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twenty-two

                    THE AUTUMN WIND WAS ENVELOPING THE TREES, BANGING OPEN DOORS, AND MOVING LEAVES DOWN THE EERILY VACANT STREETS OF SLAYDEN. Everyone was getting ready for the Halloween festival that was slowly creeping up on the town, but because of all the murders, no one really seemed in the Halloween mood. All the stores were closed "for the time being", and police tape now covered the library from end to end as police tried to search for evidence.

The librarian that had been killed was named Mrs. Duncan, and because the kids had left the library, there was no one else around to bear witness to the event. The police were as confused as they had been since the murders first started, and had no suspects and no idea what to do.

After the teenagers had recovered from almost being slaughtered, they had all gotten clumsily to their feet and somehow walked to the ice cream shop on the corner. Kayden didn't know about anybody else, but she couldn't even really enjoy her ice cream due to the fact that all she could think about was the masked killer that had been on top of her and almost gotten away with whatever sick thing he had planned to do to them all.

She had told the others immediately what had happened, and Aiden had pressed her for details. But all Kayden could remember was the person's deep, guttural sounding voice and it's almost black eyes. It didn't sound like anything she had ever heard before, so she couldn't place where she might have seen him.

"Shit," He said after she had finished, staring at her with wide eyes. "Fuck, Kay, I'm so sorry I wasn't there to—"

She shook her head. "It's okay. I'm fine."

She put a hand on his shoulder as he opened his mouth to protest. "Seriously, A, it's okay."

"Only you would say it's okay after almost being killed," Gen said softly. "Christ, Kayden. Anything could have happened."

The blonde shrugged, a rueful smile twisting her mouth. "Guess I'm used to it or whatever?"

She laughed, but none of them did; they all exchanged glances, not looking as though they found anything the least bit funny. Aiden's face hardened and Kayden pressed her lips together.

"Guys, come on. It was a joke."

"Nothing's really funny about the fact that you know what that feels like," Hudson said sharply. "It makes me sick."

She sighed, rubbing her face with her hands. "You all, honestly I'm—"

"'Fine,'" Aiden mimicked, slamming his spoon down on the counter. All of them flinched as he ran his hands through his hair, putting his head in his hands. "You always say that shit. And there's nothing fine about any of this. Not with you, not with Becker, nothing. It's bullshit."

Kayden looked away, settling her eyes on the tiled floor. It made her excruciatingly uncomfortable to talk about what she went through with Kyle; the letters still not fully healed prickling uncomfortable on her collarbone. She didn't want to be accused of playing the victim. She didn't want to sound pathetic.

Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her pocket, grateful for the distraction.

Mom: Come home please. Ineed 2 tell U something.

Her brow creased, and she pushed back her chair, looking around at her friends. "Sorry, guys, I have to go. My mom needs me." And by the way she had been talking, she was probably drunk.

"Do you need a ride?" Aiden asked immediately, standing with her, but she waved him back down. "No, you guys do your research. I live literally two minutes away. I'll be fine."