Page 18 of Pretty Prey

“Have you talked to your parents about it?”

I know for a fact her dad wants her to go to college and that he probably won't stand for her not attending. I overheard him telling Miss Apple Bottom about how she would be the only one in her family to go, and that makes him so proud. No wonder she feels pressured to attend.

“No, but they won't understand, they never will.”

“But you have to do what makes you happy and what speaks to your heart, little prey. Don't let them control you.”

“Control me? If you know me so well, then you know that's not an option. I don't let anyone control me.”

Once again, another lie, she tells herself for self-comfort because I've controlled her. I've told her what to do, and she obeys, sometimes with a sassy little fucking attitude, but nonetheless, she still does it every goddamn time.

I love how she gets bothered by my words.

“Don't be a brat, Scarlett. I do know you. I know you swim in the mornings, you worked your ass off for that Jeep of yours, and I know you're in love with your best friend, but she isn't sure if she loves you back the same way. I know if you go to college, you'll be the only one in your family to ever go. I know that your parents hover over you, and that's why you do so much. This way, you can have some freedom away from them.I also know you smoke weed to cope with the stress of your perfectionism and developing anxiety. And to top it off, I know you like me and that scares you.”

“But…”

I can practically see the steam coming out of her ears as she replays my words in her head. I let her think for a minute, doing nothing but rubbing her arm in small up and down motions.

“How…How did you know about my family?”

At this point, it hits her that she really has no idea who I am, but I know exactly who she is.

“I have to go.”

She darts up off the couch and practically sprints right out my camper door before I can even make it halfway to the threshold. I could chase or follow after her, but it would be of no use. She needs time to process. It's not like she can actually run and hide from me. Reality is, here or back in Maple Brook Falls, I'll be there lurking in the shadows. I don't know how much longer I can handle keeping my identity a secret because here tonight, on the couch, I wanted nothing more than to claim her as mine for once and all.

His Prey

CHAPTER 23

Iwoke up in my shadow's camper a little over two days ago, and still nothing. No notes and no twigs snapping off in the distance when I'm out swimming or hiking. I know his camper is the one on the other side of our tree line because when I booked it out of there late Monday night, I was surprised to see my tent through the trees. The girls were also surprised to see me walk up to the campsite barefoot and in men's clothing.

I had to explain everything that happened, besides the fact that he's my stalker, and I knew about him before Monday. They were all just elated to see me that they didn't pry on all the details. Of course, I had to call the police and my family to tell them I was fine, because the girls had called both to tell them I had gone missing after jumping off a waterfall. When I called home, my mom said my dad was already on his way. It took a lot of convincing to get him to return home before making it here. I had to promise to call every six hours and send regular pictures, so they would trust that I'm actually safe.

Annie is the only one who didn't believe me when I told the girls my story. She didn't say anything, but waited for us toget alone to grill me on the details. I lied to her. Well kept out details, but did tell her that the man who saved me wouldn't show me his face because she kept pressing and asking what he looked like. I think she wants to thank him, but little does she know he's just on the other side of the tree line, sulking in his camper.

This morning, the group of us decided to spend the last full day at camp together playing some board games and cooking. Now we're heading to the pool for a midday swim before we go back and play some more games or some crap. We enter the pool area to find it packed with people, probably because it's beautiful out, and the sun's shining without a cloud in sight.

“We can just sit in the grass,” Willow says, gesturing to the only free spot big enough to accommodate us all.

“Shit,” Shay proclaims.

“Scar, are you going to be okay here, like okay, swimming after the other day?”

That's cute, she thinks I'm going to be afraid of the water after nearly drowning.

“I'm fine, I have still gone swimming every morning since. It's not the first time an undercurrent has taken me down. It was the first time I was too high to do anything about it, but that won't happen again.”

They all stare at me like I have three heads like Fluffy the dog in the Harry Potter movies.

“What does that mean? It won't happen again?” Annie asks as we lay out our beach towels in the plush grass.

She's adorable with her sunglasses perched on top of her head and her little rosy cheeks. I kneel onto my plush towel next to her as she waits for my reply.

“I'm not going to use cannabis anymore. I haven't in days, well, since the incident.”

I'm actually surprised none of them have noticed. I've been bitchier and a lot less hungry, barely able to get my meals down.