Chapter 1
Heather sat on a folding chair on the fifty-yard line of the football field, her graduation gown draped over her knees and her cap pinned carefully into her hair. The sun was shining high in the sky, and a warm breeze moved across the field, rustling the rows and rows of black gowns that filled the grass like a dark ocean.
The bleachers were packed with families, cameras flashing, people waving and calling out names as students crossed the stage one by one. The loudspeaker crackled as the principal continued reading names, the applause rising and falling in waves across the stadium.
Heather took a slow breath and looked around at the sea of graduates sitting beside her. Four years of college had led to this moment.
Then she heard it.
"Heather Ambrose!"
Her heart jumped.
Cheers erupted from the stands almost instantly.
Carter shot to his feet, clapping loudly and putting his fingers in his mouth to whistle as loud as he could.
"WOO! HEATHER!" he shouted from the bleachers.
People around him laughed and turned to look.
Chief Ambrose grabbed Carter by the shoulder and pulled him back down into his seat, laughing and shaking his head.
"Sit down, you idiot, you're embarrassing her," he said.
Heather, already walking toward the stage, covered her face in embarrassment, laughing as she walked up the steps.
She shook the principal's hand, accepted her diploma, and turned toward the crowd as cameras flashed and people cheered again.
When she walked back down from the stage, she returned to her seat, where Theo was sitting beside her in the third row of graduates. He smiled and clapped as she sat down.
"Graduate," he said with a grin.
Heather laughed. "You're next."
"I'm not whistling for you," she teased.
"Good," he said. "Please don't."
The ceremony ended nearly an hour later, and the football field quickly filled with families, friends, and graduates hugging, laughing, and taking pictures everywhere.
Heather stood with her friends near the sideline, holding their diplomas while someone took photos.
"Hold them up!" someone shouted.
They all raised their diplomas and smiled as the camera flashed.
A moment later, Chief Ambrose and Carter came walking across the football field toward her.
"There she is!" Carter said, opening his arms.
Heather laughed as Carter hugged her tightly and spun her slightly off the ground.
"I told you she'd make it," Carter said to Chief Ambrose.
Chief Ambrose hugged her next, proud and smiling.
"I'm proud of you, Heather," he said.
"Thanks, Dad," she said, smiling.
They stood together talking and laughing for a few minutes, celebrating, while people continued taking pictures all around them on the field.
Then Heather suddenly frowned slightly.
"My cap," she said. "I left it on my seat."
"Go get it before someone steals it," Carter joked.
Heather laughed and jogged back across the football field toward the rows of chairs where the graduates had been sitting.
Most of the chairs were empty now, the field slowly clearing out as people left.
She reached her row and walked toward her seat.
Then she stopped.
There was an envelope sitting on her chair.
Heather frowned slowly.
She picked it up.
On the front, written neatly in black ink, were two words:
HEATHER AMBROSE
Her blood ran cold instantly.
Slowly, she opened the envelope and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Her hands were shaking as she unfolded it.
Inside, written in black ink, were the words:
I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST HALLOWEEN.
Heather felt the world tilt slightly around her.
Her breathing became shallow, her heart pounding in her chest.
She slowly looked up from the letter and scanned the football field.
People were everywhere — hugging, laughing, taking pictures.
Then she spotted Carter standing in the crowd with Chief Ambrose and Theo.
Carter looked up and saw her face immediately.
They locked eyes across the field.
He could see something was wrong instantly.
He mouthed the words,
"What's wrong?"
Heather tried to walk toward them, but the world suddenly felt dizzy and distant.
Her vision blurred.
The letter slipped slightly in her hand.
Everything started spinning.
Heather collapsed forward just as Carter, Chief Ambrose, and Theo started running toward her through the crowd to catch her before she hit the ground.
