Page 73 of Primal

Maybe she’s met a harmless Ghostface. Not the real killer.

Or maybe he’s playing with her. Just like he toyed with Jessica.

“If you gon’ hang me up like this, you better tag me. Ain’t no way I’m dyin’ uncredited.”

Kristy picks up her pace.

I lurch after her.

“Baby, I ain’t scared of no blade. You’re gonna have to do better than that if you want me to quit clownin’ on you from beyond.”

Kristy freezes mid-step. Her hand flies to her mouth, gaze fixed on something ahead.

Above.

Vanessa. Upside down. Guts out. Halloween deco. Fucked-up.

Her head lolls toward us. For one horrible second—she’s breathing. She’s—

No.

Her eyes are empty. Unblinking.

And her mouth—

It’s not just open. Split. Corners carved into a too-wide grin. Like the killer wanted her to die smiling.

Kristy staggers back into me.

That’s when I see him.

A figure standing in Vanessa’s shadow, shirtless. Ghostface.

The height. The build. Those shoulders.

He turns toward us.

“Kade?”

Kristy’s fingers dig into my arm. “What the fuck,” she hisses. “Th-that’s your neighbor?”

He peels off the mask—

His eyes meet mine—steel-blue. The color of betrayal. Of madness. Of murder.

The forest spins. It’s him. It’s really him.

“Payton …” he rasps. “You need to—”

Kristy shoves me behind her, pepper spray raised. “Stay the fuck back.”

He lifts one hand slowly, palm out. The blood pooling at his feet. Vanessa’s phone in his other hand.

My throat tightens. “You killed Jessica. You killed my best friend.”

He swallows. “Payton, listen—”

“No, you listen.” I step around Kristy. “I’m done playing games. I’m—”