DO YOU LIKE THE DARK

Welcome back besties! Where were we? Oh yeah, trying to find Cam amid the turmoil.

"Cam?!"

"Cam?!"

Lauren felt her forehead. She thought her brain would explode right then and there. The scar from the accident remained years later. A reminder that they covered up something gruesome.

Fortunately, Cam came down the steps rubbing his tired eyes, "Yo!"

Lauren was the first to hug him. She couldn't stomach losing someone else. Something flickered in his eyes when he hugged her back.

"You're telling me somebody or something killed Dakota?" Whitney asked scoffing in disbelief.

Oakley turned to her, "Whit, what we saw was real."

Rebecca seemed to cling to her fiancé. "I believe them."

The sun began setting even more hiding behind the mountains and trees. Lauren gripped her stomach feeling the pain return.

"It was probably a bear. The bitch was dumb as hell going into the woods by herself!" Whitney was being obtuse.

Oakley shook his head, "Don't be a dummy."

The girl whipped around, "What did you say?"

Oakley squared his shoulders towering over her, "I said don't be a dummy."

Whitney ran a hand through her straight hair chuckling darkly, "Says the man who can't decide between two women."

Oakley turned a bit red. Not she about to air everybody out.

"Whit. Stop. I know what you're doing." Kai spoke feeling his good boy demeanor slip away as the drama continued.

Whitney put her hands on her hips and eyed everyone. It was like they circled her and she was in the middle of it all.

"You want me to stop Kai? Why don't you tell your fiancé what you did to get that new bakery?"

Rebecca looked at Kai, "What is she talking about?"

Lauren looked at Joey. At least it wasn't their secret being aired out.

Mekhi grabbed onto Rebecca's hand easing the blow, "Remember when I told you I had an investor for my shops?"

She nodded.

"Whitney is one of them but I had to do something for her to get it."

Rebecca yanked her hand away turning around, "Don't even finish that sentence."

Whitney laughed. "Come on Becks! Live a little. Isn't that what you told Lo back in 2013? But you got mad when she spent more time in the hospital rather than filming YouTube videos for you?"

Lauren shook her head, "You're a bitch and a bad friend."

"Why did you even speak? Do you know that Joey told me he hated coming to visit you in the hospital because all you did was cry like a baby?"

Lauren's hand instinctively came up to rub her belly where her surgery scars remained. She looked at him, "Really? I'm a crybaby?"

"That's not what I said." Joey retorted taking a step closer to Lauren.

Oakley stepped in front of her blocking Joey from getting to her.

"Really Oakley? Move your indecisive ass out of the way."

Lauren felt her ears ringing. She was done with the rich white girl. Whitney was still laughing at the way the friend group crumbled right then and there.

"I think I should go," Cam muttered feeling out of place. Yeah because you don't belong here.

Whitney, turn around! Lauren sent her fist flying right at Whitney's face. The girl stumbled to the ground.

Lauren shook her hand. It began to blister. Joey slid next to her, "Damn, you got one hell of a right hook."

She laughed smiling at Joey, "You taught me remember?"

Whitney wiped the blood from her nose, "Pack your shit and go. Everybody!"

Rebecca stepped over her body, "Gladly."

Whitney grabbed her beach towels and left the house heading towards the lake. The door slammed behind her.

Lauren wanted to go after her friends but felt Oakley grabbed her hand. She hissed at the pain when he ran a finger over her bruised knuckles.

"Let me wrap it for you."

Lauren wanted to pull away but Joey and Cam were already out the door leaving them alone. "Sure."

He lifted her onto the granite counter and quickly found the first aid kit under the sink. She cleared her throat as he wrapped her wound, "So, that was something."

Oakley laughed closing the kit, "Yeah. I'm sorry about what she said."

Lauren could feel his gaze on her face. "I think it's time for all of us to leave it be."

"Leave what be?"

Lauren cocked an eyebrow, "The friend group. We aren't friends, just immature people in their late twenties."

Oakley brushed his fingers across her face feeling her cheeks heat up, "You're always right."

Lauren gripped his wrists pulling his hand away, "What do you see in her?"

Didn't she ask this back in the kissing closet? Oakley was pressed to answer this time, "Nothing. But I'm ready, Lo."

Are they really doing this when there is a killer on the loose?

