Chapter 53. The Watcher
The Watcher
This was what I worried about from the start. My worst fears have come true. I tried, I really did. But you couldn’t—wouldn’t—stop. Now it’s too late. People will get hurt. There’s no other way.
It all comes back to you, Holly. You wouldn’t make the smart choice to pack up and leave. You’re the same way at your job. You stubbornly write book after book, work through word after word, and despite no bestsellers to your name, you keep going.
That kind of determination is admirable in your career, but it’s unsafe here.
What did you expect would happen? The girl adores you, Holly.
Can’t you see that? She’s searching for answers that need to stay hidden.
And now that she’s found a lead, I can’t just keep watching.
She knows too much. The girl is just like you—stubborn, persistent, and very intelligent.
In short, she’s a threat. And threats will be handled.
I was once a watcher. Now I need to be something else—something I haven’t been in a long, long time.
I recall the measures I took in the past to protect myself.
The shame still burns. I prepare to become that person once again.
I say a prayer for myself. Selfish, I know, because I’m not the one suffering. But I’ll need forgiveness.
I don’t know how the evening will unfold, but I am certain of one thing: Not everyone at the party will make it through the night.