The Devil In Disguise

CHAPTER 17: Baited Out

The next few days went by in a blur.

My new identity had been decided. Same backstory: I was a sixteen year old girl who moved because my dad's work required it. I'd wear a wig; not a bold colour this time, but an ash brown. Not sleek and beautiful, but natural. Normal and not eye-catching. I'd wear blue contact lenses and keep my head low — lower than I did here.

I dyed my hair back to black. There was no point keeping the sunset waves and he knew anyway. Plus, I didn't want to poke the bear so I went natural again. I know, it's like a sign of defeat. But the fact that I was still alive was a sign of fighting back, right?

But then the authorities decided to do something different. My parents talked to some people — I wasn't sure who, and I really didn't care. I referred to everyone who helped with this case as the police because they were all trying to keep me safe and sound. Not that it was working.

They decided to keep me here, scrapping my new identity and keeping Karissa. I was over the moon about it — but still confused because wouldn't that be putting me into more danger? Since he knew exactly where to find me?

"Yes," my parents had replied to that question when I had asked, sitting in the police station.

"The idea is that he comes for you. The police have been searching for so long and they want to catch him once and for all," Dad explained.

"So... I'm the bait," I said slowly.

"Yes," Mum replied, biting her lip worriedly. "But don't worry, we won't let anything happen to you. There will be security stationed around wherever it's happening, monitoring everything."

I nodded, still unsure. "So what do I have to do?"

"Be normal. Carry on with life. You don't need to do anything; just exist. That would be enough for the murderous bastard..." Dad trailed off in fury, muttering colourful words in a rage under his breath. Mum put a hand on his and calmed him down, giving him a small smile, and he inhaled and exhaled deeply just like I did when I was feeling anxious.

"There will be a set place where you will be, and you'll seem like you're alone. Hopefully he'll take the bait and try to take you, but the police will come through and arrest him. They don't have a fully formulated plan just yet, but when they do, you'll be the first to know," Dad resumed explaining.

"I have a feeling this will work," Mum said, nodding profusely. I almost laughed, humourlessly. Was she trying to convince us, or herself?

***

I pushed open the door to the form room on Monday with a deep breath, swallowing my anxiety. As soon as I entered, the little group in the corner stopped talking. Anxiety gurgled in my gut as I remembered with a jolt that I'd avoided them all over the weekend, knowing I had to move away, trying to distance myself from them — so it would be easier for all of us. To my utter shock, though, I was actually staying. So what was my explanation now?

I gingerly walked in, playing with my bag strap and avoiding four people pairs of eyes especially: Xander's, Simon's, Corina's and Grace's.

Realising with a jolt that I always sat with them, I bit my lip. Should I sit with them? Or away? No, sitting somewhere else would raise more questions, and would be rude, not to mention awkward.

Risking a glance up, I caught Corina's eye. Next to her was an empty chair, and she gave me a small smile and patted it, telling me wordlessly to sit there. With an inaudible sigh of relief, I made my way over, still avoiding everyone else's eyes — even though I felt a burning gaze on me with every step I took, belonging to someone who I had very mixed feelings for right now.