Curses of olympus the ol.., p.20
Stalkholm, page 20
Stalkholm
Brooklynn Wofford
Brooklynn Wofford
To Wes Craven for giving me my favorite movie ever,
To Matthew Lillard for portraying the inspiration for The Reaper
To my little family, every I do, I do it for you.
Copyright ©2024 by Brooklynn Wofford.
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
Brooklynn Wofford asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Brooklynn Wofford has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
Cover Design by Grim Poppy Designs
Editor ELJ Editing
Contents
Content Warnings
Playlist for Stalkholm
Prologue
1. Chapter One
2. Chapter Two
3. Chapter Three
4. Chapter Four
5. Chapter Five
6. Chapter Six
7. Chapter Seven
8. Chapter Eight
9. Chapter Nine
10. Chapter Ten
11. Chapter Eleven
12. Chapter Twelve
13. Chapter Thirteen
14. Chapter Fourteen
15. Chapter Fifteen
16. Chapter Sixteen
17. Chapter Seventeen
18. Chapter Eighteen
19. Chapter Nineteen
20. Chapter Twenty
21. Chapter Twenty-One
22. Chapter Twenty-Two
23. Chapter Twenty-Three
24. Chapter Twenty-Four
25. Chapter Twenty-Five
26. Chapter Twenty-Six
27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
30. Chapter Thirty
31. Acknowledgement
32. About the Author
Content Warnings
This book has dark elements that may be triggering to some readers. I recommend that you read the list provided to you prior to indulging in this novel. Brooklynn Wofford does not condone any of the actions portrayed in this novel. This novel is not recommended for persons under the age of eighteen.
-Death
-Graphic Descriptions of deceased bodies
-Mentions of Sexual Assault
-Blood
- Hematolagnia (arousal by blood)
-Stalking
-Drug use
-Underage drinking
-Kidnapping
-Grooming
-Pedophilia
-Cheating
-Disfigurement
-Foul Language
-Torture
-Age Gap
Playlist for Stalkholm
The order of the songs listed doesn’t necessarily line up with the timeline of the book.
-Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield
-Innocent by Taylor Swift
-Don’t Blame Me by Taylor Swift
-No Body No Crime by Taylor Swift
-What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts
-Death of Peace of Mind by Bad Omens
-Like a Villain by Bad Omens
-Miracle by Bad Omens
-Don’t Fear (The Reaper) by Blue Oyster Cult
-If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too) by Kelsea Ballerini
-Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Prologue
I never thought I would end up like this.
I’m scared, alone, and covered in blood.
Oh god, why am I covered in blood?
Where am I?
What have I done?
Chapter One
Addison
“Ugh I’m so late!” I mutter to myself, looking in the mirror, applying the last coat of mascara. Gray eyes stare back at me, framed with thick lashes. I don’t even need mascara, but I’ve always worn it. My hair is a freaking mess. “A claw clip it is,” I mutter aloud.
I love my hair. It’s thick and has a wave that most girls my age spend hours trying to get with various heat tools. I wind the mahogany locks one more time before securing it with the clip as my phone starts ringing, scaring the hell out of me.
“Hello?” I huff out, searching for my backpack.
“Addison, what time are we leaving tonight?” my best friend Amelia asks. “Hello, earth to Addy. Dude, are you even listening?” A groan sounds from the other end of the phone.
“Well, good morning to you too,” I say, sarcasm dripping from my words.
“Well, someone clearly woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning,” Amelia retorts.
“Sorry Ames, I’m trying to get out the door, but you know I have play practice after school until six,” I say to her as I rush around my room. I’m running late this morning, which is unusual for me. I’m normally a punctual person, but I should’ve left ten minutes ago. “We’ve talked about it some, but Sav is picking me up from play practice at six and we will grab you on the way. Why are you so worried? It’s just a bonfire behind Collin’s grandparents’ farm?” I say to her, rushing downstairs to grab my history book. “Bye, Mom. I’ll see you tomorrow. Hey, don’t forget that I’m staying with Ames tonight. I love you!” I yell as I rush out the front door and to my car.
“Look, Ames, I’ll see you in homeroom. You know I don’t want to be on the phone while I drive.”
Mom pops her head out the front door. “Addison, it’s Friday. Did you forget about your makeup Biology exam?” she asks.
“Ugh, I totally forgot it was today. I think I’ll be all right,” I shout in her direction, opening my car door. “Love you!”
“I love you too, honey. Have fun tonight. Be careful and call if you need us,” she says.
