12. Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Hydessa

I glance around, scanning the dimly lit street and the deserted beach. No movement, no hint of a lurking presence. It's as if the island has swallowed its inhabitants whole, leaving me alone in the stillness of the night.

With a sigh, I decide this is all a waste of time. In the end, they are going to come to me so the least I can do is be ready when they do. I need to find a way to create a more even playing field.

The risks of staying out in the open, exposed to an unknown adversary, outweigh the potential gains at this point. I'm not getting anywhere standing out here, let whoever it is taunting come for me directly.

Maybe I could get Uncle Max to trace the text message. No doubt they are using a burner phone though.

The clock on my phone reads five minutes to midnight. I've spent hours combing over the businesses and observing potential suspects, yet I'm no closer to unraveling the mystery. The island remains silent, almost conspiratorial in its tranquility, as if holding its breath.

As I turn into the forest, darkness presses down on me like a weight as I slowly start making my way back to the house. The chill of the night air seeps through my clothes, sending shivers down my spine despite the adrenaline still coursing through my veins.

The canopy above casts eerie shadows, and despite the mask concealing my face, I can feel the tension in every step. I listen for anything around me, but the silence is only broken by the rustling of leaves underfoot even as I tread carefully, and the sound of my own breathing within the mask.

I'm almost at the edge of the tree line, my house right in front of me, when a sudden flash of light to my right startles me. At first, it's a brief red glow in the distance, like a fleeting ember in the darkness. Just when I am about to assume someone is starting a bonfire, another pops up beside it, this one green.

They start to appear and disappear at random intervals, leaving me squinting into the semi-darkness watching as they move. The adrenaline that had just begun to settle spikes to an all time high, leaving my hands feeling jittery.

So much for trying to find an even playing field.

The rational part of my mind urges me to retreat and come up with a plan that makes me feel less like the prey. Yet, the investigator in me, fueled by a need for answers, compels me forward.

With each step, the shadows seem to grow thicker, the air heavier with an unspoken threat. Moments pass like an eternity as I move deeper into the woods, following the faint glimmers of light that appear and vanish like phantoms.

The lights disappear again, and although I push forward carefully, I have no idea if I'm still going in the right direction. Just as I begin to question my own sanity, the red light flares up again, this time closer, behind the silhouette of a large tree. My heart quickens, adrenaline coursing through my veins as I approach cautiously. The green light follows suit to the left, illuminating the darkness for a brief moment before fading into obscurity.

My eyes ache with the constant change from a glimpse of light then nothingness, making the darkness around feel even stronger each time they flicker.

I pause, my breath catching in my throat as a deep, echoing chuckle reverberates through the forest. It comes from my right, followed moments later by another echoing laugh from my left. My head whips around in both directions, but the darkness remains impenetrable, concealing whatever—or whoever—is out there.

Heart pounding, I fight the urge to run away. My body tenses, while silently cursing my own stupidity for putting myself in this situation..

Instead of creating neutral ground, I dove headfirst into enemy territory.

I inch closer, my nerves on edge while I try to get a tree behind me so that I feel like my back is guarded. But then I hear the chuckle again, closer this time. It's a taunting sound, low and mocking.

My eyes dart around, but I see nothing. A rustle in the underbrush to my left makes me freeze. The laughter comes once more, this time just annoying me. I feel like my heart is now lodged firmly in my throat, and when the red light appears again, it's a struggle not to scream.

"Looking for me?" A voice obscured by a modulator says as red illuminates the inches of space between me and a neon mask. It has X's for eyes and a stitched shut sinister mouth.

It's one of the creepiest things I've ever seen, and though I don't scream, I can't help the gasp that falls from my lips, making the person behind the mask tilt their head as they chuckle.

My hand twitches to reach for my knife, but they will see the move coming from a mile away. The person slowly steps back to lean against a tree as I begin to take a deep breath.

Swallowing past the lump in my throat I straighten my spine. I will not let him intimidate me, I am better than this, I have grown up surrounded by worse than this.

"Or is it me you're looking for?" Another echoing voice comes inches from my left, making me jump in surprise. I knew there was more than one of them, but I didn't realize they were this close.

I have to lock up my muscles to stop from showing them just how afraid I am. I may be a detective, and a damn good one at that, and I know how to use my fair share of weapons. But, there are two of them and one of me. They both easily tower over my small frame, like two devils looking down at a lost soul.

