Killer Geek (SLOW UPDATES)

The night felt heavy, thick with anticipation and the kind of energy that only a party like this could produce. The kind of party where everyone’s pretending to be carefree, laughing, and dancing, while the undercurrent of fear—the fear I couldn’t shake—buzzed in the air like static.

Stu’s house was packed, the music blaring loud enough to make the walls shake. I could barely hear myself think over the thumping bass and laughter from the crowd. People were everywhere, some on the dance floor, others gathering around the kitchen counter, trying to score a drink or catch up with the latest gossip. But none of it felt real to me. It all felt… off.

The whole night had been a blur—Billy had been at the school, and though I knew deep down he was part of something bigger, something dangerous, I tried to push the thoughts aside. Tonight was supposed to be about fun, about trying to forget everything that had happened. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop glancing around, checking over my shoulder, and wondering if he was still out there.

I stood by the snack table, half-heartedly picking at some chips, when someone bumped into me. I turned to find Stu, grinning wide, his eyes a little too bright.

“Hey, you,” he said, his voice slurred just enough to tell me he was tipsy. “You having fun?”

I forced a smile, trying to look like I was enjoying myself, like everything was normal. “Yeah. It’s great. Just trying to keep my head clear.”

Stu didn’t seem to notice the distance in my tone. Instead, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward the living room, his grin widening even more.

“Come on, the party’s only just getting started,” he said, shoving me toward a group of people crowded around the TV. “Let’s make sure it’s a good time, alright?”

I tried to smile again, but it felt like the muscles in my face wouldn’t cooperate. I wasn’t okay—I hadn’t been okay since the whole thing started, since I’d first heard the voice on the other end of the phone. But I went along with it, mostly because I didn’t want to stand out, didn’t want to make a scene.

But something wasn’t right. The laughter, the music, the chaos—it all felt like a game. But who was playing it? Who was the real target?

I glanced over to the hallway, my gut tightening. I hadn’t seen Billy in a while, and I knew something was off about that.

A loud crash came from the kitchen, followed by someone shouting, “Watch where you’re going, idiot!” The distraction was enough for me to slip out of the crowd and make my way toward the stairs. I needed a minute to breathe, to clear my head.

As I reached the top of the staircase, I heard someone calling my name, their voice muffled by the music. I paused, heart racing as I turned toward the sound.

It was Randy.

I turned just as he stepped into view. His usual goofy grin was missing, replaced by a stiff smile that didn’t reach his eyes. And then I saw it—his face. A dark purple bruise covered the side of his face, his eye swollen and barely open.

“Randy, what happened to you?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Randy shrugged, the movement stiff. "Oh, nothing. Just... uh, had a little run-in with a door, you know? Tripped on my way out of the car," he said, his voice a little too casual, too forced. "I’ll be fine."

I raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound right. Randy wasn’t exactly known for getting into fights, and the way he was acting—nervous, almost jumpy—felt... off.

Before I could press, he put on a strained smile. "Anyway, you okay? You've been looking like you’re in a fog tonight."

I nodded, but it felt like I was just going through the motions. "Yeah, just tired. You know, the usual stuff."