Page 72 of Your Masked Haunting

There’s a reason I waited to see if she texted or called, and that’s because I’m self-aware enough to know that the second I saw it, I’d ignore all other responsibilities.

My screen lights up, and my heart turns to stone, my stomach plummeting to the floor. Shit.

I have fifty-three messages and twenty-seven missed calls from Mona; the most recent one is less than a minute old, and the oldest was ten minutes ago. I scroll to the top of the new messages, reading them as fast as I can, my heart rolling up into the back of my throat.

My Mona: Casper, you little tease. I can’t believe you got done early

My Mona: I’m on my way to find you

My Mona: I missed you

A few minutes later.

My Mona: Where are you? I’m on the main level by the front door. What is this? A reverse chase from the matchmaking party?

My Mona: You’re starting to scare me

My Mona: Please just come out

Missed call.

My Mona: This isn’t funny anymore, Casper.

My Mona: I’m going outside. I can’t stay in here. Come talk on the porch

My Mona: Why aren’t you answering me?

My Mona: Casper?

My Mona: Hello?

A minute later, three missed calls.

My Mona: Are you still at the rink?

My Mona: Casper, please answer me! Or come out of the shadows. I’m hiding by the pumpkins because I’m so fucking scared

My Mona: I hear your footsteps

My Mona: Ghostface

My Mona: Ghostface

My Mona: GHOSTFACE!!!

My Mona: THERE, I USED IT. NOW PLEASE STOP

A minute later, four more missed calls.

My Mona: Please stop

My Mona: Oh my God

My Mona: Someone’s here

My Mona: Outside, walking across the deck toward the stairs

Three more missed calls.