Page 45 of The Death of Kisses

Present day - October 31st - Town of PineRidge - Population 5025 - 18 yr old

My pulse hammered with excitement as I watched Charlie disappear into the darkness with the other prey. The red paint streaked across my wrist marked me as the hunter and for the first time all night, I had the advantage.

Or at least I thought I did.

“Five minutes,” a commanding shout shattered the silence, and I pivoted to face the other hunters—a motley army masked in horror, each one wearing a terrifying visage from nightmare movies past. A small, reckless laugh escaped me as the horn blared, echoing in the hollow silence. I moved at a casual walk, but inside, my pulse quickened with determination, watching as the others lurched toward their prey, driven by hunger. From the corner of my eye, I glimpsed those seductive red heels—stalking like flames—closing in on them. Her heels danced like flames, flickering in and out of view before disappearing around another warehouse. The cheerful music and laughter of the fairground were drowned out by static, replaced by a primal focus as I continued my slow, deliberate pursuit of Charlie. Charlie’s laughter echoed somewhere beyond the warehouses, close enough to chase, too far away to find. Every time I thought I’d narrowed the distance, it shifted again, drifting through the darkness like it wanted me to follow.

Then, a flash of electric blue paint caught my gaze, shimmering amidst the shadows, mirrored by her midnight hair blending seamlessly with darkness. Maybe, just maybe, I could find her, catch her—seize the moment that could change everything. I moved deliberately, shadows wrapping around me as I slipped between battered box trailers, every flicker of the distant streetlamp casting an eerie glow. The setting looked like a scene from a B-movie horror—creepy, oppressive, suffocating—but I pressed on, relentless. My boots hit the ground with a steady echo, each step resonating with my pounding heart. At the far end, another warehouse loomed—a gateway to her silhouette slipping behind a door. With a surge of daring, I sprinted forward and pushed into the darkness inside.

The warehouse was shrouded in darkness, haunted by flickering lights that pulsed unevenly, casting ominous shadows that danced like whispers of something unseen. My heart pounded with a mix of dread and fierce hope as I fumbled for the flashlight in my cargo pants, the cold grip of metal grounding me. Step by cautious step, I moved forward, every sense alive, desperate to find her. I could feel her presence in this eerie space—the flash of her heels on the concrete, faint but unmistakable, echoing in my mind like a heartbeat beating just beyond reach.

My curiosity burned hotter than the fear gripping my chest. I hesitated, then pushed the lid of a nearby box open, revealing a jumble of old chemicals, forgotten and neglected—time’s cruel hand. But amidst the silence, a delicate bubble of laughter drifted into the air, genuine and full of life, and I couldn't resist—I chased after that sound, that spark of her.

My eyes locked onto her silhouette at the rear, and with a quiet determination, I moved closer, each step softer than the last, like a soldier in the dark. My heart raced as I lunged forward, wrapping my arms tightly around her waist before she could slip away.

“Got you,” I breathed, my voice filled with relief.

She didn’t fight; instead, she turned slowly, her face illuminated by a gentle light of happiness. A smile blossomed there, radiant and true—a moment frozen in time, where everything else vanished, and all that mattered was the feeling of finally holding her again.

“You did.”

34

CAUGHT

Present day - October 31st - Town of PineRidge - Population 5025 - 18 yr old

Idoubled back at least twice, my heart pounding fiercely in my chest, and slowed my pace four times, every nerve alive with anticipation. I stood there, as she slowly made her way toward me, her presence demanding and magnetic. Laughter burst from my throat, raw and uncontainable, as I watched her silhouette emerge into the warehouse dimness—her fingers ghosting over an open box of chemicals, her flashlight slicing through the shadows. I pressed myself into the corner, my back turned, my ears straining to catch her footsteps drawing nearer, each step igniting a fiery mix of excitement and longing within me.

Then, she was there—close enough to feel her breath, her arms wrapping around my waist with a desperate urgency. “Got you,” she whispered breathlessly as her arms circled my waist. I turned slowly, a bright, unrestrained smile lighting up my face, my heart soaring.

“You did,” I replied, voice thick with emotion, meeting her gaze with a tenderness that contrasted with the wildness of the moment.

She tore off her mask, letting it fall to the ground—the barrier between us shattered—before her lips crashed into mine with an urgent, consuming hunger. It was a bruising, needy kiss that I swallowed greedily, my entire being craving more. Without hesitation, she shoved me backward, guiding me against the cold wall as her lips traced down my open collar, igniting flames along my skin.

“Mhm, I think I’ll take my prize now,” she kissed my neck, her voice dripping with desire, a breathy moan slipping past my lips in surrender.

“Do your worst,” I replied, my voice eager with anticipation as her lips skimmed across my collarbone—her touch burning, merging lust with the warmth of the warehouse, heat pooling deep within me, urgent and undeniable.

“Anything?” she asked softly, pausing her kisses, those vibrant blue eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. It was as if she was searching for something elusive, something I couldn’t quite name, holding me captive beneath her fierce gaze.

“Yes,” I breathed out, a smile spreading across my face. “You won, I am your prey.” My body hummed with anticipation, every nerve alive as her stare flickered with the same violent desire that coursed through me. For a moment, time seemed to stand still—her thoughts flickering in her eyes, her intentions lingering tantalizingly just beyond reach.

Finally, she produced a pair of red handcuffs from her cargo pants, a subtle smirk curling my lips—she’d found the secret tools I’d slipped into her costume, proving she was always steps ahead.

“Hands above your head,” her voice low and commanding. Slowly, I raised my hands, locking them together, surrendering to the electric tension pulsing between us, ready for whatever she was about to do.

Her lips gently pressed to my temple, a tender, fleeting caress that sent shivers racing through me. Then, with deliberate tenderness, she reached forward and snapped the cuffs around my wrists, an act that bound me yet ignited something deeper within. She smirked softly, leaning in to kneel beneath me, her eyes glinting with a mixture of desire and control. Her hands moved with sensual precision, swiftly unfastening my blood-red heels, and I stepped free from their seductive grip, feeling both liberated and vulnerable all at once.

She rose slowly, her hands grazing the edge of my waistband, her gaze heavy with anticipation as she considered her next move. “Anything,” I confirmed.

“Comfortable?” Anna asked, withdrawing her fingers from my waist.

“Depends.”

“On?”

“Whether my hunter plans on being merciful.”