11. Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Hydessa

I shouldn't be feeling excited that they are taunting me, but seeing that post has my heart racing in my chest. They are challenging me, and I have to admit to myself that I have never been called out like this.

They know where I am even now. Not only that, but it's almost like they can see me. They want to count to twelve after I just put a list of twelve names on the wall. They know more than I expected, and I have a feeling that the only way I am going to get answers is if I play their little game.

I look out the large window of the office, but all I can see is the trees of the forest. Are they out there right now watching me? I've had the feeling of being watched since I arrived, but apart from the moment in the forest yesterday, I simply put it down to being new in town.

A shiver runs down my spine as I sit back in the chair, trying to steady my breathing and think logically. Whoever this person is, they're trying to rattle me, to throw me off my game. But I can't let them. I have to stay focused.

Should I close the window to this room or keep it open so that I can use it to my advantage at some point? Did I miss cameras in here or are they climbing trees?

I glance at the clock on the wall. It's just past seven which means I have five hours until midnight. The blogger's taunt is clear—I need to find them, or they'll come find me. But where do I even start?

I make a quick decision. If I'm going to find them, I need to be out there, observing. But I would still need to wear my mask and black clothes and do whatever it took to go unseen by others until the businesses all shut down for the day. Which means I still needed to wait another hour for true darkness to fall, not the navy sky that still shows the last of the setting sun.

Heading to my bedroom, I take a shower and dress in my black clothes, pulling on the mask and adding a concealed knife into a leg strap just in case. The bloggers were either just close enough to watch through my window, or they have a way of seeing inside which should be impossible. But I can't rule it out.

It makes me want to sweep the house again, but I don't have time right now.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the adrenaline coursing through my veins. I need to be smart about this. Rushing in without a plan will only get me killed.

I go over each person on my list, trying to determine who might be the most likely suspects. The blogger revealed they are a team, so who would go together well?

Allegra, Daniel, Eli, Rye, Jonah, Makai, Chester, Ty, Telvin, Lily, Maddie... Each name conjures up different interactions and impressions. But nothing concrete. Nothing that screams "killer" or "stalker".

Some of the names don't have businesses along the main beachfront, and I suspect they are set up on the other side of the island. I would need to investigate that area, but with so many of the names concentrated along the beachfront, that direction feels like the better use of my time. Especially when the last victim was killed on the beach.

I pause for a moment with my hand on the door, a horrible thought crossing my mind.

I've never seen the bodies, there have been no legal reports. Could this all just be a game? Are these bloggers using made up stories to mess with my head?

My hand shakes as I take a seat by the door and try to get my thoughts in order.

No, Uncle Max said there was a case here, if only from how hard they try to conceal themselves. He said there was more to all of this.

These bloggers are in my head already, making me question myself. I hate it. I despise that they know so much about me and I know so little about them. It's clear they have been watching me, but for just how long?

The clock in the corner catches my eye, reminding me I have a mission. Find them before they find me.

Ready or not, here I come.

I slip out of the house, careful to lock the door behind me, and make my way through the quiet forest, sticking to the shadows. My heart pounds with every step, but I force myself to remain calm and focused.

My first stop is the bakery. As I approach, I see that the lights are still on inside. Slipping around the back, I find a vantage point where I can observe through the open back door without being seen.

Inside, I see Allegra cleaning up for the night. She looks up, as if sensing someone's presence, but quickly returns to her task. I stay hidden, but after a few minutes the bakery goes dark and Allegra locks up before getting in her car.

Feeling relieved but also frustrated, I move on to the next location: the police station.

This location is more challenging. The Sheriff and Deputy are still inside, going over paperwork and chatting, if how much their mouths are moving is any indication. I can't risk being seen, so I find a spot across the street more discreet than the previous night where I can watch from a safe distance.

As I observe, I see Sheriff Brooks come out for a cigarette like last night while Deputy Eli also leaves the station, talking on his phone. He looks around briefly before getting into his car and driving off. Nothing seems out of the ordinary here either, but the fact that the police are actively working this late is worth noting.

Would they really let me know if I found them? How would they know I did if I stay in the shadows? Taking a look around, my anxiety only grows. This is why I never like to seek. Hiding is easier, it's safer. This feels stupid as I wait out in the open for some strangers to confirm they are the ones watching me.

The restlessness under my skin pushes me forward toward the real estate and doctor's office. When they are closed with no lights on inside, my next stop is the café.

It's one of the last places open this late and the lights are still on. I approach cautiously, careful to keep myself hidden.