"I'm looking for a killer," I respond, my own modulated voice echoing through the trees.

The red-masked figure chuckles again, the sound low and sinister. "Well, you certainly found yourself two killers," he says, the neon X's in his mask flickering eerily.

My pulse quickens, but I force myself to stay calm. Panic won't help me now. "Why the games?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady. "Why not just come for me directly?"

"Where's the fun in that?" the green-masked figure replies, taking a slow, deliberate step toward me. "We like to play with our prey."

"You've been very busy tonight," the red-masked figure continues. "Running around, looking for clues. It's almost… cute."

"Too bad you're not very good at it," the green-masked figure adds with another low chuckle.

Anger flares within me, momentarily overpowering my fear. "If you have something to say, why don't you come out and say it? Or are you too scared to face me without your masks?"

The red-masked figure's posture goes from relaxed and joking, to domineering and threatening in the blink of an eye. Pushing off the tree and taking a step forward, I get the feeling they don't appreciate not being in control.

"I think you're the one afraid to face the world without a mask."

Suddenly, fingers grip the mask covering on my face, turning me to look into the neon green smiling face that has my eyes wincing under the harshness of the light. I had let myself be distracted by the person in front of me and forgot the other one. I grab their wrist tightly to stop them from removing my mask, but they don't move to do more than just grip it.

It's a show of force, but they know as well as I do that once they remove my sense of security, I'll do everything within my power to remove theirs. We both freeze as we assess each other, time standing still for a brief moment.

I growl, my voice echoing through the modulator, "Let me go and stop playing games. I'm here to stop innocent lives from being taken. If I need to, I will kill you."

The green-masked figure laughs. "Bold words for someone who's clearly out of their depth. We like that," they say, leaning closer. The light of his mask is so bright it's almost blinding. "But are you willing to follow through?"

I tighten my grip on his wrist, my muscles coiled and ready to reach for my knife the moment I need to. "Try me. I will do what I need to to stop you killing innocent people."

The red-masked figure steps up close on my right. "Are we? No one we kill is innocent. But don't worry, we're not here to kill you. Not yet, anyway. We have plans, and you're a part of them."

"Plans?" I scoff, trying to keep the edge out of my voice. "What plans?"

The green-masked figure's grip loosens as they tilt their head. When I prove I'm not about to cower, they finally pull their hand away from my mask.

"You'll find out soon enough. Just keep playing the game, and all will be revealed."

I take a deep breath, trying to quell the rising anger and fear even as they seem to give me space. "What do you want from me?"

The red-masked figure steps closer, angling his body almost behind mine as they subtly cage me in.

Ah, so they weren't giving me space out of respect, it was so they could intimidate me further.

"Isn't it obvious? We want you," they say, their voice a low growl that sends a shiver down my spine.

I try to maintain my composure, my mind racing. These masked figures seem to have been watching me, studying me. But for what purpose? What could they possibly want with me? If they know who I am, wouldn't they want me far away from here if they are killing people?

The cold air surrounds my left hand as my glove is suddenly pulled off, leaving my hand exposed to the night air. Neon green light illuminates my fingers as the figure looks down at them.

I gasp behind my mask at the feeling of bare fingers sliding against my palm. Instinctively, I jerk my hand away. "I never gave you permission to touch me, asshole" I growl, pressing my hand firmly against my leg as if to wipe them off. But a strange memory tries to nag at me. I shake it away in favor of staying in the present because I have no idea who this is or what they want.

The green-masked figure just laughs in response, the sound echoing around us. "Oh, you cut me, darling girl. But we don't need permission. We own you and your darkness, even if you aren't ready to accept that."

My heart lurches at the use of the name. "Don't call me that. You don't even know who I am," I retort, my voice trembling with anger and fear.

The red-masked figure hums softly, the sound making me tense even more. "Oh, darling girl, we know more than you think."

The other steps forward. "Did you know a synonym for hide, is mask. Seems like fate that we discuss this while masked, given the meaning of your name." The green face tilts in front of me, as though assessing me, his fingers reaching out to touch my mask again.

I jerk my head back and slap the strong arm away even as nausea unsettles me. There is no way they know who I really am.

Maybe I can still fool them. Knowing my sister is back home and safe from this situation, I decide to pretend to be her to throw them off of my trail. After all, we learned to switch places even at young ages.

"Fine, you know I'm Seanna Darling. But that won't help you," I respond, but even I can hear the tremor in my voice.

