He slumped forward without another word. Faye rushed to catch him, her heart thudding. She knelt down beside him, holding his shoulders.

“Phillip, wake up!” she said, her voice shaking. “Can you hear me?”

Hunter watched from the top of the hill near the lake. His eyes were sharp as he looked down at the scene. A crooked smile spread across his face.

“So,” he muttered to himself, voice low and cold. “You’re still the same, Phillip.”

His wicked grin stayed as he turned away.

Phillip was rushed to the hospital after he slumped. The staff moved quickly, laying him on a stretcher and attaching an oxygen mask. The clear...