Page 267 of Trick or Stalk

My chest tightens again.

No. There is no Masked Man.

It was always Hades.

Except when he asked Wilder to wear the mask to manipulate me.

Every single memory of Hades and the Masked Man runs through my head over and over until I want to scream.

I bury my face in my hands. “This is such bullshit.”

I head into the living room and sit on the opposite end of the couch. Penny climbs into my lap. Her paws press into my stomach as she circles twice and settles. I automatically stroke her back.

My gaze drifts to the front window.

There’s no movement.

No figure beyond the glass.

No mask.

I should be relieved.

I told him I’m to leave me alone and he’s doing as I asked.

So why does the emptiness outside feel different tonight?

I told myself I wanted the woods to be empty.

Tonight they are.

And I hate it.

I hate that I hate it.

And I hate Hades for making me miss being watched.

God, what the hell is wrong with me?

Maybe Gracie knows an exorcist.

Stella probably does.

I pick up my phone again. Hades’s name is at the top of my text messages. Apparently I’m a sadist because I open it and read through our texts.

I exit the messages and check the time. I know it’s late, but my texts and phone calls to Stella have been short lately. I’ve deliberately texted and left voicemails when I knew she’d be in class so I didn’t have to talk to her.

I was too afraid she’d know the truth.

Before I chicken out, I call her and listen to it ring.

“Presley?” Her voice is groggy, like she’s just woken up. “Are you okay?”

I shake my head, tears rolling down my face.

“No. No, I’m not.”

“What’s wrong?” Her voice sounds more alert.