Chapter 12
TWELVE
GREAT, I’M GOING TO DIE TO SOME SHITTY THROWBACK SONG
HAILEY
“Maybe you should go check on Carter,” Meg said as she splashed her arms.
We’d been baking in the sun for about an hour, and she’d finally stopped bitching about Sarah and Connor. Don’t get me wrong, I felt for the girl, but he was just some townie. There was no reason to get all bent out of shape about a guy who had probably never left Missouri.
I glanced over at the picnic tables and caught sight of my almost-boyfriend. Slack-jawed, it was clear Carter had too much to drink.
“Of course,” I muttered.
Fucking frat boy.
As much as I liked the guy and enjoyed hooking up with him, I wasn’t sure if he was worth the trouble.
Finishing my beer, I put it in the inner tube’s drink holder and started to pull myself back to the dock. Halfway there, Jamie grabbed the rope and dragged me in. His lean muscles flexed with each move, drawing the attention of every girl in the water.
“Need a hand?” he asked, already reaching for me.
“Yes,” I said, embarrassed by how breathy I sounded.
No freshman should be so hot.
He leaned down and easily lifted me out of the tube. Gently setting me down, his big, calloused hands rested on my hips. “There you go,” he said, his hazel eyes sparkling as he squinted against the sun.
Reaching up, I slid his sunglasses from his light brown hair and covered his eyes. “Thanks,” I said with a wink, stepping out of his hold and around him.
No hooking up with a freshman.
I kept my back straight and walked at a normal pace away from Jamie despite his gaze following me. At the end of the dock, Blake, the president of my sorority, was sunbathing with a few of my other sisters.
“Hailey, are you going to need a ride home later?” She peered at me over her designer shades. The girl was richer than God. Her mom was the headmistress at an all-girls prep school, and her father ran the largest tech company in the Midwest.
I glanced at my shitfaced driver and sighed. “I’ll let you know.”
She pushed her sunglasses up her nose and nodded, lying back on her lounge chair. “Okay.”
Embarrassed that my uptight sorority sister felt the need to check in on me, I grabbed a bottle of water from a cooler, then stomped over to Carter. “Drink this,” I ordered, shoving the water into his hand.
“Thanks,” he slurred. Twisting the cap off, he chugged the whole bottle. “It’s hot.”
“Mm-hmm.” I helped him off the picnic table and took him into the shade where we’d set up some camping chairs. “Why don’t I get you something to eat?”
He nodded, struggling to keep his eyes open.
Perfect. He’s going to pass out.
I checked the tables and realized Carter must have left our cooler in the car.
“Hey Jamie, think you could help me out?”
Once the sun set, the guys built a giant fire.
Jamie had proven to be one helpful puppy. He’d carried our cooler from the car to the picnic table, moved my chairs without being asked to, and fetched me drinks before my cup was empty.
Fireflies flitted around, and the sound of cicadas acted as the perfect backdrop to the drunken chatter.
“Hey,” Carter sheepishly said, rubbing his eyes. “Oh shit, it’s dark.”
“That’s what happens when you pass out and sleep all afternoon.” I took a drink of my beer, shifting in my chair away from him.
He chuckled and ran his fingers through his dirty blond hair. “That’s embarrassing.”
I side-eyed him but didn’t say anything.
“You want a hot dog or something?” He stood, looking over at the grill.
“I ate. Jamie made sure of it.”
Carter frowned. “Oh. That’s good. I’m going to go grab a bite.”
I waved him off and stared across the fire at Meg hanging all over a laughing Jamie. After she made an ass of herself, she’d quickly moved to the younger brother.
Typical.
A few Betas stumbled out of the woods, Blake leading them, surprisingly inebriated.
What’s going on? She never drinks.
I stood and met them outside the glow of the fire. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Blake mumbled, bumping into Jana. “Just had to use the bathroom.”
I glanced behind them, my bladder suddenly full. “Now that you mention it . . .”
“Want us to go with you?” Bree asked.
“Nah, I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. There were some BAEs up there when we left.”
I rolled my eyes, and they all laughed.
“Be nice.” Blake pointed at me, the tip of her finger hitting the end of my nose.
“I’m always nice.”
“Oh-kay,” Kelsey drawled, leading the other two hyenas away.
Smiling, I took the path up into the treeline. I hadn’t spent much time at Thousand Hills, so I took my phone out to light the way.
I followed the sound of laughter and came to a clearing with a small building. One light over the door provided a dim yellow glow for a few feet.
“I’m just saying I haven’t seen them in a while.”
The door opened, and Kat walked out, followed by Mona.
“Maybe they went home,” Mona said, adjusting her shorts. While all the other girls wore bikinis or cute outfits, Mona was rocking an athletic-style swimsuit and running shorts.
“Or maybe our pretty, pretty princess is getting in touch with nature,” Kat said, slapping her arm. “These fucking mosquitoes are out of control this summer.”