Luckily, the drive to Hillwood High School only takes ten minutes with how late I’m running. I know what I need to make the morning better. I connect my phone to the Bluetooth in my car and crank up Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero.” It always boosts my mood. I hate running late and feeling rushed. It messes up the rest of my day, and now I have that stupid Bio test to worry about. I’m not going to stress over it, I know the material, and as long as I do okay on my final, I won’t have to repeat Bio my senior year. My thoughts shift to the bonfire tonight. What makes this bonfire any different from all the other ones? I don’t even want to go. Opening night of the play is a week from today and I’m the lead. Dress rehearsals are next week. Finals are the week after that. Needless to say, I’m a bit stressed.
I rush into homeroom with five minutes to spare. I spot Amelia’s signature oversized bun atop her head. The girl has the thickest mane of fiery red curls I’ve ever seen. She claims that she can’t ‘tame the beast,’ but I love it. The red makes her brilliant blue eyes shine. Her thin lips are up-turned in a small smile when she sees me. I make my way over to my desk and drop to the chair. “Oh my GOD, I really thought I was going to be late this morning.” I groan as I stretch out, rolling my neck in a circle.
“Hey, I’m just glad you made it here safe; people drive like dumb fucks on your road.” Ames says, rolling her eyes. I know she’s thinking about the almost wreck we got in last week because someone was driving like a jackass, going way too fast on a residential street. “I talked to Sav, and she said that we need to get ready before we go.”
“What do you mean, ‘get ready’? It’s just a bonfire, we’re all going to smell like smoke and booze by the end of the night,” I whisper to Ames, at that time Savannah bounces into the room, coming over to sit by us. Her long blonde hair is styled perfectly. She is wearing a cute pale pink skirt that falls mid-thigh, with a black, low-cut, long-sleeved shirt. The sleeves are a pretty lace pattern, and she’s got on killer wedges.
“Hey, babes,” she says in an overly cheerful voice, drawing out the S. She takes her seat in front of me, turning to face us.
“Sav, you told Ames that we were getting ready at her house. Why? It’s a normal bonfire and we’ve never gotten ‘ready’ before,” I say, glancing between her and Amelia.
“Look, all I’m saying is I overheard Collin talking to some guys that Greyson will be there, and he’s bringing some of his college friends,” Sav says with a shake of her hand. “We don’t all have totally gorgeous, tall, dark hair boyfriends to cuddle with at the end of the night like you do Addison.”< br />
“Oh, so you’re trying to find someone to hook up with,” I say to her, rolling my eyes. “Greyson usually brings a couple of his friends. I just don’t understand what makes this one any different.”
“So you’re telling me that you don’t want to sleep with Collin?” she asks, a bitchy tone to her voice. “You cannot deny that Greyson has some hella fine friends. Those GSU boys are nice to look at.” she says, fanning herself.
“Jesus, Savannah! You know, some of us think about other things besides sex. I have enough on my plate right now. It’s not that I don’t want to sleep with him, it’s just not going to happen at a bonfire with half the school there,” I brush off.
I don’t know why she keeps pushing this. Just because she screws anyone who looks in her direction for longer than five seconds, doesn’t mean I have to. “Besides, Collin got his acceptance letter two weeks ago to Georgia State, and he’s about to have new girls throwing themselves at him.”
Collin is good looking, in that boy next-door kind of way. Blond wavy hair, deep chocolate eyes, sweet smile. He’s tall and lean, but packed with muscle. He is Hillwood’s star quarterback and about to be playing for GSU. Even though GSU is only an hour away, I don’t want to be seen as baggage, the silly high school girlfriend who tags along to everything.
“Okay, class, let’s get started. I know it’s almost the end of the year, but that’s no excuse to slack off,” Mr. Tanner says as he strides into the room, cutting off whatever Savannah was about to say. She throws a bitchy smirk my way and Ames and I look at each other, both sharing a ‘Why do we put up with her’ look.
My first three blocks go by quickly. I spot Collin talking with Savannah in the hall while I’m on my way to fourth block. They’re standing awfully close to one another and Savannah has her arm resting on his bicep. Collin glances around and spots me.
“Hey, babe. I was looking for you,” he says quickly. A little too quick. He runs a hand through his thick wavy hair. It’s one of the few things he does when gets nervous. I plant a fake smile on my face to hide my suspicion.
“Hey,” I say to him as he plants a chaste kiss on my cheek.
“Want me to walk you to Biology?” he asks, taking my hand in his. I glance at Sav. She’s watching us with gray eyes narrowed, a sly smile on her face.
“Uh, sure, Collin, thanks. I’ll see you after practice, Sav,” I call to her, but she’s already heading in the opposite direction.
“So, Greyson texted me last night to let me know that he will be at the bonfire tonight and he’s bringing beer and some special gummies that Brad scored,” he says with extra emphasis on special. I stop walking and turn to face him, pulling my hand from his.
“Collin, who all is coming tonight, I thought this was supposed to be a small bonfire,” I say to him.
