#Chapter 69: Mistakes & Monsters

Celeste My footsteps resounded with the frenetic pace of my heart as I sprinted into the dense cover of the woods. All the shadows seemed to stretch and lengthen, casting eerie patterns on the forest floor. The canopy overhead swallowed the ambient party sounds, wrapping me in an uncomfortable cocoon of silence, only broken by the ragged cadence of my breath. However, the cool embrace of the woods did nothing to soothe my frazzled nerves. Tangled roots and darkened trees surrounded me, but their shadows only echoed my own self-loathing. Why did I do it? Why did I try to kiss Matt, of all things, outside of my disguise? I found a moss-covered rock and slumped onto it, gripping the edges in frustration. The night’s crisp air bit at my cheeks, which were already hot with embarrassment. “Stupid, Celeste, stupid!” I muttered under my breath, the surrounding trees acting as silent witnesses to my regret. ‘Rose’ had been my shield, my armor against the vulnerabilitie