Danica

Thursday, July 18th, 1:20am.

Paxon keeps looking up in the rear-view mirror at me, his gaze flitting from the road to my eyes like he's trying to communicate with me strictly through eye contact. It's less of a pain in the ass without Derrick back here to worry about so I gladly sink into the seats as I try to decipher what he's trying to say to me but I can't figure it out.

I feel like I can relax for once tonight, even with Mila seething next to me, it's easy to ignore her. She's always been one for drama, so it's nothing new.

I keep my arms crossed over my chest to fight against the strange chill of the night air as I try to smooth the goose bumps that are prickled across my skin. The old lecture hall building at last comes into view as Paxon pulls up along the curb and shuts off the car.

I get out before the car has a chance to fully shut off as I approach the doors for the hall. I don't wait for the others as I try the handle, the door easily opening to reveal that the hallway is now bathed in red light.

A red box that is no bigger than a shoe box is set in the middle of the hall maybe a dozen yards down and I'm cautious as I approach it. A black envelope is set on top of it and I open it and pull out a black letter as I start to read aloud the message that is written on it in white marker.

"Congratulations! You've completed the game! However, you will only know if you have won it within a few days if we cannot find the body, until then, please take the items you left behind and return the keys to us.

Love, your sorority sisters and fraternity brothers."

I look up to see that Paxon is standing nearby, his jaw tight as he unceremoniously drops the keys into the box when I take off the lid. I toss him his phone and he nods as I grab my purse and shoulder it before I check to make sure that all of my things are inside.

Olivia stoops beside the box and takes her phone, Paxon offering a hand for her to take as he helps her to her feet. His eyes don't leave her face as he leads her back down the hallway and they disappear outside.

"Should I take Derrick's phone?" Mila interrupts.

"I'd leave it here in case he comes back to get it," I tell her.

"But what if-," she begins to protest and I want to shake her.

"You know what? Do what you want," I say before she can finish the thought.

I turn away from her and start walking as Elijah uneasily sidesteps when I walk past. I can smell the alcohol on him, as he must have drank the rest of the six-pack and the bottle of vodka while Paxon and I had gone to check on Olivia.

"I guess I'll leave it behind," I can hear her mutter.

"Have a goodnight," I toss over my shoulder as I mainly direct it to Eli, it's not his fault Mila is being an insufferable brat.

Maybe some day she'll grow up, but not today.