"Come?" William panicked. "What do you mean?"
Lynn bent her knees, pinning him down. Moonlight glossed her collarbones like liquid silver.
She sneered, icy and dismissively: "Don't play dumb."
William froze.
Lynn didn't wait. She swept her hair back, leaning toward his face.
"Wait!"
William wasn't a prude. He'd watched his share of adult content. But this felt like highway robbery---literally.
"Problem?"
"If I'm guilty, arrest me. Don't torture me…"
"Cautious." Her voice held no compliments.
Who wouldn't be? Three hours ago, his childhood friend nearly crushed his skull. Now this near-stranger wanted him? Trap.
"Relax." Her tone softened.
"..."
"If you hate my face," her palm slid down his chest, "imagine someone else's."
"Maybe… let's just be friends first…"
Lynn froze.
William held his breath, sweat beading on his temples.
She stood abruptly, zipping her hoodie. "Done."
Confused, William sat up---and froze. A dagger gleamed beneath his pillow.
Lynn flicked her wrist. The blade flew into her grip. One spin, and it vanished.
"Were you… going to kill me?"
"Depended on you."
"If I'd… tried something, you'd stab me?" he guessed. "A test? I passed?"
"Wrong." She tied her ponytail, back turned. "No reaction? Then I'd kill you."
"Why?"
"Beasts lack reproductive systems."
William's eyes widened. "You were checking if I'm human!"
"You met a Rage-Beast last night."
"Rage-Beast?"
"Many beast types. Rage-Beasts mimic best." She glanced at the window. "Trust no one to survive."
"How do I know you're human?"
"Faster learner." Her expression flattened. "Harder to verify females. Requires… completion."
"Uh…"
She tossed him a vial. "Healing serum. Dispose after use. Never show anyone."
William examined the blue liquid---ordinary bottle, no labels. He hid it under his sheets. Questions flooded him:
What are the beasts? Why kill? What's my status? What's Lynn's power? How do I get stronger?
BANG!
The door flew open. Sister charged in.
William scrambled up, shirtless. "Not what it looks like---!"
"Huh?" She blinked.
He whirled around. Lynn was gone. Only curtains swayed in the moonlight.
Gone. Like smoke.
"Sketchy…" Sister narrowed her eyes, then grinned. "Were you jerk---"
"NO! Shut up!" He glared. "Knock next time!"
"Fine!" She hooked his arm, sugar-sweet. "Want to see something?"
Her phone flashed: frilly pink dress. "Only 498! Earlybirdsaves 198!"
"$0 saved by not buying."
"My birthday's in 11 months!" She pouted. "Pre-gift?"
"I'll be dead in 70 years. Pretend I'm dead now."
"You don't love me!" She wailed. "I'll tell Mom you came home bloody last night!"
"FINE!" He Venmoed her from next month's allowance. Peace at any cost.
"Best brother!" She kissed his cheek and vanished.
William slumped. Door shut.
Next morning.
The serum worked. Overnight, wounds faded to faint pink scratches.
At school, Vivian's desk sat empty.
A hollow ache spread in William's chest. Twelve years replayed:
Walking home together. Shared lunches. Fireworks on New Year's Eve. Her first laugh, first tear, first glare…
All shredded by the beast.
He wished for two beings---pure Vivian and the monster. But they were one.
By first break, Vivian's absence buzzed through class. Girls whispered behind hands.
William needed answers from Lynn.
As if summoned, Lynn marched up and shouted for all to hear:
"William! Where's Vivian?"
Acting? "Dunno."
"Dunno?! You were with her last night!"
"We went home separately…"
"She's not answering texts! Skipping class!" Lynn stormed off, radiating frustration.
Homeroom teacher entered, grim. Glasses slid down his nose.
"Class… terrible news."
"Vivian Li… was murdered last night."
Gasps ripped through the room.
"WHAT?!" Lynn shot up, trembling.
Oscar-worthy. William copied her, layering shock into his voice: "Impossible! I saw her yesterday!"
Good. Play the devastated childhood friend.
"Robbery gone wrong. Stabbed…" The teacher swallowed. "Police will catch them."
Boys slammed desks. "Fry the killer!"
Girls wept into sleeves.
"Funeral tonight if anyone wants to pay respects…" The teacher opened his textbook. "Lynn. William. Principal's office. Now."
"Why?" William's pulse spiked.
"Police have questions."
Lynn rushed out, eyes red-rimmed. William followed.
In the empty hall, he grabbed her arm: "Get our stories straight."
She whirled, fury blazing. "You knew! Did you kill her?!"
"Stop acting!" he hissed.
"WHO'S ACTING?!" She shoved him against lockers. "Why didn't you walk her home?! YOU DID THIS!"
Two possibilities exploded in his mind:
1. This isn't Lynn.
2. She's sacrificing me. "Trust no one" wasn't a joke.
He pushed past her. "Don't know what you mean."
"Liar! I'll make sure the cops grill you!" She stormed into the office.
A hand blocked William's path.
Buzz-cut. Square jaw. Cop's uniform. Eyes like scalpels.
"Officer… Huang?"
The policeman who'd "saved" him from the "psycho" three nights ago smiled thinly.
"William. We meet again." He clapped William's shoulder. "My office. Now."
Prisoner's dilemma. Game on.