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The cops thought it was just the usual Fourth of July prank But Heather, Nat, and Dodge knew better So did Kim Hollister and Ray Hanrahan and all the other players Two days after the Fourth of July, their suspicions were confirotten out of the shohen she booted on the ancient laptop and checked her email Her throat went dry; her mouth turned itchy

[email protected]

Subject: Enjoy the fireworks?

The shoill be even better this Friday at ten p for help

FRIDAY, JULY 8

heather

"IT’S TOO EASY," HEATHER SAID AGAIN SHE SQUEEZED the steering wheel She didn’t really like to drive But Bishop had been insistent He wasn’t going toto sit around and wait for hours while the players tried to outlast one another in a haunted house And for once, she’d been able to use the car Hersmashed with some friends in Lot 62, an abandoned trailerThey’d crawl home around four, or possibly not until sunrise

"They’ll probably try and screith us," Nat said "They’ve probably rigged the whole house with sound effects and lights"

"It’s still too easy" Heather shook her head "This is Panic, not Halloween" Her pal "Remember the time ere kids, and Bishop dared you to stand on the porch for three minutes?"

"Only because you flaked," Nat said

"You flaked too," Heather reht it up "You didn’t h," Nat said, turning her face to the"He went inside, reot about that," Heather said

"When was that?" Dodge spoke up unexpectedly

"Years ago We er Nine" Heather wished that Bishop had coe without hi with Bishop made her feel safe

They turned the bend and the house becaainst the clouds knotted on the horizon, like soround, and Heather i through the holes in the roof, thewas a flock of bats

There were a dozen cars parked on the road Apparently most people felt the same way Bishop did, and h Heather spotted Vivian Travin, sitting on the hood of her car, sroup of juniors huddled not far off, passing around a shared bottle of wine, looking sole a wake For a second, before Heather turned the engine off, the rain hts ree climbed out of the car and opened the door for Nat Heather reached for the bag she’d packed for the night: food, water, a big blanket She would be here for as long as it took to win Nat and Dodge, too

Suddenly there was a muffled shout from outside Heather looked up in time to see a dark shape rocket past the car Nat screa into the road

Heather threw herself out of the car and ran around to the passenger side, in tie in the stoainst the remains of a fence A shower of wood collapsed behind hi, you little freak," he spat out "You think you can--"

He was cut off and grunted sharply Dodge had stepped forward and grabbed Ray by the throat There was a collective gasp Nat cried out

Dodge leaned in and spoke quietly into Ray’s ear Heather couldn’t hear what he said

Just as quickly, he stepped backward, releasing Ray, who stood, coughing and gagging in the rain Dodge’s face was cal hiht better of it

"Stay the hell away froained his breath "I’uys," Sarah Wilson, another contestant, spoke up "It’s pouring Can we get started?"

Ray was still glowering at Dodge But he said nothing

"All right" That was Diggin Heather hadn’t seen him in the crowd His voice was suctioned away by the darkness and the rain "Rules are siher your score"