2. Breakdown

2

Breakdown

Violet

The masked stranger climbs into the backseat behind Liam, and his tall frame makes the sports car seem even smaller. He has to stretch his legs across to the other side just to make room for himself. He's tall, and in the tight space, he takes up every square inch of it.

The leather seats.

The air.

There's no escaping him.

If the stranger feels constricted by the tight backseat, he doesn't let it show. His shoulders are relaxed as he stretches an arm across the back of the seat, getting comfortable. He tugs the neck of his hoodie, and the scent of pine and cool winter air floods my senses.

Danger.

A forest at midnight .

Darkness .

"Where are you headed?" Liam's question snaps my attention back to the front seat.

While I'm waiting for the stranger to take a knife to us, Liam isn't the least bit nervous. Which, I suppose, isn't surprising, given his usual level of arrogance. If I had to guess, Liam fears nothing because he thinks he's above everyone else. He doesn't know what it's like to be scared—to be vulnerable.

"The Petersons'," the stranger says.

The dark vibration of his voice has my eyes flicking to the backseat, and my breath catches when I look at him. Those bright blue Xs hide his eyes, and still, I feel his attention on me.

Liam grips the steering wheel as he pulls the car back onto the road. "See, baby. Told you. Partygoer."

"Mm-hmm," I hum, forcing a smile.

It doesn't matter if this stranger is headed to the same place we are; nothing about him feels familiar or safe. But there's no point trying to convince Liam when he doesn't listen to a word I say.

It's getting harder to fake my way through this relationship, and I keep hoping at some point I'll mean it. But as he gives me a sideways mocking grin, I'm not sure what I'm hanging on for.

The stability?

The comfort?

Liam is certainty when my life has been cloaked in unknowns .

"Chicks, man." Liam laughs, glancing in the rearview mirror at the man who might be a serial killer. "She's so fucking paranoid."

The stranger hums in response, and I can't tell whether he's in agreement or irritated. His fingers tap the peak of his knee, and with the music turned down, it's quiet enough in the car to hear them drumming.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

I want to know why he's out here in the middle of the night. Walking alone on a deserted forest road. I want to know what he's planning to do when we get to the Valentine's Massacre party. Or why he's wearing a mask.

Liam explained to me that the Peterson twins celebrate Valentine's Day more like Halloween. But even with the name of the party, I didn't expect this.

"Nice mask." Liam tips his chin up in the rearview mirror. "Creepy as fuck."

The stranger nods, still not speaking.

I wonder if he thinks it's odd that my boyfriend's making small talk with him. Maybe that's why he hasn't killed us yet. He's curious what ridiculous things Liam is going to say to a man who I'm guessing is a little unhinged.

"You might get the best look of the night."

I glance over at Liam at his comment. "I didn't know this was a dress-up thing."

After all, Liam and I aren't wearing anything special and aren't in costumes .

Liam's wearing his usual polo shirt with his letterman jacket and jeans. He embodies the blond hair, blue-eyed football players all the girls at school fall for. And he has the muscle tone and confidence to back it up.

I'm in a white, long-sleeved sweater and shorts. I've paired it with fishnets that provide no protection from the chill of the night air. It's rare I try to be sexy or exciting with my outfits, and as goosebumps prickle my legs, I can't help but wish I hadn't tried tonight.

"It is for some." The stranger responds when Liam doesn't, and his voice sends a shiver up my spine.

I roll my shoulders back, trying not to let him see I'm nervous. "So what are you? An anti-Cupid or something?"

"Or something."

I roll my eyes, unable to help it. "How creative."

Liam releases the steering wheel to plant his hand on my bare leg, squeezing a little harder than necessary. "Chill, Violet. You're being a bitch."

I glare at Liam. Because it's not my fault that he picked up a serial killer on the side of the road, and I'm the only one of us who is smart enough not to try to make friends with him. But Liam tightens his grip on my thigh, and it's clearly a warning to be quiet, so I swallow my irritation.

