Patrick reluctantly stepped over the threshold and swept his flashlight through the darkened front room, unsettled by the ramshackle state they’d left it in. The tipped-over unicorn, the paperweight askew by the telephone, the dining chair out of place. He itched to straighten everything.
And then there was the snow globe he’d set down, which had rolled off the sofa onto the floor.
Theemptyfloor.
Patrick swallowed. “Where’s Russ?”
9
Carrie
Carrie had never thought of darkness as having variants of shade, but the wood paneling gave the front room’s interior a deep, sticky richness, like molasses. She turned away from where Ranger Russ had fallen so she didn’t have to look at the glossy puddle that seemed to shine in the dark. Her breath rasped, and a nervous sweat joined the lingering rainwater plastering her hair to her scalp. Who knew one person could bleed so much from their head and still survive? She couldn’t believe Michael had clobbered him like that, though she was grateful he’d defended her, as misguided as it was. The way the ranger had sized her up at the gas station had been unsettling. Russ had most certainly seen The Photo.
“I told you he was faking!” Freddy said, coming in behind Jen and stopping to stare at the spot Carrie wasnotlooking at.
Dread pierced her gut. She’d only wanted to come back to theSlashercabin to put her bad memories to rest. Instead, fate waslaughing at her by throwing these threats in her way. She’d known returning to Cedar Lake would be challenging, but she hadn’t expected it to test her like this.
The voice at the back of her head that sounded like Mama told her she deserved it for her sins.
She silently told the voice to shut up.
“You gotta shoot ’em in the head, or else they’ll come back,” quipped Jen. “Number one rule of slashers.”
Why, ohwhy,did Jen have to say that? “Does anyone have a gun?” Carrie said weakly.
Everyone shook their heads. Thank goodness. No one in the Jumpscare Society was into hunting; Carrie didn’t trust any of them to have good aim. Fumbling with a firearm would only end up with one of them getting shot, especially since they were all on edge.
The walls of the cabin felt like they were closing in, and although Russ’s blood was out of her field of vision, the bright coppery smell hit her nostrils above the chemical scent of the air freshener. She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to soothe the tickle deep in her sinuses.
Tiffany waved her hands about in a parody of one of her cheer routines. “We need to leavenow.Russ could be anywhere.”
Carrie agreed. Why was everyone just standing about? Didn’t anyone understand how much danger they were in?
“Of course Russ ran off,” Patrick said. “Mikey assaulted him. It doesn’t mean he’s lying in wait for us. He’d be more scared of us than we are of him.”
“Why didn’t he just drive away then?” Jen said, gesturing at the SUV parked outside.
“We were all standing out there. He was probably too scared to go for his car. He won’t be thinking straight if he’s concussed.”
Patrick had a good point. And yet—
“Or he’s gonna continue to exact his revenge!” Freddy cried.
“What would Russ Meachum want to avenge?” Jason said exasperatedly.
“Did one of you do something to him in high school?” Carrie asked, her insides turning to water. “Played a prank, or said something mean?”
Everyone turned to Jen. “What? What’re you all looking at me for?” she demanded. “I didn’t even know he existed. Maybe he’s obsessed with Carrie. He saw her at the gas station and followed her here.”
Carrie shrank under Jen’s accusing gaze.Wasit her fault Russ had shown up?
Tiffany tossed her wet ponytail and scoffed. “Some of our classmates were jealous of us,” she said, cutting her eyes to Carrie. Carrie felt the steely edge of that glare deep between her ribs. She had to be wary. Jason’s kindness toward her hadn’t gone unnoticed. Tiffany might be acting mostly civil, but she was still a spiteful cat. “Some wishedtheyhad the guts to get up onstage in front of a cheering audience. Russ’s mom wouldn’t let him join the Jumpscare Society, so maybe he’s making up for lost time.”
“Exactly. He’s seizing his chance to play the Slasher for real!” Freddy said.
“We’ll lock the doors and windows if it makes you all feel better. Power will be back up before we know it,” Patrick said.
“And the phone? Staying put doesn’t do us much good if we can’t call for help,” Jen said. “I vote we take our chances and leave.”
