‘And remember to pick me up a skinny latte.’ She vocalised one last order. ‘Five squirts of hazelnut syrup with extra cream.’
‘Bye, Mom.’ Christian kissed her on the forehead. ‘Have a good day.’
She gave him a tinkly wave as she watched him leave. His shirt strained across his shoulders. Since when had he got so broad? Sometimes she forgot that he was a man now. It did him good to escape her company, even if it meant working for his uncle Ron. It was a sympathy job, because Christian had been her carer from the tender age of ten, when Elsie’s parents passed away in the same year. While relatives felt sorry for them, few were willing to help. She was tired of their pity, but she couldn’t seem to find a way out. Right now, the biggest challenge she could face was making it to the restroom on time.
7
Sometimes Libby felt scared, but the stuff that frightened her before was nothing compared to how she felt today. This wasn’t in the same realms of worrying about a science test or a spot on her nose. This was grown-up fear. Fear so dark that she wasn’t able to get out of bed. ‘Time of the month?’ her mother had asked, and she had responded with a nod. Now her mum had gone to the shops to buy her paracetamol for her tummy and ice cream to cheer her up. She only hoped she didn’t hear about Angelica while she was out. Because unlike her, Angelica hadn’t returned home this morning.
Libby slipped her hand beneath her pillowcase and pulled out the stiff black card.You are cordially invited to play the Midnight Game. A sense of dread lingered as she turned it over.If you tell, you’ll go to hell. If Angelica hadn’t sent the invites, who had? Where was she now?
Libby jumped as her mobile phone rang, and she quickly shoved the card back under her pillow. It was Jahmelia.
‘Have you heard?’ she asked, sounding as panicked as Libby felt. ‘Angelica’s mum has been ringing all her friends asking if they’ve seen her.’ Libby had heard the landline ring after her mum left for the shops. She had also seen the Facebook post by one of Angelica’s friends, reporting her missing.
‘I know,’ Libby said. ‘I thought she got bored and went home.’
‘We shouldn’t have let her leave on her own.’
The hairs on Libby’s arms stood to attention. In the cold light of day, Jahmelia’s words made sense. They all knew about stranger danger. But things like that didn’t happen in Upper Slayton – did they?
‘We can’t say anything. Mum and Dad will kill me if they find out.’ Libby pulled her Paddington teddy bear close. She hadn’t slept with her childhood toy in years, but this morning she had dug him out from her old toybox and brought him into her bed. She didn’t want to be an adult if this was what it was like. She wished she could turn back the clock.
‘But what if she doesn’t come back? You don’t think …’ Libby heard Jahmelia’s short, sharp breaths as she paused. ‘You don’t think he’s real, do you?’
Libby didn’t need to ask who she was talking about. ‘Don’t be silly,’ she mumbled. But her words were hollow. Last night, she hadn’t been herself. She would never have stayed in that creepy old house if she had been thinking straight. As scared as she was, her compulsion to complete the game had been stronger than her will to leave. But Angelica didn’t finish the game. Angelica lost.
‘What did your mum say?’ Libby asked, coming back to herself.
‘That we slept in the tent with Bethany and Isobel, and you all left at nine this morning.’
‘Then stick to that. Have you spoken to Bethany and Isobel?’
‘They’re pooping their pants,’ Jahmelia said. ‘Remember the back of the card?’
Libby could hardly forget the warning.If you tell, you’ll go to hell.
‘What if he comes for us next?’ Jahmelia’s voice reduced to a whine. ‘I … I can’t stop thinking about it. I read that he stays with you … watches you. I’m scared.’
Libby’s fingers tightened around the handset. ‘It’s not real. It’s just a stupid game.’ She didn’t like where the conversation was turning. It made her feel sick inside.
‘But last night … Isobel saw a man in one of the bedrooms …’
‘And when she blinked, he was gone.’ Libby finished her sentence for her. ‘It’s a trick of the light. It was dark. We had candles. We were bound to see stuff that wasn’t there.’
‘We can’t tell everyone when we go back to school on Monday,’ Jahmelia said, which was the whole point in going through with it.
‘We can. Just not until Angelica turns up.’ The warning on the back of the card flashed in Libby’s memory.If you tell, you’ll go to hell.But that referred to adults as far as she was concerned. Playing the Midnight Game gave you instant kudos in school. Now Angelica had gone and messed it all up. ‘She probably staged the whole thing for attention,’ she added for good measure.
‘I’m scared, Libs,’ Jahmelia whined. ‘What if Angelica’s mum calls the police?’
The mention of the police made Libby hug her teddy tighter. He smelled musty, but it was a comforting smell, and all she wanted was to stay in bed. Thoughts of school and parents and the police made her chest so tight it hurt. ‘It’ll be fine,’ she said, but she didn’t believe that any more than Jahmelia did. The words of the game rebounded in her mind.If you open your door to the Midnight Man, hide with a candle wherever you can. Try not to scream as he draws near. Because one of you won’t be leaving here …
The rhyme had come true. They hadn’t visited the house of their own accord. Someone invited them to Blackhall Manor – and one of them hadn’t left.
8
Almost there,Sarah thought, as she was passed by a crowd of police probationers in the corridor. She’d been standing outside the CID office for five minutes now. If she didn’t get a move on, she’d be late. So why weren’t her feet going in the direction they needed to go? A distraction. That’s what she needed. A quick fix, then she’d just walk straight through. She slid her phone from her pocket and brought out the dictionary app. She couldn’t help but smile at the word of the day.
