Marissa barks out a sharp laugh.
A lump forms in my throat. I grip my coffee cup tightly, my fingers trembling. I glance around the table, hoping for some support, but Griffin is focused on poking at his bacon, and Tessa won’t meet my eyes.
“You know what, Jonathan?” I say, my voice shaking. “Maybe you should worry less about what I’m doing and more about your own actions.”
“There’s nothing I’ve done that I’m ashamed of, Tori,” Jonathan says, his voice cool and defiant.
“What about two weeks ago when you were ringing my doorbell at two in the morning, asking to stay over,” I shoot back.
He laughs, a hollow sound. “I never did that. You’re fucking crazy.”
“I have a doorbell camera, asshole.”
A heavy silence falls over the table, the weight of my words sinking in. Jonathan's smirk falters, and I could see the flicker of surprise in his eyes. For a moment, I feel a spark of satisfaction, but it quickly fades, leaving only the discomfort of watching Marissa’s expression morph into sheer shock, her fork frozen halfway to her mouth.
I push my plate away, suddenly nauseous, and stand. “I need some air,” I mutter, turning away from the table.
I can’t believe I said that out loud—I hadn’t told anyone else. And maybe he did just come over to talk, but that’s not how things ever worked between us. It was always about sex with him, every time he showed up at my door.
It’s getting easier and easier to see that now.
I meander through the long hallways, taking my time admiring the gothic-chic aesthetic of all the paintings and little knickknacks along the way. The air thick with the scent of aged wood and spiced cinnamon.
At the end of one hall, an ornate door stands half-open, revealing an enormous library that takes my breath away. Shelves stretch from floor to ceiling, filled with leather-bound books, their spines cracked and worn. I step inside, drawn to the musty scent and inhale deeply. Nothing else in this world smells better.
A faint rumble of thunder outside makes me glance out of one of the tall French doors that leads to the stone terrace. The morning has turned unexpectedly dark with heavy clouds casting deep shadows. I trail my fingertips along the spines of the books that crowd the shelves—The Exorcist. The Shining. The Ruins. Ghost Story. Carrie. Christine.
As I pause in front ofThe Haunting of Hill House,it seems as though something shadowy falls across my path for a brief moment—but it was only the glow from the flameless candle sconces that decorate the walls. The room is both enchanting and eerie, with a gray-stone fireplace casting shadows that twist like outstretched hands reaching for the ceiling.
A few fat splatters of rain hit the tall, curtainless windows, clinging heavily against the glass. I lean my forehead against the cool surface of one of them when a text alerts on my phone.
Unknown number: How did u sleep last night?
Me: Who is this?
Unknown number: Ur personal security guard.
Lyle?How did he get my number.
Me: How did you get my number?
Unknown number: I get anything I want.
Me: Are there special effects set up to scare us?
Unknown number: U and ur friends can come to the park tonight at midnight.
Midnight?
Me: Nothing good happens in abandoned amusement parks at midnight.
Unknown: LMAO. See u then.
There’s a noise just behind me. I whirl around, heart hammering, but the library is empty. The door at the opposite side of the room stands open to the hall, a silent invitation for me to leave.Then, I hear it—creaks like footsteps. One. Two. Three. Four. Each step sends a chill down my spine, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. An overwhelming sense of dread washes over me. Someone is here, I can feel it, but there's no one in sight.
I slip my phone back into my pocket and push open the French doors, stepping quickly out onto the terrace. I need air. Cool, crisp air.
I sit on a stone bench, shivering even though the breeze is mild. I spin around, sensing eyes on me again. But again, there’s no one. There has to be a logical reason why I keep feeling this sensation. Maybe there are hidden noise machines scattered throughout the building.I know you can buy them online for less than thirty dollars.
