Chapter 18
908 Words
Lexi
She woke to the smell of something vaguely burnt and the sound of someone muttering curses in her kitchen.
Jace.
Lexi smiled before her eyes even opened.
For the first time in days—maybe longer—her chest didn’t feel like it was caving in.
The sunlight filtered in through the curtains, soft and golden. She stretched beneath the covers, the ache in her muscles a reminder of every kiss, every whispered promise they hadn’t said out loud.
It should’ve been awkward.
But it wasn’t.
Not when she found Jace barefoot and shirtless, hunched over her stove like it had personally offended him.
“I was trying to make eggs,” he muttered, noticing her in the doorway. “Keyword: trying.”
Lexi grinned. “Well, you succeeded in making smoke.”
He smirked, running a hand through his hair. “Guess I’m consistent with fire disasters.”
“Dark,” she said, stepping closer and wrapping her arms around his waist from behind. “But fair.”
He relaxed into her touch like he’d been waiting for it. “I don’t want to go to school today.”
“Then don’t.”
He turned slightly. “You either?”
Lexi met his eyes. “Nope. I vote we call it a mental health day.”
His grin was boyish. “And what does a mental health day with you look like?”
Lexi tugged him back toward the couch. “Blankets. Movies. Maybe pancakes if you promise not to burn those too.”
He followed without question, letting her curl into him as the TV played something neither of them were really watching. His hand rested low on her hip, fingertips tracing light circles on her skin.
They didn’t talk about the texts.
Or the photo.
Or the threat still hanging over them like a guillotine.
Not yet.
Right now, they chose silence.
They chose each other.
Hours passed in quiet laughter, soft kisses, and the occasional tickle fight that ended in tangled limbs and flushed cheeks.
At one point, Jace whispered, “You feel like a beginning,” against her temple, and Lexi’s heart cracked wide open.
It was terrifying.
It was beautiful.
And when he kissed her again—slow, reverent—it wasn’t just about passion or distraction.
It was about hope.
For the first time, Lexi let herself believe that maybe, just maybe, they’d find a way out of this mess. Together.
School
Savannah
The hallway was too quiet.
No Jace. No Lexi.
Savannah leaned against her locker, clutching her phone, trying not to look like she was spiraling.
She was, of course. Spiraling fast.
Lexi hadn’t shown up. Jace was a no-show too. Rumors swirled, of course—Lexi was “sick,” and Jace was “off-campus.” But Savannah knew better.
They were together.
And worse, someone knew she was involved with the fake email—the one that nearly ruined Lexi’s reputation.
Buzz.
Her stomach dropped.
Unknown Number:
Funny how you wanted to burn Lexi down. Now you’re the one sweating.
Tick tock, Savi.
She swallowed hard.
“No,” she whispered, looking around like she could spot the source through the sea of indifferent faces. No one was watching. No one cared.
She slipped into the girl’s bathroom, locked herself in a stall, and reread the messages.
There were more now. Screenshots. Of her DMs. Her conversations with the mystery helper.
Unknown Number:
I kept your secret. But how long do you think he'll keep yours?
She scrolled down—and there it was.
A screenshot of the message she'd sent her mystery helper the night before the email went out:
Savannah:
Just distract her. I’ll do the rest. Jace needs to see who she really is.
Her blood turned to ice.
She deleted the text, even though it was pointless.
Buzz.
Unknown Number:
Deleting won’t save you. Start talking or start sinking.
Savannah gritted her teeth, fingers trembling as she typed back.
Savannah:
What do you want?
But no reply came.
Not this time.
---
Jace
He hadn’t meant to come to school.
But after Lexi fell asleep, wrapped in his arms and breathing like peace itself, something in him itched.
He needed to face it.
To hunt whoever was toying with their lives.
He just hadn’t expected Bryan to be the first one to greet him.
“Dude,” Bryan grinned too wide. “Long night?”
Jace didn’t answer right away. He studied his friend—too closely now. The way Bryan always hovered. Always knew too much. Always had that smirk.
“Something like that,” Jace said flatly.
Bryan clapped him on the back. “Man, Lexi’s lucky. You’ve got, like, that whole brooding protector thing down.”
Jace tensed. “Have you seen Savannah?”
“Nah,” Bryan said. “Why? She dragging Lexi again?”
Jace narrowed his eyes, then shook his head. “Forget it.”
Bryan tilted his head, voice a little too curious. “You good, man?”
Jace forced a smile. “Peachy.”
But the minute Bryan turned the corner, Jace pulled out his burner.
Another message had come in while he walked the hall.
Blocked Number:
She’s not the only one playing games.
Attached was a picture.
Savannah. In the school bathroom. Crying. Holding her phone.
Jace clenched his jaw.
Someone was here. Watching all of them.
And they were getting bolder.
- Writer
