clive_joseph

They were high school’s golden couple—opposites who lit each other on fire.

Lena Torres, the quiet valedictorian with a penchant for planning. Jace Wilder, the charming delinquent with a knack for chaos. Everyone thought their love was explosive... until it turned lethal.

Now, something terrible has torn them apart. Secrets, betrayal, and a death neither of them will speak about. Each suspects the other. Each wants revenge. But neither can let go—of the truth, of the past, or of each other.

As a string of violent “accidents” rip through their school, Lena and Jace find themselves locked in a deadly game of cat and mouse—where the only rule is: don’t fall in love again.

But some habits die hard.
And some lovers die hard

Kiss Me, Kill Me

The rain had stopped, but the fog remained — thick and low across the forest outside East Haven. Everything was wet, heavy, quiet.

Lena tightened the drawstring on her hoodie as they moved through the trees. Her shoulders ached from carrying Jovic for hours. His breathing was shallow but steady.

They were holed up in a half-burnt ranger station — broken windows, moldy cots, and the smell of rot soaked into the wood.

Dora paced, knife in hand. "We can't stay long. If they find us again—"

"They won't," Jace said. "They think we're heading east. I looped the signal trail through town."

Lena didn't respond. She just watched Jace through narrowed eyes.

Still trying to figure out how much he was hiding.

She sat down beside a dusty old locker and kicked it open. Inside were torn-up files, a half-burnt logbook, and a black binder labeled:

"EH-01: Primary Subject. Archive."

The first photo inside was of a young girl — wide-eyed, maybe seven years old.

The file listed test scores. Sleep patterns. Notes on trauma response. One entry stood out:

Subject unaware of prior conditioning. Behavioral shaping successful. Recommend integration into peer simulation at East Haven.

"What the hell is this…" she whispered.

Before she could process it, Jovic jolted upright on the cot.

Jovic sniffed the air again. His face went pale.

She knew what that meant. Emma had written about it in his last encrypted message.

The Retriever leaves that smell behind.

Dora moved to the window—too late.

A dart shattered the glass, embedding itself in her shoulder.

Lena rushed to her, but Jovic was already moving—dragging her toward the back exit. Another dart flew past, hitting the wall.

They fled into the fog, the heavy sound of boots closing in behind them.

Chapter 10: Scent of the Hunter