Once the room was in order again, I set to unpack, putting my clothes in the closet and my toiletries in the shared bathroom. I wondered if Laney would be bothered by having to share space with my few items. She always complained when we were younger.Had she changed much? It certainly didn’t feel like it.Once everything was cleaned up and put away, I had nothing to do. I sat on my bed and looked around. What now?
I picked up the brochure they had left on my side table. Room service, gym, pool, hot tub, ghost tour, bar, hedge maze.I would find something to fill my evening.The moment I stepped out of the suite, my anger returned, albeit to a lesser extent than before. I’d catch that fucker alone at some point this week and make it known that Laney was mine and no one else’s. I just hoped I’d catch him before he managed to get her in his bed.
I roamed the hallways, taking in all the antiques and art on the walls. It was an upscale place. No wonder Laney was panicking about having to pay for it on her own. Mom andDad would notice that bill.As I explored, I made sure to note where things were. The kitchen, the offices, parlors, etc. I didn’t like the idea of being lost.
Being trapped.
I found the doors to the backyard, and with a gentle push, discovered they were still open. Snow fell heavily, but the wind had paused, hopefully long enough for me to check out the maze. It was almost eerily quiet, except for the crunch of my boots on the snow.
The hedge walls were twice my height and thick. I peered into them and couldn’t see to the next side. I shivered, swearing to myself for not wearing my coat. Was it colder in here?Moving carefully, I made note of every turn I made. This maze was impressive and a little haunting. Someone could easily get lost inside.
Trapped.
The very idea of it made me move faster. I was at the very end of the maze when I spotted something sticking up from the snow. I bent down to pick it up. I brushed the snow off and then jerked my hand back.
A Michael Myer’s mask.
How?My heart raced as I stared at the white rubber with brown hair glued to it. This was a dream. It had to be a nightmare.I stared at it for a long time before burying it with a swipe of my boot and storming back inside. It was some sick joke of Moth’s, I was sure.
Back inside, I followed the directions throughout the hotel, quickly finding the pool. I shed all of my clothes except my boxer briefs and dove into the water. Rising to the surface, I then began a breaststroke. I needed to shake the feeling of being trapped and swimming would do that.
All the twists and turns. Left, right, right again. I repeated the maze in my head, and then again, and one more time forgood measure. I’d spent four years, trapped. I wasn’t going back.
I reached the end of the pool and paused, lifting myself to my chin and shaking my head like a dog. A figure loomed on the other side of the frosted glass. I couldn’t see them clearly, but it was a broad, masculine frame. I paused, watching it for a moment until it disappeared, heading back toward the lobby.
Was it Moth, checking to see what I was doing so he could take Laney up to his room and rob her of her virginity before breaking her heart? My anger returned, and I kicked off the walls of the pool and resumed my laps. My muscles burned and my lungs screamed for oxygen, but I kept going, coming up for air and nothing else.
I swam until I was no longer angry. I collapsed backward on my last lap and floated aimlessly, looking up at the fluorescent lights. I could do a week here. I’d figure out what to do about Moth and then I’d have my time with Laney. I was going to be her first.
I got out of the pool, only to freeze a few steps away when I saw the sickeningly familiar mask sitting neatly atop my clothes pile.
Rule 12 - Priest
It’s never a coincidence.
Isnatched the mask up and looked around.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Priest.”
I spun around.
“Carson?” I stood, frozen, in just my wet underwear, watching my old friend from high school step into the room. “I thought—” I swallowed and tried again. “How did you get here?”
“I’ve always been here. How did you get here?”
“I’m on a mini vacation. Do you work here?” What were the odds that my old friend from Sherwood was now working in the same hotel I was visiting in New York?
“I saw Delaney at the bar. I assume you came together.”
“We’re sharing a suite.” Setting the mask aside, I reached for my clothes and tugged them on, despite being soaking wet. “She’s probably still at the bar.”
Carson stared off into the distance, so I snapped him back to attention.
“Yes, with Moth.” He snickered. “She seems bound and determined to have his cock this week.”
Agrowling noise escaped my throat. I didn’t like it at all. Moth was not worthy of being with Laney, as her first or second or at any time.
