them are. No one but me. They don’t understand the darkness that swirls inside him, but I do.

I do.

I rush around the side of the building before he comes out. Don’t want to give myself away just yet. Watching him take off, I clench my teeth. Why is he so worried about her? Sure, he’s always been protective of his sister and her friends, but he’s never made a move on Delaney before. Why now? Is it because of me? Am I causing his attention to be directed to her?

I thought I was doing a better job at that. Hell, earlier in the diner, I saw him checking out Sally. I undoubtedly thought she was going to be his next bed partner. But maybe it was all for show to throw me off.

Fuck that, fuck her, and fuck him.

He’s going to be mine.

All mine.

And then he’ll see that I’m the one who is worthy of being his final girl.

He’ll see me.

Finally.

Chapter Seven

Walking up to the diner, it’s not unusual to see a cop car or two, but this morning the place is surrounded. Lights flashing. Yellow tape across the front door. I move up to the right side of the sidewalk, joining Steve and Talia.

“Was there a break in?”

Steve shakes his head, and Talia leans over to whisper in my ear. “Another murder. I never liked Sally, but what they did to her.” She visibly shudders.

I’m not sure I want to know, but curiosity gets the best of me. “What happened to her?”

“Carl came in this morning and found her. Half of her face had been melted off and was stuck to the grill.”

Bile rises in my throat, and I nearly run to a nearby bush to vomit. “That’s awful. Do they think it was the you know…” I don’t say the words serial killer aloud. Kind of like not saying Beetlejuice or Candyman.

“Not sure,” Steve answers.

“The Fast Lube has a camera. I’m sure that will give them an adequate lead.”

Talia snorts. “Those are fakes. For looks only.”

I forgot that’s where Pike used to work in the summers when we were in school, so I guess he’d have that information and share that knowledge with his sister.

“All right. Move it along folks,” one of the officers on the scene ushers us away from the diner.

Poor Sally.

Poor Carl being the one to discover her and in such a gruesome position. I glance around looking for Pike but not seeing him. He could be inside processing the scene of the crime.

“I think they are about to bring out the body.” Talia slides her arm under mine and the three of us trek back toward the library as the coroner’s van pulls up the front of the diner.

“Who would want Sally dead, though?” I mutter the thought aloud, and Steve snorts. I never knew anyone personally that was a victim of a serial killer. It’s usually people I never really knew or have never talked to. This latest murder is worrisome though, since I knew Sally, and it happened a place I go to daily. It hits way too close to home.

I shiver at the thought of it being someone we all know.