XANDER, the person who had been harassing and probably raping Hollyn at that party, is standing right in front of me. He has been one of my closest friends along with Hunter, but when I look at him now, I feel nothing but disgust and anger towards him. He's behind this whole Catchers thing? I have to admit, I would have believed him six months ago that he would dress up and go after innocent people in gangster style, but still, it's a whole different thing that he's the one who's been after me all this time and I didn't even know it.

Disbelieving, I shake my head. "You're out of your fucking mind. What the fuck, man? And who the hell are the rest of you guys anyway?" I ask, hoping he'll tell me the names.

Of course, he doesn't. "Admit it, the moment I took off my mask was cinematic, wasn't it?" Xander's green eyes seem almost insane. Actually, everything about him seems insane.

"You didn't answer my question."

He laughs way too shrilly and high. "Did you ask one?"

"I asked what the fuck this shit is about!" I struggle to keep my voice calm so that I don't attract more attention, which is almost impossible. Too many students are standing around us at a safe distance. "What the hell do you want from me? Isn't it enough for you that I'm even standing here because of you?"

"Because of me?" Anger flares in his eyes. Finally, he doesn't give the impression of being completely insane. "You killed Hollyn."

"I didn't even touch her, unlike you."

"You were jealous because it had been obvious how much Hollyn and I had fallen for each other. You got drunk at the party and didn't know what you were doing to her. And when she rejected you, you got angry, so angry that she's dead now." Xander suddenly grins. "That's the story that the police believe, anyway."

"And I bet you and Hunter drilled it right into them," I surmise aloud. I try not to show them how deeply hurt I am. Hunter and Xander were there for me just six months ago, and now they betray me without even blinking.

Xander points to the guy next to him, also dressed in black, with a grin. "One of us couldn't come today, unfortunately, and if you're smart, you know who."

Sydney's roommate is still standing on the spot, widening her eyes in panic. Now, at the latest, it's also clear to me who Xander is talking about. In other words, Hunter is also playing the gangster in Xander's little gang that wants to catch me for some reason. Awesome.

Bronwyn's eyes fill with tears and she runs away with a distorted face. I pray she doesn't go to get Sydney because I don't want her to even get close to Xander.

"What's your plan exactly in this whole thing?" This is what I want to know from Xander.

He just laughs, "Isn't it obvious?"

Not really.

He grins almost as if he can read my mind. "The three of us want the police to finally catch you."

Matching his last sentence, I hear voices and police sirens getting very close. Still, I can't and won't just run off like that, and before I really think about it, I speed forward and punch Xander's jaw so hard with my clenched fist that it's bruised or worse. Actually, I wanted to leave after that one punch, but it's not enough for me yet. After Xander has straightened up again, I go at him again and now target his right eye. In a flash, I pull out and ─.

"Dean!"

Sydney's voice makes me freeze. I still have Xander in my grip and for some reason, I don't dare let go of him, but I lower my hand slowly now.

Sydney is breathing so fast that she can barely speak. "This is exactly what he wants, don't you see?"

I look up at Xander's grinning, bloodied face. I don't know if I'm imagining it, but with his right swollen eye, he winks cheekily at me. Again, anger grips me.

"Dean, you have to go. Right now, okay? Dean, you're out of time, do you understand? The police are here."

I finally let go of Xander, who suddenly starts laughing throatily, rubbing the blood from his face. Actually, he's just spreading it around more, but whatever.

"This is going to convince the police that you're a fucking murderer," he says as he points to his face.

I'm going to kill him.

"Dean." Sydney's big eyes are on me in a warning.

She's absolutely right, I have to go.

Xander's voice haunts me all the way through the university because his last words run deep. Everyone hears them. But through me, they seep even deeper. "Sooner or later, you're going to end up where you belong, Walker. And that's behind bars."

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