Free The Dead List by Jennifer L. Armentrout Page B

me.”
    “Okay. I can do that.” He opened the door for me. “I can keep it real.”
    There seemed to be a message in there that I wasn’t getting.
    “We can talk about what times you want to get together. You’re on A lunch, right?”
    I stopped in front of my car, brushing back the strands of hair the wind had tossed across my face. “Yeah. Are you? I didn’t see you today.”
    “I saw you.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Anyway, I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.” He started to turn and then he stopped. Our eyes met from across the parking space separating us. “I’ll wait until you’re in the car.”
    It was ridiculous, but the flutter was back in my chest, banging off my ribs. I raised my hand and waved as awkward as a crossing guard with a broken arm. “See you tomorrow… Jensen.”
    A little smile appeared on his lips, just a tiny tip at the corners as he nodded. Over his shoulder, the sun started to disappear behind the horizon, turning the sky along the mountains a deep pink and vibrant blue. He waited until I got into the car and turned it on. Only when I shifted the gears out of park, did he turn and jog over to his truck. I didn’t realize I was smiling like a total fool until my cheeks started to ache.
    The smile stayed on my face all the way home.
    I all but ran inside my house, delayed only by how long it took me to unlock the front door. Darting into the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water and then made my way upstairs.
    The TV from mom’s bedroom travelled out into the hall. I thought about going in there and plopping my butt down on her bed and stealing the ice cream—the pint of ice cream I knew she had with her—but I headed to my bedroom first to change.
    Flipping on the light with my elbow, I toed my shoes off and started to pull off my shirt, wincing when the skin along my ribs pulled as I lifted my arms. Stepping in the middle of my room, I stilled when a warm rush of air blew across my exposed stomach.
    Odd.
    I tugged my shirt off as I turned toward my bedroom window. In an instant, everything but my heart slowed down, like someone had pushed the giant remote control on life and hit slow-mo.
    The thin white curtains billowed out from my window, rippling in gentle waves as they settled back.
    My toes sunk through the carpet as I walked toward the window. Reaching out, I curled my fingers around the soft edges, slowly pulling the curtain back. The window was open.
    No screen.
    Nothing but the night air filled the void.
    My heart stopped as I straightened and turned toward my bed. My gaze made a slow crawl across my room, skipping erratically when something—the bathroom door—creaked. I wheeled toward the bathroom, but stopped when my gaze landed on the bed.
    I stumbled back a step, the shirt falling from my limp fingers to the carpet. “Oh my God…”
    On my bed, nestled between the two king size pillows, placed on top of my blue Care Bear, was a mask—the same mask I saw every time I closed my eyes. And there it was, staring back at me with those empty, void eyes and the overly wide, disturbing smile.
    The clown mask was on my bed with a post it note attached to it, just above the holes were eyes should’ve been. The crudely written message screamed at me.
    It’s your fault.

Chapter 5
    It was here— he was here.
    I back peddled, stumbling into the computer chair as a scream burst from me. Ice drenched my veins as I wheeled around and took off. Throwing open my bedroom door, I raced down the hall.
    “Mom!” I screamed. “Mom!”
    Oh my God, what if something happened to her? My stomach lurched as I reached for the closed door at the end of the hall, but it sprang open before I could open it.
    Mom rushed out, her face pale as she took me in. “Ella, what is going on? Why don’t you—?”
    “He’s here!” I grabbed her arm, pulling on her. “The window was open and a mask was on my bed! With a note! He’s in my bathroom!”
    Confusion flickered across her face and