Page 320 of Trick or Stalk

“You know, freezing your girlfriend to death would seriously undermine all that personal growth.”

Silence.

I step between the trees.

The house remains visible behind me, warm light glowing through the windows.

I walk farther.

A branch snaps somewhere to my right.

I spin around.

He’s not there.

My heart beats faster.

“Hades.”

A dark figure steps from behind a tree.

I freeze.

Even knowing it's him, the mask does something to me.

Maybe because I remember the first time I saw it.

The terror. The confusion. The fascination I didn't want to admit.

Back then, I didn't know the man underneath.

Now I do.

Every fucked-up piece.

And somehow that makes the sight of him even hotter.

He tilts his head. His distorted voice says, “You came outside.”

“You told me to.”

“You could've said no.”

“I know.”

He takes one step closer.

I don't move.

Another.

My pulse jumps.

He stops several feet away.

“How long have you been out here?”

“Long enough.”