𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 || 𝐣.𝐚.

010 | 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐒 of Jacob Alden's truck crunched against the gravel road as he made his way toward Crimson Lake, a secluded spot far enough from civilization that no one ever came snooping. Well, people did come but only during the summer. The old truck hummed steadily, its headlights slicing through the inky darkness of the forest-lined road. After about thirty minutes of driving, the lake finally came into view—a vast expanse of still, black water surrounded by towering pines.

Not a soul in sight. Perfect...

Jacob pulled up to his usual dumping spot, a narrow patch of rocky shore hidden behind a copse of trees. He didn't bother turning off the engine; the growl of the motor would cover up any sounds he might make. Stepping out, he inhaled deeply, the crisp, damp air of the lake filling his lungs.

It smelled like moss and decay—just like it always did. He made his way to the bed of the truck, glancing briefly at Austin's lifeless body wrapped in an old tarp. Blood had already begun to seep through, staining the fabric with dark patches. Jacob ran a hand through his hair, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts.

His heart wasn't racing anymore; it hadn't been since the moment Austin had taken his last breath. Now, he felt something else entirely: a calm, calculated determination. This wasn't his first time here. He had dumped Jesse Hewitt in this very lake two years ago, and Amy Fernandez the year before that. Both had failed him—Jesse with his smug rejection, Amy with her lies and betrayal. They had been dealt with accordingly, each left to sink beneath the lake's murky depths after suffering injuries that marked them as Jacob's. A calling card of sorts.

But Austin? Austin was different. Jacob didn't love him, not like he had loved Jesse or Amy. No, Austin had sinned in another way—by hurting her, by existing in her world when he had no right to. Austin had to pay for that. Jacob yanked down the tailgate of the truck with a loud clunk, grabbing hold of the tarp. As he began to haul the body out, he stopped, a new thought creeping into his mind. 'No... this bastard deserves something more.'

Slowly, the blond let go of the tarp, standing motionless as the idea took shape. Dumping Austin's body here wouldn't be enough. It wouldn't send the message Jacob wanted to send.

He needed this to mean something. He needed everyone— anyone— to understand what happens when they cross him. When they get in the way of what's his. Jacob's lips curled into a cold smirk as the plan solidified in his mind. "You wanted to be seen, didn't you?" he muttered, his voice low and mocking as he stared at the lump of tarp. "Guess it's only fair to give you what you wanted." He strode back to the cab of the truck and grabbed the toolbox he kept under the seat. Inside were the tools of his trade: knives, pliers, duct tape, heavy-duty rope.

He had everything he needed.

Now, it was just a race against time. Turning back to the bed of the truck, Jacob Alden's smirk deepened. "Let's make this memorable..."