Page 48 of A Haunting at Keystone Manor

“Seth, nothing that happened is your fault. None of it, okay? You’re safe now. We’ll find Jake and we’ll figure out a way to kill Andrei. Everything is going to be okay.”

“Burn his bones,” Seth says, eyes going distant. I shake him a little, needing him to stay with me.

"'What?" I ask.

"Burn his bones," he repeats. "That should get rid of him."

"Sasha mentioned burying him somewhere around here. I'll find a shovel, see if I can find them," Brandon says.

I want to scream in joy at his words. “Seth, you’re an absolute genius. Did he say anything about Jake, or drop any hints about where he might have taken him?”

Seth shakes his head. “I don’t think so, I just remember him saying that he wanted more space to play?” He rubs his head. “That’s all I know. I’m sorry.” I bet he’s at the warehouse. Andrei can’t possibly have gone far on a golf cart with an unconscious ghost in the back seat, who could wake up at any time.

“You’re a rockstar. Brandon, you stay with Seth. Find those bones and burn the shit out of them. Look for any spots in the dirt that look like they’ve been disturbed recently. Got it? I’m gonna take your car and get Jake. I’ll come straight back here.”

“10-4, little dude.” Brandon tosses me his keys and cautiously walks up to Seth, and I back up to give them some space. I know I can’t comfort Seth like Brandon can. “Hey, Seth. Are you okay?” Seth launches himself at Brandon, who catches him easily and wraps him up in a tight hug. “You’re safe now, okay? I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Seth breaks down in his arms, and I head to the door. Brandon looks over at me and gives me a small nod, which I return before heading out.

I run to the car and jump in the driver’s seat, making sure to fasten the seatbelt. Safety first. I can’t save Jake if I have a concussion from the uneven terrain. Focusing all my energy, I turn the car on and put the pedal to the metal as I head to the warehouse, praying he’s there. He has to be. I try to keep my mind off of what could be happening to him as I speed down the road as fast as I can. I hit a particularly deep pothole and the car jerks to the left, but I manage to stay on the road. It has to be close. I silently berate myself for not knowing the layout of this property better. I’ve been here before; I should be able to remember! I scan the trees as I drive, trying to get an eye on the warehouse as I avoid more potholes. I round a bend, and I see it. There’s a golf cart out front.

Yes! I’m coming Jake.

I pull up beside the golf cart and hop out of the car, not bothering to turn it off. Making a mad dash for the door, I debate for a split second slashing the tires on the golf cart. I don’t have any weapons on me though. Damn, why didn't I bring the knife with me? I don’t have time to think about how I’m going to take down Andrei, I just know I have to do whatever it takes to save Jake.

Chapter thirty

Rescues

Jake

Just before I get to the door, it swings open, crashing loudly against the side of the warehouse. Nerves fraying, I bring the knife up in front of me, ready to cut through anyone standing in my way.

“Whoa, whoa, Jake! It’s okay baby,” Alex says and halts in the doorway he just crashed through. Raising his hands, he approaches me like I’m a wild animal. Right now I feel like one. I sway on my feet for a minute, trying to decide if he’s real or if my mind is playing tricks on me. After a minute I drop the knife.

“Alex,” I whisper, voice hoarse. He rushes towards me, about to pull me into a hug when he looks behind me, eyes widening. Andrei. He quickly reaches down for knife before grabbing my arm and pushing me behind him.

Something about a five-foot nothing Alex standing in front of me ready to do battle makes me want to laugh. He raises the knife at Andrei, who is staring at us with a predatory look in his eyes. He’s holding onto his side, blood dripping onto the concrete. I don't think he can die from the wounds I gave him, but they have weakened his energy drastically. He’s starting to sway on his feet.

Alex, still holding the knife up in front of him, says, “You look like you got fucked up.” I shrink back as Andrei takes a step towards us. “Stay back unless you want a few more holes. I’ll pop you like a water balloon, bitch. You’re dead. Seth and Brandon are digging up your bones as we speak. Yeah that’s right, we know where your pathetic carcass is buried. All they have to do is throw a little lighter fluid on it, drop a match and you are gone. For good.”

For the first time, Andrei actually looks a little nervous. “You’re lying. Drop the knife and step away from my pet. You don’t want to get hurt, do you?”

“Never gonna happen. You don’t get to touch him ever again.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy sloppy seconds. I broke him in nicely for you. He takes punishment well. What took you so long to get here, by the way? I’ve had hours to play.”

Alex gasps, shaking in outrage as he tries to hold the knife steady.

“Get to the door, Jake. I have a car waiting outside,” he says and steps backwards, pushing me back with him. I don't take my eyes off of Andrei as I move.

He steps forward, sneering. “You think you can outrun me? If you make me chase you, boy, I’ll make you regret it, you hear me?”

I’m shaking, but I keep inching towards the door.

“Run!” Alex shouts suddenly, and I immediately obey, sprinting to the car, Alex close behind. I hear Andrei bellow in rage, and I look back to see him coming for us as Alex peels out, swerving a bit before he steadies us.

“Where are we going? What’s the plan?” I shout as I see Andrei following behind us in the golf cart. I almost laugh. He won’t be able to catch us in that thing.

“We need to buy time for Seth and Brandon to find and burn his bones. We need to distract him; we can’t lead him back to the shed.” With a jerk of the steering wheel, he takes us off the road and through the trees. Luckily, they’re not too dense out here, but he’ll need to be careful so we don’t end up in a ditch or a lake.