When they noticed me, I gave them a tight-lipped smile and tried to go around them without speaking.
The problem with Kirksville summer was that, because there were so few people, everyone who was left in town usually hung out together. Meaning enemies often had to call an uneasy truce until the fall semester started.
“You just missed your fearless leader,” Kat said, with a flat look on her face.
“I saw them,” I said, pushing past. There was no way I was going to let them keep yapping at me when my bladder was about to burst.
I peed and washed my hands undisturbed. Just outside, I checked my phone.
Carter Williams
Where’d you go? I made a s’more for you.
There was also a picture of him smiling and holding said s’more.
“Okay, he’s a mess, but that’s pretty cute.”
As I left the glow of the bathroom, I turned my phone’s flashlight on.
They should put some lights out here.
I walked for about a minute before a rustling in the bushes caught my attention. I swung my phone toward it, catching the sway of branches, as if something had run through them.
“Hell no. I do not do wild animals,“ I muttered, picking up the pace. I’d worn non-functional, cute sandals, not expecting to be speed walking through the woods, so I felt every tiny rock in my soles.
There was a heavy thud to my right, and I started to jog.
My sandals squeaked with each step until the sparkly strap between my toes snapped.
Before it registered, I fell face-first into the brush.
My palms and knees scraped across exposed tree roots as I caught my fall.
Pain shot up my arm on impact, and a loud snap rang in my ears.
I cried out, cradling my right wrist to my chest. There was no way it wasn’t broken. Tears welled in my eyes as I tested my ankles. Thankfully, they seemed fine, so I cautiously stood, peering into the darkness as if I would suddenly develop night vision.
Swallowing down the pain, I started toward the campfire at a much slower pace. The fall had jarred my joints, leaving me sore. The trees thinned, the path opening up to reveal the glow of the fire. Relieved, I took a deep breath and pressed on despite the growing pain in my knees.
The party came into view, and I parted my lips to shout for help, but was jerked back in between two large trees. A large, gloved hand covered my mouth, smothering my shrieks. Panicked, I clawed at the leather, kicking my sore legs, relying on the adrenaline to drown out the pain.
Their hand slid up, covering my nose. Deprived of oxygen, I flailed helplessly. Tears streamed down my cheeks, itchy and hot.
“Stop moving,” a deep voice gritted out.
I fought harder. If they got me into the woods, I was done for.
As they dragged me backward, and the glow of the campfire disappeared from view, I fought with everything I had. I kicked wildly and grabbed at branches, trying to make as much noise as possible.
“Enough,” they growled, and a sharp pain pierced my side.
I stilled, my eyes wide as I tried to see in the dark, but I couldn’t make out a fucking thing.
The pain plus the lack of oxygen acted as an off switch, and, try as I might, I lost consciousness.
Something rough rubbed against my neck, tightening until I could barely breathe. Gasping around a ball of fabric, I came to, my good hand going to the rope around my neck.
“Welcome back,” my attacker said, shrouded in darkness. They were tall and broad, and purposefully kept out of sight.
My bound wrist throbbed as I tried to loosen the rope around my neck. I tried to scream, but it was muffled by a crude gag.
The shadowy figure yanked me off the ground by the rope, and my whole body exploded in pain. The wound on my side pulsed with each heartbeat. It was just a matter of time before I bled out.
They led me towards the tree line, using the rope as a leash, stopping behind an enormous tree trunk.
I vibrated with pain as we stood, waiting for what, I didn’t know. Closing my eyes, I worked up the last bit of strength left in my battered body.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
I lunged away, immediately tripping and falling on my wounded side. My attacker barked out a laugh, and I went still.
I know that laugh.
Wide-eyed, I looked up at them, my mind filling in the gaps caused by the darkness. Blood thundered in my ears as I tried to make sense of everything.
“Showtime,” he said, hefting me over his shoulder.
Every step he took pulled at my wound, making it feel like I was being torn apart.
Moving quickly, we broke through the tree line, and he dropped me on the ground.
A car door slammed, and I jerked towards it, begging for them to see me.
The rope around my neck tightened, and I was yanked up like a rag doll.
My toes barely scraped the grass, then there was another tug, and I was swinging in the air.
My lungs burned as I struggled. With every second, the pressure in my head grew. I fought to keep my eyes open, to stay present.
I can’t take much more.
My attacker stood in front of me, holding something at his side.
A car started, and the hum of music met my ears.
Great, I’m going to die to some shitty throwback song.
Headlights flicked on, illuminating my attacker from behind.
My eyes widened when he raised his hand above his head, the light catching on the blade of a huge knife.
His arm swung, and a searing pain sliced through my stomach.
There was a sickening splatter, and I shut my eyes tight, pretending I was back at the bonfire.
The pain gave way to numbness, and my muscles went slack.
Screams echoed off the trees as I swayed in the summer breeze.