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“Don’t run into the woods, like those girls in the movies, and you’ll be fine.” She grins like this is all an elaborate prank.

A burning sensation suddenly flows through me…my serpent festering inside me as Tina’s eyes drift to the cross I still wear as I play with it between my fingers. Clinging to it like it’s a lifeline.

I’m not sure why I still wear it; I lost my faith the day I killed Mama. After I could no longer sense God in my soul. But it reminds me of who I used to be. No one is safe from evil, regardless of their beliefs.

Tina didn’t see the mask yesterday…or the eyes lurking beneath, and she hasn’t seen the real me, either. I am their sacrifice.

TOMMY

We swagger into Rollerland like we own the place, snagging a table right by the pinball machines. The room is dim, save for all the flashing, and colorful lights. Everyone’s skating in endless circles around a disco ball in the middle of the floor. The music’s so loud and upbeat, it’s starting to make my skin crawl.

Who the hell listens to this shit? No guitar at all, which is criminal.

Remy disappears somewhere with Lucy, and Talia lets go of my hand as soon as we walk in, grabbing her skates at the counter. I walk to a table and sit and sulk, telling her roller skating is for losers.

I didn’t want to come tonight; I’d much rather jam around the fire, but Talia’s obsessed with appearances, almost as much as she’s fascinated with studying death.

I’d look guilty as sin if I didn’t show up tonight, so here I am.

Praise Jesus.

I close my eyes, enjoying the weed Bax made me smoke in the Shaggin’ Waggin’ before we came in. The buzz is going right to my head.

I’ve been wired and jacked up all day from what I did yesterday. Not guilt per se, just numb as I’ve been for months.

I’m still not used to all this—the darkness and legacy.

Talia thinks I’m weak, but she doesn’t realize I’m not as fragile as I seem. Everyone hospitalized and affected by the fire will have a different perspective on things now.

I appreciate the philosophy. They survived the other side of death. That’s not nothing…

I stand up and push my way to the concession stand to grab a soda since every one of these goddamn campus-sanctioned events are dry.

I slurp the soda down in one gulp and stand, watching this circus with my arms crossed and a scowl firmly planted on my face, wondering where the hell my friends went.

Cindy skates by me in her short skirt and smiles, but she keeps her distance. Cindy won’t come near me now that Talia’s laid claim on me. And Cindy is exactly who Talia has set her sights on tonight. Or rather, the Sigma, aka the Jesus freaks. Cindy is dating their current president and was dating him when Remy and I had our way with her.

I catch a glimpse of Bax wobbling erratically, his hair flying back, before he vanishes again as small arms suddenly encircle my waist.

She twists me around, and I catch her spicy scent. Her dark eyes twinkle up at me as she presses a pair of skates into my chest. “Come on, pretty boy, don’t look so excited. Lace up. I want to dance.”

My lips quirk as I gaze down at this onyx beauty. A year ago, I’d be the happiest guy alive having Talia Vital in my arms.

She’s sexy, dark like a phoenix.

But I can’t stop thinking about Didi. The sight of her broken body, shoved into the well that night, is burned into my memory.

I see her everywhere—in my dreams, walking on Main Street, in the woods, and yesterday at school, staring at me before I lit the match. It’s like she’s haunting me. Terrorizing my dreams with her beautiful soul.

Despite not wanting to, I lace up, and Talia and I join the hordes of people skating around, holding hands as ABBA comes on the speaker.

“Try not to look so miserable, Tommy,” she says through a smile. She spins in a sexy circle and grins at me. I grab her by the hips and pull her into me before pressing a kiss on her forehead.

Damn, she looks good in her denim outfit.

Bax rolls up, his hair flowing like the wind as he glides over to me with his arms wide and head hung down like he’s Jesus. He looks up, a dumb grin plastered on his face, and a few people give him awkward glances as they skate past.

“These skates are so tripped out. It’s like I’m floating on a cloud, man.”