Page 34 of The Invite (The Massacre Ball #1)

Nessa

“You shouldn’t be alone, Nessa,” says Ace as we hang outin the teachers’ lounge after two more grueling hours as chaos erupted on school grounds. “Come stay at my place. I have a guest room.”

I’m tempted to accept and he reads it on my face.

“You had an awful day and I wouldn’t feel good leaving you alone.” Taking my hand, he caresses my wrist. “Say yes for me, sweetness.”

In the events of the tragic morning, my earlier predicament slipped from my mind. There’s no way I can go to the police now. After I walked out of the conference room, my gut said they were considering me as a suspect.

When they left, they looked to be no closer to answers. Except for confirming that Capri was, in fact, impersonating her older sister. Her actual name was Amber McVey. Though nobody knows why the sisters switched identities.

I’m flabbergasted that the school missed this.

I think I also saw reporters despite Mr. Crane’s best efforts to keep the news under wraps. Someone from the office must’ve slipped it to themedia. In a matter of hours, the passing of Amber will be flashing everywhere, turning it into a scandal.

Squeezing Ace’s hand, I reply, “Okay. I really would like that.”

“Good girl.”

My chest warms at the endearment.

I skip telling him about the Augustus situation. Besides, Augustus won’t touch me while I stay with Ace. It’ll be the last place he’ll think of searching.

Since the school is closed for the next two days, I can get a break from him and come up with a solution. However, there’s one problem. I need to grab clothes if I’m going to stay over at Ace’s. The plan for a peaceful couple days will fail if Augustus sees Ace and me together.

There’s another tiny problem.

I didn’t drive the SUV today. How am I going to explain my shitty car to Ace?

“I do need to pack a bag, Ace,” I tell him. “Can I meet you at your place? Just text me the address.”

“Are you sure?” He blinks behind his glasses. “I can come by tomorrow for your car if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

“No, it’s fine. I have a quick errand to run as well.” I lie about the second part.

“As you wish.”

I tuck my hair behind my ear. “Also, thank you for staying by my side and for taking care of me.”

“I’m always here for you, Nessa.” His beautiful face etches in worry. “I’m sorry you had to see that. I wish I reached the school first so you didn’t have to go through it.”

“It’s going to take me a while to forget that.”

“Understandable. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

Smiling sadly, I whisper, “You’re an amazing friend, Ace.”

“I’m also an amazing cook,” he teases, lightening the mood. “Just wait until dinner.”

“Sounds lovely.” It’s true. With the minimal cash in my bank, I haven’t had a decent meal. I’m waiting for my salary at the end of the month to properly grocery shop as well as buy more work clothes.

I’m yet to see the teachers repeat their outfits while I’ve done itat least three to four times. I haven't missed the side-eyes because of it. If I need to blend in, I need to have several options so I’m not recycling outfits often.

Ugh… why couldn’t teachers have uniforms too?

“Shall we go then?” asks Ace, while running a hand through his curly hair. I look away before he can catch me staring at his bulging bicep.

“How about you run ahead?” I reply. “I need to speak to Greta about something.”

“Okay. I’ll send you the address.”

Grabbing his leather satchel from his seat, he strolls away. I wait for several minutes before going to the parking lot. Ace’s spot is empty and I quickly rush to mine. Settling behind the driver’s seat, I start the engine and travel to my place.

I’m distracted, my heart heavy with a bundle of emotions. While my mind is filled with so many questions. Was Capri—or her sister—having a tough time at school? Did she know the killer? Did they lure her to the classroom before gutting her so pitilessly?

Turning to my street, I drive slowly and gaze around for anyone suspicious. In my neighbor’s garden, I catch two kids playing in the dirt. I pull into my driveway, park beside Augustus’s car, and get out.

Waving at the kids, I walk up to the porch and screech to a halt.

My stomach twists with a sinking feeling.

There, on my doormat, sits another anonymous note with the letter A scrawled on top. The timing of it sends all the warning signals to my brain.

I stare at it with apprehension, half expecting it’ll crawl over and bite me.

With my gaze glued to it and my foot rooted to the spot, the previous messages play on a loop and I’m too afraid to connect the dots.

It can’t be, right?

The stupid prank can’t be real. Steeling my spine, I bend and snatch it up. Unlocking the door, I rush inside my house and hang the keys on the hook behind it.

Sitting on the couch, I tear open the envelope and read the message.

Bad, bad, bad girl Nessa.

Look what your silly mistake cost poor little Capri.

Oops, sorry! I mean Amber.

