I turned around and found Laney's suitcase. I'd pack us both up as best as I could and we'd leave in secret. We'd bundle up in warm clothes and walk until we found a car that could get us to an airport. I tossed shoes, makeup, and whatever I could find into her suitcase.
I found her laptop buried underneath clothes I'd tossed around. Had she been working before she left the room? Something about it called to me, and I paused to open it and see what she'd been doing last.The screen opened right up to a document, and as I scanned it, the blood drained from my face.
Paint it red.
All down the page. Paint it red. Over and over again. I pushed the computer away from me in disgust. What was this? Were we in the fuckingShining? I stood and paced. I'd been startled, which didn't happen often. That had been the goal of whoever had typed that document. It had to have been one of the ghosts around here. But were they truly ghosts if they could manipulate objects?
I picked up her laptop again and closed the document. I went to her Recent folder and found one that was titled:
For Priest.
I clicked on it and found a video with Moth's face in it. I rolled my eyes. Even in death, he annoyed the fuck out of me. I clicked on it.
"Hello, Priest." Moth's face was the only thing on the screen. His pupils were dilated and his smile looked absolutely deranged. "Did you lose something?"
Oh god, no. He had her.
"She's alive." Moth stepped back and revealed his entire frame. I looked around, trying to figure out where he was, but it was unfamiliar to me. "I took her to my room. You see, once you die here, The Vincent is generous enough to give you a room that's just for you. I wonder what yours is gonna look like?"
A low growl stirred in my throat.
"Mine is a psycho's wet dream. You see, they caught me before I could truly have fun with any of my victims. They sent me to Cunningham's not just to prove to the judge they were punishing me but also in hopes that the doctors there would fix me. We all know that's a joke. That place doesn't fix anyone, does it, Priest?"
Moth's boots echoed in the dark room as he walked to the other side. It was too dark to see anything but him, until suddenly he flicked on lights, and the room was bathed in bright, sterile lighting. The room was hospital green and it made my stomach roll.A muffled scream sounded, and the camera jerked to?—
Laney.
Everything around me stopped. Sound, air, my heart, my lungs. Laney was strapped to a standing table and gagged. She was struggling against the leather belts holding her arms, legs, and torso down.Moth stepped into the video again, going over to her. My entire body tensed with rage. I was going to kill him again.
"Did you know that Little Laney over here was so fuckedup after you killed her valentine that they had to give her electroshock therapy just to be able to stop her from screaming at night? You traumatized her so badly, she couldn't even look at a Halloween mask without shutting down completely?"
"What?" Was this video live, or had he kidnapped her hours ago?
"When she found out it was you under the mask, not me, she blacked out again. As much as you want it to be so, your little sister doesn't want you, bro." He laughed dryly and pulled a rickety table toward him. It was a surgical tray.
"This chair is pretty fun. I tried it on myself a little bit before strapping her in. Just a sponge in the mouth." He removed her gag just long enough to shove the sponge into her mouth, putting it back quickly. "And then a quick flip of this switch." He picked up a box with a light switch on it off his table. "And she lights right up! How long do you think it will take to get her to forget what you did to her this time? I say, not much."
He flicked the switch and my eyes clamped shut. Laney howled and began to sob. The buzzing was loud. It mixed with the sharp clanging of metal on her restraints as she jerked around. Finally, he shut it off.I opened my eyes. Laney was slumped over, unconscious. Moth grinned.
"You better fucking come quick, before I get bored and end it for everyone." The camera shut off. I had to fucking find her now. I stormed out of her room and into the hall.Where the fuck were they?
Rule 41 - Priest
Don’t make deals with the dead.
Iran down the hall, taking the stairs up. He had to be on the third floor. That's where that mirror room had been. I reached the top of the stairs and sprinted to the other end of the hall, but nothing. There were no doors at all.I spun around.
"Where is she?" I demanded. "I know one of you fucking ghosts is listening. You better tell me where he has her before I burn this fucking thing down with everyone inside."
"So dramatic." Carson appeared beside me. "What are you looking for exactly?"
"Moth has Laney in a room somewhere. I need to find her."
“I don't see why that's any of our problem."
"It will be," I threatened.
"I'm already dead, none of what you say has any real bearing on things for me." He shrugged. "However, if you care to make a deal, I may be inclined to help you find her."
