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Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth. Oscar Wilde
“This is an emergency broadcast announcing the commencement of the annual Fright Night. When the siren sounds, let the games begin. Good luck to you all.”
The guy in the blue mask seemed to stare right at me, and it felt like my heart stopped. Without a shadow of a doubt, I knew it was Carter. I edged closer to the chain-link fence, trying to stay out of his sight. The sirens suddenly stopped. His attention was locked on me. He ran. I did, too.
Raine Laurent. Plain Raine. Mousey-brown hair scraped back in a tight ponytail, a school uniform that should really be burned, it was so ill-fitting…she had “future librarian” written all over her.
“You know what my feelings are towards you? Indifferent. In order to hate you, I’d have to care about you. You’re nothing to me. Insignificant.”
She didn’t need to know that her presence made me feel out of control, that she got under my skin like nothing else, and I hated it.
“Do you want me to let you go?” I stared at him for a long moment, warring with myself, before I slowly shook my head. I thought I detected a glimmer of relief in his eyes as I acquiesced, but I might have imagined it. “Good decision. I’m gonna make you feel so good, I promise. Don’t scream, okay?”
“Two halves, so different, yet the same. Trick him once, and you have much to gain. The gain will not come without a cost. Can you hold on when hope is lost?”
Her voice dropped to a whispered warning. “Are you willing to pay the price? Trick him once, but don’t trick him twice.” My heart sped up, thumping in my ribcage.
“You can want me, but you can never have me. Watch your back, little trickster.”
When I woke up the following morning, my bedroom window was open, and a black mask with glowing blue LED lights was on my desk.
Me: Please leave me alone. I’ve stayed out of your way Carter: Out of sight but not out of mind
“Listen. You’ve got to stop hiding away. You can’t go through life hiding in the shadows. Maybe it’s time to step into the light.”
“One hides behind a mask. One has a secret. Beware the false one. You will lose your heart if you do not heed the warning signs.”
“That look you’re giving me right now. That look that makes me want to do bad things to you.” Her mouth fell open. She swallowed hard, but she held my gaze. “You don’t deserve to do bad things to me, Carter. Not after what you’ve done.”
“Shut up.” Bringing my hand to her neck, I wrapped my fingers around her throat, feeling her pulse thumping wildly. Her soft gasp as I gripped her made me smile, but she soon recovered. “Go on, squeeze.” She taunted me with her words. “Does it make you feel good to know you can choke me? Leave bruises on my skin? Overpower me just because you’re bigger than me?” “Raine…” My grip tightened. “Do it.” Those two words snapped the final thread of my control.
“I didn’t mean to.” I felt him swallow hard against me, and then he was speaking again, his voice so low that I had to strain to hear it. “I go so fucking crazy around you, Raine. You’re no good for me. I don’t trust myself when I’m around you.” His voice grew even lower. “I don’t like who I am around you.”
“Yeah. He’s a dick with poor taste in girls. You’re worth five hundred Anastasias.” Lena’s words were fierce, and I smiled.
“I know you want me. You can lie to yourself all you want.” “I. Don’t. Want. You.” He snarled the words at me. “This?” His hips ground against me. “Nothing but a natural reaction. Fighting makes me horny. It’s nothing to do with you. Why would I pick you, when I could have any girl I want?”
He stepped away from me, his jaw clenched. “Who the fuck do you think you are, Raine Laurent?” I gathered the tiny piece of courage inside me. “I’m the best thing you’ll never have.” Then I moved around him and walked away, tears blurring my vision. Behind me, I could’ve sworn I heard the urgent caw of a raven, but I didn’t look back. I was done.
Hope was a dangerous thing, as I soon found out. Everything had changed, but nothing had changed.