“Babe, don’t worry. It’s the normal crowd and Greyson is bringing some of his buddies from Georgia State with him.” He shrugs as if it’s not a big deal. “Besides, we’re going to be in the middle of nowhere, so it’s not like anyone is going to bust us,” Collin drawls, giving me that lopsided grin he knows I adore.
“Collin, I don’t know about this,” I say to him, my stomach churning. “I have a bad feeling about tonight.” My stomach is doing nervous flips.
“Baby, don’t worry, you know I’ll be there and Ames and Sav,” he says as he plays with a strand of my hair, tickling my face with it. “Promise you’ll come. You know I love you,” he says. He’s been throwing the L word around for a couple of weeks now. I don’t know why I just can’t bring myself to say it back. I sigh and give him a grin.
“Okay, I’ll be there.” Collin pumps his fist back and forth at an angle, almost like he’s strumming a guitar. I raise an eyebrow at him with a small smile playing on my lips.
“Okay, babe. Well I’ve got to get to class before Mrs. Hall gets on my ass again,” he says with the wide grin he reserves for me. He plants a long kiss on my lips, longer than I’m comfortable with while at school. He jogs off toward Geography; I shake my head and head toward Biology. I’ve got a bad feeling about tonight; I hope I don’t have to have diarrhea during the exam.
What was going on with Savannah and Collin? They’re not that close. Why was she touching him like that? Why did he look so guilty? Why does Greyson feel the need to bring more than beer to the bonfire? Ugh, I can feel the headache forming over my left eye. Great, a stress headache, just what I need as we go into the last play practice before dress rehearsal on Monday. As if I didn’t have enough stress, now I’ve got to worry about the possibility that my boyfriend is cheating on me with one of my best friends. Surely, I’m overreacting, reading too much into the situation. Walking into Biology, I decide that I’m overreacting and stressed out. Collin has never given me a reason not to trust him. Get a grip on yourself, Addison. You’re going crazy, I reassure myself.
Chapter Two
Addison
“Can someone adjust Addison’s wig, please? Sandy doesn’t need to have an off-center part,” Mr. Coleman calls out. Cassie walks over and pulls slightly and smiles.
“Perfect!” she says. I glance over to Mr. Coleman, awaiting more instructions.
“Okay, let’s take ‘You’re the One that I Want’ from the top. If you guys get it right, we can call it a night. If not, we stay another hour,” Mr. Coleman says. We all groan, Cassie and I exchange a look and share an eye roll.
“All right, Danny, don’t screw this up,” I say, pointing my finger at Nate Thompson, grinning at him.
“Yes, ma’am,” he says, saluting me, then getting into position. I laugh and move to my spot on set.
* * *
“Great job tonight, kids. I’d say we are ready for dress rehearsals Monday,” Mr. Coleman says. “Enjoy your weekend.”
“Ugh, I’ve never been more ready to get out of this wig,” I say, pulling it off. Cassie laughs and starts changing out of her costume.
“Oh! Hey Cassie, are you coming to Collin’s bonfire tonight?” I ask as we leave the dressing room.
“Yeah, I’ll be there,” she says.
“Okay, I’ll see you there. Be careful,” I call as we walk outside. Cassie is pretty, in a Jennifer Lawrence way. She’s tall and willowy, all long legs and arms. Her hair is a silvery blonde that I’m sure her parents pay a lot of money to maintain. I look around the parking lot for Sav’s car. Lights flash twice and I spot the cute silver Camry her parents got her for her sixteenth birthday.
“Hey, ready to go to Amelia’s?” I ask, sliding into the front seat and closing the door.
“Let’s go and talk about what you’re going to wear,” she says, pulling out of her parking spot. I groan internally, I’m so over this.
“I can tell you right now what I am going to wear. It’s what I always wear to the bonfires, shorts and an oversize t-shirt, probably one of my new Def Leppard ones.” Savannah huffs and rolls her eyes. “It’s the only thing I packed other than pajamas.” I gesture toward my bag I tossed in the back seat.
“Whatever Addy, you don’t have anyone to impress.” Sav’s gorgeous in the natural way. Long blonde hair that has a pretty wave to it, piercing green eyes that feel like they’re staring into your soul. And let me tell you, the girl can fill out a pair of jeans. I really don’t understand why she’s so worried, the way she carries herself showcases she’s open to dating, or well, hooking up. Savannah’s a major flirt. At school, her clothes barely meet the dress code requirements. I can’t believe her parents let her leave the house in some of the things she wears. I let that comment roll off my back as we pull into Amelia’s driveway. The good thing about Hillwood, Georgia; everything is relatively close.
“Hey Mrs. Rowan, it’s Addy and Sav. We’re going to head to Ames’ room,” I call out. Just because we can bust into the Rowan house, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be polite. The hallway to the right of the farmhouse style entryway is short, with only three doors. We walk into the door at the end of the hall. Ames is sitting at her vanity trying to tame her wild, red curls.
