Page 209 of Stay Scared

Owen’s voice comes through the monitor. “Police are at the gate. Mark cleared the theater route, and staff is moving out through north access.”

Ash looks toward the outer controls. “The purge is dead?”

“Confirmed.”

Cade looks at me.

He is still between Rook and me.

Of course he is.

“What about Evan?”

“The medic has him stable enough to move. The ambulance crew is coming through now.”

My knees weaken.

Ash catches one arm while Cade catches the other.

Neither asks first.

For once, I let them.

I lean into both of them for half a second, then straighten again.

Rook remains inside the chair, the broken beak turned toward us.

I leave him with silence.

Ash opens the operator exit wider. Cade keeps one bloody hand at my back as I step through first.

Behind us, the red room stays bright enough to leave Rook exactly what he is:

A bleeding man trapped inside the wreckage he made.

Chapter 26

The first police officer enters Crimson Night beneath full working lights.

Nothing in the attraction looks supernatural anymore.

Power cables run beneath painted dirt. Fabric doors hang open along unfinished walls. Emergency signs point toward exits that failed when people needed them. Blood shines black on the red-room floor until the officer’s flashlight crosses it.

Rook is still trapped against the damaged restraint frame.

The officer raises his weapon. “Step away from him.”

Ash is closest.

He holds position for one beat too long, his shirt soaked on one side and his temple open again, as he keeps looking at Rook through the broken observation wall.

“Sir.”

Ash finally notices the gun.

Three more officers enter behind the first, and one already has Cade against the opposite wall.

Ash backs away.