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A light appeared on the clubhouse roof, and a slender figure emerged. It threw something, and a ladder dropped. Great, one rope ladder for all of us. That would be fun. We reached it, and I began sending up the sisters with no abilities.
“I’m not going,” Hatton roared in defiance as I ordered him up it.
“You’ll get us killed,” I screamed and shook him. Hayden hesitated and then climbed. Cassidy followed him.
“Hatton, get the fuck up here now,” Warrick snarled. He flung Poker over his shoulder as he also got out of there. She was barely hanging on and giving us every piece of juice she had.
“Go,” I yelled to Fume, who scrambled up, almost biting Warrick’s ass. Hatton finally obeyed as Teddy and Blue rushed up it. One by one, my sisters shot up it until only Tinkerbell, Jazz, Sparrow, and I were left.
“Make a semicircle of water,” I ordered Jazz. “Enough to cover us; freeze it, give us a barrier.”
They nodded and wearily obeyed. “Go!” I pushed Sparrow, and she began climbing. Jazz stepped up next as the weight of the zombies pressing outside cracked the ice wall.
I shoved Tinkerbell up and started following her when the wall splintered.
Tinkerbell stumbled, and I trapped her in my arms. Hands grabbed my boot and tried pulling me down. I kicked free and kept moving. Tinkerbell fell over the roof lip to safety, and Hayden reached down and pulled me up.
Standing there staring at us were Brielle, Gamma, Pops, and Kiki.
“You’re alive,” Brielle stated. Priest wrapped her in a hug.
“Yeah.” Nun smirked.
“Where the fuck have you been for a year?” she snapped and tore free. She walked away, and Kiki followed her.
“What?” I asked, shocked.
“You’ve all been missing for a year,” Pops said, shaking as he stared at us like he’d seen a ghost.
“No fuckin’ way,” I retorted.
Gamma strode off. Pops trailed behind her as we exchanged stunned gazes.
“No. I don’t believe it,” I snapped and chased after them. We headed down the stairs and stormed into the rec room, where we stopped, speechless.
A total shock waited for us. It was so abrupt it took my breath away. I felt like my head was spinning like that girl in The Exorcist as I absorbed the scene.
Everyone gaped before turning to face the culprit.
“Belladonna!” I yelled, staring at our bodies, all relaxed in armchairs and sofas, snuggled up. On the huge TV screen, Chucky played.
“Happy Halloween!” Belladonna shouted as suddenly we all woke up.
“You had us in a—what the fuck was that?” I demanded.
Belladonna beamed. “A mind trap. This was the best Halloween ever!”
“You blamed me!” Dagger said, amused.
“Yup, none of you accused me; it was such fun.” Belladonna grinned.
“I should kick your ass,” I replied.
“I had a blast! We now know I’m the zombie killer!” Nun exclaimed.
“Yes, babe,” Priest agreed resignedly.
“And guess what?” Belladonna enthused. “We’ve still got the party tomorrow night!”