BLOOD IN THE WATER ━━━━━━━ Stu Macher ✓

2. I WANNA PLAY A GAME

CHAPTER TWO ━━━━━━━

I WANNA PLAY A GAME.

CASEY FELT HER BLOOD RUN COLD AS SOON AS SHE HEARD HER BOYFRIEND'S NAME SLIP PAST THE LIPS OF THE UNKNOWN PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE.

"H-How do you know his name?" She asked. Her voice almost shaking as much as the hand that held the phone up to her ear. 

"Turn on the patio lights again."

Casey couldn't control herself as she cried harder. After several seconds, she composed herself enough to carry her shaky body over to the back yard lights. Her hand reached out and as she flicked the lights on, she squeezed her eyes shut. 

Casey let out a shaky breath and moved away from the light switch to the back door. As soon as she opened her eyes she let out a scream, "Oh, God!" She exclaimed. 

There he was.

Steve Orth.

Casey's footballer boyfriend. 

Tied to a chair right in front of the back door. Tape covering his mouth. The lights illuminated his beat up figure and she could see blood covering his face. His eyes staring at her widely as he tried to yell out, but his voice came out muffled.

Casey instantly reached for the lock.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The fear in her bones caused her to listen to the stranger. She pushed the door closed and locked it again. Feeling helpless as she stared at her boyfriend's tied up body. Not knowing what to do, "Wh-Where are you?" She cried into the phone, trying to spot a figure anywhere outside, "Where are you?"

"Guess."

"Please don't hurt him," She pleaded.

"That'll all depend on you."

"Please," Casey cried. Her hand pressed up to the glass door. Her body leaning on it as she felt too weak to stand up by herself. Her knees so shaky she was sure that she would just fall over at any given second.

"I wanna play a game."

"No," Casey cried, shaking her head.

"Then he dies right now!"

Casey screamed, "No! No!" Her voice raw with emotion.

"Which is it?"

Casey didn't answer.