Chp. 32

"And what will you kids have today?" says a sweet-looking waitress, smiling down at us five, a pen in one hand, a notebook in the other.

"I'll have a cheese burger with orange soda." Ander says, giving me a judgmental look. Trying to see if I'll react. But I had enough money to buy all he wants. Mom gave me money for the camp – don't ask me why. "And I'll get back to you on dessert." He says.

"Anything else?"

"Latte." Alexa mutters. Looking down at the table.

Josh looks at me, unsure of what to get. Or maybe he didn't want to order just to be polite or something. But I wanted everyone to get something.

"Josh will have an ice-cream sundae." I say, knowing that it's his favorite.

He doesn't meet my eyes but nods all the same.

"Can I just have a glass of water?" Sophie asks.

"Course dear." The lady says then looks at me, "And what would you like to eat?"

"That's all, thanks." I say, shaking my head, "I think I���ll pass."

She nods and takes off with our order.

As soon as she leaves, Ander sneers, "Just so you know, I will take ice-cream too."

"If you say so." I shrug.

"So," Alexa begins, "Will now anyone tell me what's going on?"

I nod, looking at all of them.

"You'll know more than you'll ever want."

Ander raises his eyebrow skeptically, "Then why don't you tell us already?"

"Ok." I take in a deep breath through my mouth, "But I'm telling you, this is going to be a lot to take in."

Alexa rolls her eyes, Ander scoffs.

"Is what you're telling us really that bad?" Josh frowns.

"Depends on how you'll react to it." Sophie mutters. But she sounds unsure. Obviously, what I'm going to talk about will be bad. Doesn't matter how you react.

"Ok," I say closing my eyes, "Ok."

Just let it all out.

Don't hesitate.

Don't leave anything behind.

And… I tell them.

From the beginning to the end. From the moment my life went all twisted till the time I tried to make it normal.

I tell them the weird and the unbelievable parts. I tell them about the stalker guy. I don't leave out any detail. It almost feels like everything's happening to me again.

I feel like my mind is screaming, relieved that I'm sharing this burden. Frankly, I'm already feeling very light-headed.

Maybe it took me a second, an hour or even a year to finish talking, but when I do, I feel…different. Calm. Like the fever I had is finally healed. Or the war that ruined is finally over.

But I'm not sure if the others feel the same way.

Alexa has her eyes scrunched in confusion, as if she can't believe she's not able to solve a simple math problem.

Ander's frowning, tying to think of something to say.

Josh…uhh, well, Josh is frozen.

"There you have it." I say, "The truth."

No one says anything for a while until,

"The truth?" Ander fumes, "You call this, 'the truth'?"

I remain silent, looking straight into his eyes.

"Is this some sort of a sick joke to you?" Alexa hisses, "Because 'I'm sorry you're going to die' doesn't really sound funny to me."

"And what is this crap about the same killer who murdered my sister will kill me?" Ander rages on, already on the verge of bursting.

"Jesse Wells was the one to kill them and you know it." Alexa huffs, "You're only trying to protect her."

I take it all in. But it doesn't really hurt when she says it.

"Not to mention that he's blaming Skylar, Sophie!" She exclaims, "Won't you say anything to that?"

Sophie chews her lips, and looks down, "No." She says quietly.

So much for being confident.

"I'm not buying any of this." Ander growls.

He glares at me as I give him an equal stare.

There's silence between us when Josh announces,

"I'm going to the washroom."

He gets up and leaves. But everyone ignores him.

"Whatever I told you," I say, "Is not made-up. Think what you want, Ander, I don't care."

And it all came out so quickly that I didn't get a chance to think about it but these words made Ander mad as he stands up ferocious.

"I've had enough of your shit. I'm going."

Alexa nods, "So am I."

"No, guys!" Sophie freaks, "We need to stay calm and figure things-"

"Shut up!" Ander snaps. "I can't believe I agreed to come here in the first place."

"I can say the same thing." I mutter.

Ander gives me a furious look, "Just so you know, Wells, I hated the very presence of you even before all this happened. The perfect boy of the town, who everyone adored. But when you became the killer's brother, I thought everyone will forget you, but no! You get even more fame."

I simply stare at him. Maybe that's what starts him. The fact that I'm not saying anything.

"Look at you!" He yells. "I'm shouting like crazy here but you're just looking at me like I'm asking for homework. Always a great big nothing from you. It's like I'm talking to the wall! I'm warning you," He leans forward, whispering in my ear, menacingly, "You're gonna go through a lot of pain in the camp."

I scoff, "Why in the camp? If you have the guts you'd fight me right now. The fact that you're freaking out only reminds me of the time you told me that you 'knew about my secret' back in the damn park."

Ander splutters, trying to come up with an excuse but failing. And I know I got him.

"Don't cross the limits.." He hisses.

I stand up now, glaring into those bloodshot eyes, "See if I damn care about anything you do."

"Lukas…" Sophie warns but I shush her with a wave of my hand.

"Listen to me, Marsh." I hiss, "I swear to you that bad things are going to happen. We may all get killed. I came here to warn you just because," I look at Alexa to show that I'm talking to her too, "Sophie insisted. See if I give a shit about it. You tell me, why would I want to tell all this to the people I loath? From me to you, go to hell for all I care."

Ander opens his mouth to speak but I cut him off by taking out my money for the bill, placing it on the table and giving Sophie a sincerely apologetic look.

"I'm sorry." I mouth.

She looks away, clearly disappointed now that she knows what my intention had been.

But what one hear, isn't always the truth.

Anger was chasing me so much that it all spilled out of my mouth.

Of course, I don't want anyone to die. Not Ander, not anyone.

Way to go, Lukas you stupid bloody idiot. You had to say all that.

I sigh, giving everyone one last glance before heading to the door.

Right then, I wish I could tell Sophie I didn't mean it.

But I'm too embarrassed and ashamed to say it now.

But I should probably text Sophie.

Tell her that I just wanted Ander to back off.

I push through a crowd, standing right at the edge of the street.

Taking out my phone, I go to her contact.

Should I explain things to her first or apologize first?

And I'm just about to do it when I see red from the corner of my eye.

I turn to look. Because there is only one person in this town who has that type of bright hair.

Josh.

I don't think he sees me as he walks to his home.

Sophie probably sent everyone home.

I watch him walk when he stops in the middle of the crowded street, getting scolded by a few adults.

But he ignores them, turning around. Going to the completely opposite direction of where I thought he should go.

I frown.

Is he…?

Why is he…?

I immediately put my phone is my pocket and slowly start following him.

Because I realize he's going towards the abandoned park.

The same abandoned park which leads to the campsite where it all began.