There are a few late-night patrons, and I can see Lily behind the counter chatting with a customer as she wipes down tables. She seems relaxed, no signs of tension or nerves. I scan the room for anything out of place, but everything appears normal.

Desperate to get answers, I watch for a few more minutes. It quickly becomes clear that I'm not going to glean any useful information from this spot. Frustration builds as I check my phone—9:30 PM. Time is slipping away, and I'm no closer to finding them.

I forgo being sneaky as I rush to the tattoo parlor. The lights are still on inside, making it easy to see everything even from a distance with its large windows. Tyson is still working on a client and I watch as he finishes up and tapes up the fresh tattoo before the client leaves.

When Ty starts cleaning up, I wait to see if anyone else shows up. But the place stays quiet, and eventually he turns off the main lights only to move over to a separate wooden artist desk toward the back that I can't get a clear view of.

I circle the building, crouching low when I get to the back and peek through a small window and see Tyson, focused intently on a sketch. He looks tired, unaware of his surroundings. If he were one of the bloggers, I'm sure he would have said something by now or given me a sign. If they are playing fair that is.

Who really plays fair anymore?

I watch for a while longer, but nothing unusual happens. Ty continues his work, and I decide to move on.

My next stop is the artist's studio right by the beach. It's almost 10:30 PM when I sit in the sand near some rocks.

Both floors of the studio are dark. I wait, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything suspicious. But the studio remains silent, and there's no sign of anyone coming or going.

It takes an immense amount of self control not to kick sand when I get to my feet and start the trek to the gym.

I'm slightly surprised when the bright lights of the gym spill onto the street as I approach, casting long shadows that I use to my advantage. Maika said he wasn't open late often, so I have to guess I've either won the game, or he has a client or two that asked to stay late like he offered for me.

I find a spot across the street to watch, giving me a clear view of the entrance. From my vantage point, I can see a few people still inside working out on the machines and lifting weights. I scan the room for any familiar faces or anyone acting out of the ordinary. Makai is at the front desk, doing paperwork from the looks of it. Everything seems normal.

I wait, watching as people finish their workouts and leave until the gym is empty. Makai finally locks up and gets in his car, leaving the building dark and silent. With nothing suspicious to note, I move along the beach. The moon casts a silver glow on the sand, and I see a few figures strolling along the shore.

Ducking behind some rocks, my adrenaline spikes. Is this them?

The beach is peaceful, the sound of the waves attempting to soothe my nerves. But as I watch the people walking by, I notice it is just an elderly couple enjoying a night time stroll

I want to scream while the time ticks down and I get no closer to finding these people. Are they watching me run around? Laughing while I go from place to place none the wiser to who they are?

Nothing seems out of the ordinary anywhere that I've observed tonight, but I can't shake the feeling that someone is watching.

Why would they taunt me to come out? What do they gain by drawing me out into the open? It's clear they know who I am and where I'm staying.

I can only think of a few reasons: they want to see how I react and observe my movements. The blogger's taunts aren't just idle threats—they're calculated moves designed to provoke and unsettle me. It's working, but I can't let it throw me off. I have to stay focused.

Am I missing something by concentrating so hard here on the beach and the businesses? Should I consider other locations or angles that I haven't explored yet? Am I even looking at the right people? Could there be suspects I haven't considered?

I doubt old lady Gladys is out killing tourists.

There's a nagging feeling that I might be tunnel-visioned on the locations and people I know, possibly missing crucial details or connections elsewhere on the island. The urgency of the blogger's challenge has narrowed my focus to those I've identified, but what if there's more to this puzzle that I haven't yet uncovered?

The blogger implied there is more than one of them, but I haven't really seen a lot of interaction between the names, with the exception of the Sheriff and Deputy, and also Ty and Telvin.

However, the impression Telvin gave me is that he is almost scared of his own shadow. Everyone else appears to lead completely separate lives. But I have only been on the island now for two days, that may not be enough time to actually grasp a good understanding of any connections. Just earlier today Maddie even spoke fondly of Allegra, could they be the bloggers and potentially murderers?

If this is a group effort, their cohesion could be masked by seemingly separate lives. Maybe they coordinate subtly, in ways I haven't observed. The challenge now isn't just identifying suspects but understanding their interplay, if any.

I check the time on my phone again—it's almost midnight and I feel like I've actually gone backward in my investigation. I have more doubts than answers now and nothing to show for my efforts. Their threat looms, but should I give it any credibility?

The phone in my hand buzzes with a message, my fingers moving to unlock it. When I open the message, my stomach drops to my feet and a cold sweat breaks out along my skin.

UNKNOWN

Tick, tock…