A rare day off from school brought a fleeting moment of joy. For the first time in months, Emily felt the corners of her mouth twitch upwards. She could be herself for a change. But the brief happiness was shattered by a text message.

"Is it okay for a stranger to be outside your house?"

A sigh escaped. It was Jack, as expected. Just one day of peace—was that too much to ask? Ugh. She had to keep her cool. "Who's this?"

"Your worst nightmare :')"

Panic surged. This wasn't supposed to happen so soon. The message was followed by another ping.

"It's a joke. I'm sorry. It's Jack, from your school. I needed some help, so I kind of came over already. I know it's weird, but can I come in?"

A visible sigh of relief escaped. Stupid, she cursed him mentally. Ignoring the urge to respond, she opened the door to find him standing there.

"Come on in." The thought was sarcastic. Inviting a killer into her house seemed like a dangerous game.

"Well, don't you look like a ball of sunshine." His eyes roamed over her casually. She shrugged, still in shorts and a tank top. She wasn't here to impress him; she was here with a mission.

"How'd you find out where I live? And where did you get my number?"

"I... uh... well, I..." He scratched the back of his neck, looking down. He was a great actor—no wonder Rose had fallen for him. Emily might have too, if she hadn't known the monster behind the charm.

"Honestly, I just wanted to copy your math homework and say hi. Frankly, I find you... interesting."

Emily forced a blush and feigned fluster. "I um... I'm flattered. So, um, want to watch a movie?"

Inviting a stranger—or worse, a killer—into her home might seem insane, but the closer she got to him, the better.

They decided on Saw.

"You aren't scared, are you?" he asked, smirking.

Emily gave him a sweet smile. "Of course not. I have you here with me."

His surprise was evident, an unfamiliar emotion flickering across his face before he masked it with a cough. "Yeah," he said, then added, "You'll be safe with me."

The irony wasn't lost on her. Throughout the movie, he commented on the characters and their stupidity. His charm was undeniable—the way his eyes lit up at certain scenes, the way he made her laugh. He almost seemed beautiful.

A wince followed. How could she think that? He was a sadist who killed her cousin and likely many others. How could he act so normal? Did he regret anything at all?

She found herself glaring unconsciously.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked, confusion etched on his face.

Yes, you killed my cousin, you monster.

Emily smiled sweetly. "No, I was just wondering how sweet you are as a person."

His gaze turned steely. A genuine smile slowly formed on his face, and the coldness in his eyes softened. Emily almost let her guard down, mentally facepalming. She had to remain his prey, not get cozy with him.

"You're much better than the ugly nerd I dated back at my old school. Ugh. Pathetic, I tell you." She put on a bitchy face, watching for his reaction.

The reaction was immediate—his eyes darkened, and a cold glare settled on his face. The look was frightening.

"Yeah, I'm much better than those dweeps. I'd suit you." His voice was steely, business-like. Emily knew she had set herself up as a target again.

He left quickly, offering a cold "bye."

But throughout the rest of the day, one thought gnawed at her: Why was she disappointed at the thought of being just his next kill when that was exactly what she needed?