Both masked figures shake their heads and the red-mask makes a tutting sound as if he were disappointed. "Nice try, but the two of you aren't as alike as you think you are. We can see the difference easily."

"For instance, Seanna has learned to embrace the darkness inside her, but you are still afraid of yours," the green-masked figure says.

My chest is heaving as I try to catch my breath while surrounded by them. "I'm not afraid of anything," I nearly yell in frustration.

Green-masks bare hand quickly wraps around my throat, his fingers pressing into my skin causing my pulse to speed up. "Funny, your heart rate says something different."

The red-masked figure steps more firmly up behind me, and I can feel the entire length of their body. When they speak, their voice is low and close to my ear. "Or maybe she's just turned on, brother."

My mind races as the situation escalates, trapped between these two masked figures who seem to know far too much about me. But they just gave me something. No, the body pressed against me gave me more. They are both men. I am looking for two men. Two brothers.

I was starting to come to the conclusion on my own based on their height and stature, but it's too dark to be sure.

The grip around my throat tightens as if they realize what they just did.

But that's when a terrifying realization comes to me. The feeling of being surrounded by them. The way their scents seem to tangle together while I inhale and the pressure of the warm hand on my neck is sending my mind into overdrive.

My thighs try to press together, craving something more. That's when it hits me. I'm fucking soaked.

I struggle against the hold, my hands gripping the masked figure's wrist, trying to pry his fingers away, but his grasp is unyielding.

"Let me go," I manage to gasp out, my voice strained and desperate. Panic threatens to overwhelm me as I realize just how much I like this feeling, but I force myself to focus on the fact that they are killers.

The green-masked figure chuckles darkly, his grip tightening ever so slightly to fully cut off my air supply. My ears ring as he whispers, his breath seeming to bypass the mask completely and drown me in the warmth.

"Oh, we're just getting started, darling." Shadows dance around my vision, and I can't tell if it's because of the glow of the masks or if I'm about to pass out.

He suddenly releases his grip on my throat, and I almost stumble from between them as I gasp for breath. I press my fingers to my neck, feeling the desperate need to remove my mask just to draw in a full breath, but I resist the urge.

They start circling me, their masks' lights flickering and weaving around me, disorienting me as they move.

I growl in frustration as I try to follow their movements. "Are you going to tell me your names at least?"

I may have walked into their little trap, but they have still helped me narrow down my list. Maybe I can get a little more from them so I don't feel like I failed quite as much tonight.

"Hmmm, yes, we do need to give you something to scream when you fuck yourself to our memory," the green-masked figure says, moving close to my back while I'm watching the red-masked figure. He inhales deep, as if he can somehow sense my arousal.

It makes me feel vulnerable and what surprises me even further is that it is yet another turn on. What the fuck is wrong with me?

"Should we tell you to call us something cute?" red mask taunts. "Batman and Robin? Thumper and Bumper? Bonnie and Clyde?"

The green-masked figure joins in, his laughter ringing out unsettlingly. "Ooooo you're Bonnie, I'm Clyde…"

The red-masked figure snorts dismissively. "We could go back to the classics with Romeo and Juliet?"

The green-masked figure laughs louder. "I'd rather she be the Juliet to my Romeo…"

That has me growling low in warning. I am no one's Juliet. I would never sacrifice myself for a man and I get the urge to claw their eyes out over the insinuation. People love to forget that the story isn't a romance, it's a tragedy.

"How about I just call you Tweedledee and Tweedledum?" I retort, trying to inject some defiance into my voice despite the fear simmering beneath the surface.

Abruptly, they stop moving, their masks' lights fading slightly. The red-masked figure steps forward, his demeanor suddenly serious like before, almost as if he has two personalities. "I know. You can call us Cain and Abel. After all, we are the sons of sin..." His words hang heavily in the air, and I narrow my eyes, trying to decipher their meaning.

"Didn't Cain kill Abel?" I ask in question, tilting my head.

"Oh, I did die," green mask says, "just not the way that the stories say... I died the day I met you."

Startled, I spin around to confront him, but he's gone. The red glow behind me winks out as I whirl back in that direction. I strain my eyes but suddenly see nothing except the impenetrable blackness of the forest.

There's no sign of either of them—they blended back into the shadows, leaving me standing alone in the eerie silence of the forest.

My hands shake as I begin the long walk home, but something tells me I won't be alone even in the dark.