Chapter 2

Walking back onto campus, I kept telling myself I'd be fine.

Morning sun hit the walkways as students walked by in groups, backpacks over their shoulders, talking about homework and weekend plans. It should've felt normal, but I was still jumpy as hell.

Every guy who walked by made me look over my shoulder. Every laugh I didn't recognize made my heart race.

Three years of shit doesn't just go away because you change locations. I knew that, but I still hoped being back on campus might help me feel normal again.

At lunch, I grabbed a tray and headed into the packed cafeteria. Taking a breath, I looked around for somewhere to sit, preferably in the back.

Just as I sat down, everything got quiet around me.

"That's her, right? The girl who got kidnapped in Mexico..."

My hand froze halfway to my mouth, soup almost spilling from my spoon.

"I heard her boyfriend moved on. Got some other girl pregnant and everything."

Another voice, all excited about the drama. I tried to keep it together, but those stares felt like knives in my back.

"God, that's awful. Going through all that just to come home and find..."

The fake concern in her voice made me sick. I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep my hands steady.

Those stares... just like before when they looked at me like I was a thing to be sold, curious and pitying and weirdly excited about my trauma.

I put down my spoon, ready to bail. But as I stood up, someone spoke behind me.

"You okay?"

I turned around and my world just stopped.

That face. Those eyes. Even after three years, even though he looked completely different now, I could never mistake him.

My head was screaming. Everything came flooding back: the cold basement, the sound of chains, his words: "Be good and I won't kill you."

But this guy was wearing a nice gray sweater, hair styled perfectly, eyes all gentle and polite. He looked like any other college student, except for that face...

"Looks like you could use some space," his voice was soft, concerned. "I'm Kai. Kai Cross."

My throat closed up. "Do I... know you?"

He tilted his head, something flashing in his eyes. Amusement? Or was I imagining it?

"Don't think so. I'm Dylan's cousin. Just got back from Europe." He held out his hand. "Dylan told me what happened. I'm really sorry."

Dylan's cousin? No fucking way. That face... those eyes... I'd never forget what Ghost looked like. But why lie? Why act like we'd never met?

I didn't take his hand, gripping my tray until my knuckles went white. "You sure we've never met before?"

"Pretty sure I'd remember you." He slowly dropped his hand. "You seem really on edge though. Want to sit somewhere quieter?"

The whispers kept going around us, people staring. I knew running now would just make it worse. Besides... I had to know for sure. I had to figure out who this guy really was.

"Okay," I heard myself say.

He led me to a small table in the corner, moving like he owned the place. I sat across from him, watching every little thing he did.

When he picked up his coffee, I almost lost it. The way he held the cup - exactly like Ghost.

"Dylan told me about you," he said. "Three years missing, right? That must've been hell."

"You really don't know me? We've never met?"

He set down his coffee and looked right at me. For a second, I saw something familiar - cold, controlling, dangerous. But then it was gone, replaced by gentle concern.

"Have we met? You seem really on edge... do I remind you of someone?"

The question hit me like a punch. He knew. He absolutely fucking knew.

"No... just thought you looked familiar," I managed to keep my voice steady.

"Guess I just have one of those faces." He smiled, but that smile reminded me of every terrifying night in that basement. "I spent ten years in Europe, just got back to handle some family stuff. Dylan said I should make friends, get used to being back."

Ten years? If he'd really been in Europe for ten years, then three years ago... but that was impossible. I couldn't be wrong about that face.

"What'd you study over there?" I asked.

"Business management, and some... other things." His eyes got deeper. "You learn a lot traveling. How to adapt, how to... fit in anywhere."

My blood went cold. This wasn't random. He was telling me something.

For the next ten minutes, he talked about Europe, campus stuff, even asked what classes I was taking. The whole time he acted like a complete stranger, but I could feel him watching me, studying every reaction.

Like a predator playing with his food.

"I should go," I suddenly stood up. "I've got class."

"Of course." He got up too, and that familiar, dangerous smile flickered for a second. "Well, Aria Winters, hope we can be friends."

My full name. He fucking knew my full name.

I grabbed my bag, legs shaky. "Bye."

"See you around, Aria. Nice meeting you."

Walking away, I could feel him watching me. I made myself walk normal, not look back, not run. But my heart was going crazy and my hands were sweating.

This couldn't be happening. The FBI said Ghost was dead. They said the whole organization was gone. But if he was still alive... if he'd found me...

I ducked into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror, trying to breathe. I looked like shit - pale and scared. I splashed cold water on my face, trying to get it together.

Maybe I was losing it. Maybe it really was just coincidence. Maybe my fucked-up brain was seeing monsters where there weren't any.

But deep down, I knew better.

That was definitely Ghost. But why pretend not to know me? What was he planning? And Dylan's cousin? What the hell did that mean?

My phone buzzed with a text. I opened it with shaking hands.

"Coffee's pretty good here, right? Same time tomorrow. We need to talk. —K"

Unknown number.

My legs almost gave out. This was a threat. He was definitely threatening me.

I thought the nightmare was over. Turns out it was just getting started.

And this time, the monster had a new face and was hiding right out in the open.