I reviewed the past week, slowly, eyes watering over the facts. I was confused, hurt, tired… I ached inside and out. The town had begun to fall apart…

The dead girl’s neckless was in my boyfriend’s hand. He was crying; long, hard sobs as his fingers ran over the locket.

The school creep, Jenson, cut her eyes out of the yearbooks, stalked her behind the bleachers and stole her underwear. They were last seen arguing.

Her jealous friend was caught laughing over her death, saying it was what she deserved.

My cousin was in a relationship with her, make-out sessions in the woods…

I think about the noise in the woods. The laughter. How it was playful. Her higher voice was heard over the river. The lower, deeper voice had been too soothing to make out.

Then I remember how her laughter turned to screams. Melody…

Melody. Her screams. I remember how I had covered my mouth and ran, called the police. How they had laughed and chuckled at how distraught I was.

Now I sit in Pab’s car. The junk on his floorboard making it impossible to sit comfortably. My foot crushes something. I jerk it up and look down.

Her…

Diary?

…What?

My eyes widen, my head snaps over at Pab. He smiles, touching my hand, the other on the steering wheel.

“Pull over,” I blurt.

“What?”

“Pull. Over.”

“What about coffee?”

I jerk the handle, it pops open- he slams on the breaks as I roll onto the wet grass of Seattle, a heavy mist clinging in the air as I get to my feet and run like hell to get away from him.

The killer.

Pab.

I scream until my chest hurt, the wet air drowning me as it fills my lungs. Pab’s footfalls are right behind me. I stumble into a clearing- the same place as Melody was found...

This was his plan.

To lure me here.

Only, I ran here.

I fell into the trap.

“Jacë, you’re being ridiculous!”

“You- you killed Melody.”

“What?” He actually looked hurt.

A scream rocketed through the forest, Pab and I exchange a glance before bolting for the sound, eyes wide, hearts hammering.

The screams continue, worsening in agony and pain. Soon- I realize I know them. I know those screams.

“Jax-“ I say quietly. Then louder, “JAX!”

“Jacë, you shouldn’t-“

“My boyfriend-“

I push away and run faster, the screams leading me to him. I push into a clearing, eyes and lungs burning, adrenaline pumping. Pab is on my heels. He skids to a stop the same time I do.

Standing beside Jax’s beaten body… a man with an axe. And when he turns around, the face I see is nearly unrecognizable by the hatred in his black eyes.

My brother.