Here I thought you cared about your students.

All I had asked for was a secret.

That’s all.

And her life could’ve been spared.

My game is real with deadly consequences.

Now that you know I’m serious,

Let’s start over, shall we?

A secret for a secret.

Or somebody else dies.

Xoxo, A.

P.S. No running to the cops or you’ll ruin the game.

All the air whooshes out of my lungs and white dots cloud my vision. I clutch the wall to hold myself up.

Only a psychotic and sick person would be behind this. They brutally murdered someone because I didn’t play their game.

It suddenly hits me with the force of a bullet train that I’m not being stalked by one but two monstrous predators.

I’m not able to handle one. How am I going to protect myself against two? Especially not knowing who the second person is.

The terror in my bones multiplies and tears sting my eyes.

The paper falls from my grip, fluttering to the floor, and I run to the kitchen sink just in time to vomit. My knees threaten to give out, so I curl myfingers in the ledge.

Tears stream down my cheeks as I turn on the tap and splash water on my face. Switching it off, I slump to the floor and sob my heart out.

Her death is my fault.

I should’ve taken those damn notes seriously instead of throwing them away. What am I going to do? I can’t tell the detectives. They won’t believe my far-fetched story, even though it’s true. They’ll think I’m giving importance to a stupid prank and ignore it. Just like I foolishly did.

Maybe if I hadn’t tossed the first two envelopes. I could’ve shown them as proof. I take this one, they’ll believe I fabricated it.

The loud ping on my phone causes my heart to panic.

I pat my chest, trying to calm my racing heartbeat.

Picking myself up from the floor, I stand and clean my face before reading the text. It’s from Ace with his home address.

Shall I tell him about the notes? Maybe he can help.

I quickly squash the idea. Until I know more, I can’t make rash decisions. While I do find Ace a genuinely nice guy, I’m too jaded to trust him completely.

Whoever said this town was quiet and peaceful fucking lied through their teeth. It’s a purgatory of heinous souls and deadly secrets.

As I focus on replying to Ace, my gaze stumbles on the notifications with Augustus’s handle at the bottom. There’s a message from him received early in the morning. I was so unsettled earlier that I didn’t bother to check before rushing out ofthe house.

Curiosity gets the best of me and I click on it.

@thedeviluworship: For you.

A private link is attached below with a passcode ‘ PREY ’.

No. No. No.

My head spins.

It can’t be what I think it is, right? The sinking feeling in my stomach screams otherwise. I’m too afraid to click on the link and watch. Still, it can’t be worse than what I saw this morning. I close the chat, pretending I didn’t see his text.

I wonder if the news has traveled to Augustus or not. An absurd thought enters my mind.

Would Augustus have taken care of me like Ace did?

Yes .

I must be deeply traumatized if I believe the voice in my head. Or is it my heart that got tricked when he tried to treat my fear of knives?

After glimpsing that sight of him that night, a part of me thought that underneath his deranged, manipulative, and hard exterior lies a softer side—the one buried under countlessdark layers.

But he shattered all my delusions.

So no, I cannot fall into this rabbit hole where I assume he can ever be my savior.

He’s Satan’s spawn.

A devil’s child.

I’d be a fool to think otherwise.

Perhaps I’m having symptoms of Stockholm syndrome. I must get away from thecrazy zone to the land of sanity.

Pocketing my phone, I run upstairs and into my closet. I yank it open and my eyes almost bug out of their sockets.

What the—

Brand-new clothes with their tags removed line the columns of my tiny closet. However, it doesn’t take a genius to guess these are all top fashion brands. Pencil skirts, blouses, pants, heels, blazers, and dresses overflow every inch of space.

Augustus even played smart by stealing my old clothes so I’ll have no choice but to wear these unless I plan to trot around the town naked.

Does he know I cannot afford new ones? At least not until the end of the month. The sneaky little monster.

I can’t believe his audacity. Does he think I’ll forgive him for the stunt he pulled last night just because he bought me a new wardrobe? I cautiously check them as though a bomb might be hidden among them. I’m pissed that they’re even the right sizes. And in my favorite colors!

Well, of course, he knows my body inside and out.

He’s acting like my sugar daddy, which, by the way, he’s too young to be. It’s concerning that I’m more mad over these gifts and how they’re making me feel like a cheap whore rather than when he calls me one while doing unholy and unspeakable things to my body.

I thought I was smart, but he’s proving otherwise.

All my life, I wished to be treated normally, but not this way. Where I’m getting outwitted by a hell-bent stalker— no, stalkers .