He leaned in pecking her lips. Her silence was the permission he needed to keep going. Lauren kissed him back as he held her face in his hands. The kiss was needy and passionate. He broke the kiss resting his forehead against hers.

"When we get out of here alive, I'm taking you on a date."

Lauren felt herself laugh for the first time. The front door opening forced them apart. Joey huffed with Cam, "Whoever the fuck is out to get us slashed the tires."

"Shit." Oakley was done at this point.

Rebecca came back downstairs with bags in her hand. Kai followed her like a lost puppy, "Babe listen to me. It meant nothing."

"Becks, we're not leaving," Lauren spoke lowly trying to avoid any more conflict.

"Tires are slashed. Whoever this is wants us to stay." Joey knew the tires couldn't be fixed overnight.

"What? We can't just sit here like sitting ducks." Mehki grabbed a knife from the kitchen counter.

Lauren shook her head, "We need to be smart about this."

She's right. Rebecca shook with fear. "Maybe this is all Whitney's doing."

The group turned to the balcony door. Whitney stripped down to her swimsuit dipping herself into the lake. Cam made a face, "Could be her. She seems like she has a lot of beef with y'all."

Lauren felt her stomach tense again. Joey held her sit on the chairs stationed at the kitchen island, "Lo, is it coming back?"

She nodded trying to think about who could want them dead, "I have to pull it together. I can't be injured like this."

Mehki ran a hand over his face, "Are we really gonna sit here and fight these people? Or person? Or whatever?"

"What do you suggest we do?" Lauren questioned him.

Cam stepped forward, "There's a police station a mile out. If we stick together and cut through the woods we'll make it by dawn."

"Dawn?!" Rebecca screeched thinking about how far that was.

Lauren thought about it, "It's a good idea. As long as we don't split up."

Are they gonna leave Whitney? Where is she anyway? Oh yeah on the docks. Let's check her out.

The lake's motion sensor lights flashed on as Whitney enjoyed the cool water. She sighed in relief as her muscles unclenched. The wood on the docks creaked as footsteps approached her.

"Oak, is that you? Finally here to apologize or did you realize that Lauren isn't worth your time." Whitney called out dunking her hair into the water.

She felt the water move behind her as they approached. Warm hands touched her shoulders and a pair of lips kissed her cheek. Whitney moaned leaning back, "Oakley stop teasing."

"Okay, I won't."

But that's not Oakley.

Whitney screamed turning around. A masked man tilted his head and pulled her underwater. She hit the man and resurfaced, "Help me!"

The group gasped hearing her screams. Lauren covered her mouth seeing the man dunk her ex-friend under the cold water. Whitney flung like a fish out of water.

"Somebody do something!" Rebecca screamed with tears pouring down her face.

The men looked at each other debating if they should help her. As they should.

Cam rushed outside, "Fine, I'll do it."

"No Cam!" Lauren shouted but he was already heading to the docks.

He was too late. Whitney's body floated above the water. Death by drowning.

"Stay away!" Cam shouted as the man approached him.

The masked man's voice sounded automated. Like he was hiding his own identity. Cam held his hands up. Is he about to square up with a killer?

The man revealed a knife. It glistened under the motion lights. Cam was no match for the man's speed. Cam held onto the knife as it plunged into his stomach. He grimaced, "Damn it."

Lauren's stomach was hurting like a bitch now. "Cam!"

Joey cursed lowly, "Let me go get my gun."

Rebecca turned, "Nigga you had a gun the whole time!"

Joey raced up the steps taking out his loaded Glock. Lauren clutched her stomach when he flashed it at them, "See, extra protected."

This is kinda funny.

They jumped when the landline rang. Lauren gulped as she reached for the phone. They huddled around her trying to hear the masked man.

"Hello, Lauren." Of course, he had a voice box on him.

"Hi." Her voice was shaky.

"Do you wish to confess now?"

Lauren looked at Joey who shook his head, "I don't know what you're talking about."

There was utter silence for the next ten seconds. He's coming!

"Well then you stupid bitch, I have one question." The man's voice was like television static and they could hear the waves behind him as he stood on the docks. And Cam's groans as he bled out.

"What's your question?"

"Are you afraid of the dark?"

The lights shut off when the man hung up. Lauren dropped the phone. Oakley reached out to touch her, "That police station. We should go now."

Yes, yes you should. Anyways, that's all for today besties. See you soon. Three down, five to go.

Authors Note:

yo yo yo, back with another update

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