I'm not letting this go, but I don't feel like getting into an argument with my boyfriend when there are worse possible threats in the backseat. A united front is our safest option.

"Sorry." I bite the inside of my cheek, glancing back at the stranger .

He doesn't answer. And still, even if I can't see his eyes, I feel them watching me.

Liam takes another hard turn and the car jerks. A loud pop rings out into the forest, and Liam has to grip the steering wheel to keep control of the car.

"Fuck."

"What was that?" I grip the armrest as the car starts to swerve.

"I don't know." Liam slows the car and pulls us off to the side of the road.

"Was that the engine?" I sit upright to see if any smoke is coming from it. "Or a tire—"

"Violet." My name makes me jump as Liam practically yells it. "Shut the fuck up for five seconds so I can think. I don't know."

The car rolls to a stop, and Liam climbs out, slamming the door behind him. He circles to the front driver's side tire, crouching down to look at it, and I'm frozen in place. It's one thing for him to be an asshole, but I refuse to sit here and let him yell at me.

Movement in the backseat catches my attention, reminding me that I'm not alone in the car and that Liam just left me with the masked stranger.

He leans forward, and I'm suddenly very aware of every inch of space he closes. His pine scent floods my nostrils, and my skin prickles. If we weren't in danger already, now that we're stranded, I have no doubt this just got worse.

I glance down at my purse, sitting on the floor. There's no easy way to grab my phone and call for help if things go sideways. And even if my boots don't have heels, they aren't fit for running.

"Violet."

The way my name rolls from the stranger's mouth makes my core clench. It rattles around something unfamiliar in my chest.

He leans in closer, almost brushing my shoulder as he looks me over. "Why do you let him speak to you like that?"

His question catches me off guard, so I turn my face to his. I stare into those neon blue Xs that hide his real eyes and wonder why he cares.

"He's just frustrated," I defend Liam.

Like I always do. A byproduct of not feeling like I'm good enough for him—or anyone, for that matter.

"Is that what you tell yourself?" The stranger leans closer, resting his hand on the back of Liam's seat so we're almost face-to-face. "That you're less important than his possessions?"

"I—" I don't know how to answer that question.

I am less important than Liam's possessions. At least in his eyes.

The stranger hums when I don't respond, leaning back again. But even if he creates some physical distance, I can't ignore the pine scent he leaves behind, like the forest of energy surrounding him. A step into his darkness, and it's a void I can't find my way out of.

After staring at me silently for a moment, the masked stranger reaches for the door handle and gets out, slamming the car door behind him .

I watch as he walks over to where Liam is still crouched. He tucks his hands in his pockets and looks down at him. Liam is shouting something, but it's all white noise with my heart hammering in my chest.

The silent movie plays out before me as they continue to discuss the tire—or the party. A prickle of intuition creeps through me. Something is wrong, but I can't put my finger on it.

After a few moments, Liam stands, slapping his hand on the car and kicking the tire. Liam cares more about his Ferrari than anything, so he's clearly pissed.

He turns to the stranger, and they continue talking. I wait for either of them to pull out their phone to call for help. But they just stand there, speaking too quietly for me to hear them through the windows.

Every so often, Liam glances over at me, and slowly, his anger is replaced with a stone-cold expression. I can't read the masked man with his face hidden, but whatever they're discussing changes my boyfriend's demeanor.

Finally, Liam relaxes. But something about it has my spine tingling, so I adjust the sleeves of my sweater and press my thighs tight.

There's static in the air.

Energy that might as well be radiating up from hell in a warning.

Liam grins, and then he says something that has the masked stranger's attention snapping to me. He pauses with that sick blue smile glowing through the night as he listens to whatever my boyfriend is saying.

The moment stretches between us .

Quiet.

Endless.

Boundless.

And when Liam finishes his thought and grins again, everything changes.

The masked stranger pulls a blade from his pocket just as Liam tips his head back in a laugh. And when his gaze catches the glint of the blade in the moonlight, I watch the fear fill his eyes.

And then there's only blood.