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Another shattering sound from the adjacent room. Something stabbed through the wall. A chair, I recognised the thing lodged in the floral wallpaper.

The scent of smoke and ash filled the air.

“Not on your own,” I said.

“This time, yes. I know what to do.”

Another scream drowned out our voices. It made my eardrums hurt. It sounded closer.

“Owain, he’ll be here in minutes, we need to move,” Bronwyn said.

“Take him,” Owain told her, pointing at me. “Do whatever you can to keep him safe.”

“NO!” I shouted. “I’m not gonna be kept in bubble wrap while you get yourself killed.”

“I’m not getting myself killed,” Owain said. “I’ve got this, I just need you out of the way.”

“But—”

“Please.” He grabbed my face with both hands. “Trust me just this once.”

The lights flickered brightly for a split second and revealed something that made me want to scream too.

The walls were covered in blood. There were words written in it. Threats. Claw marks. Prints.

The carnage that one flash of light revealed made me feel true fear. The kind that made your blood freeze and your instincts go haywire.

“You want to fight this…thing…alone,” I asked and felt him tense in my arms.

“It’s not a thing. But yes.”

The rumbling stopped.

The darkness thickened.

The entire house was plunged into a silence so thick I could feel it stick to my skin.

I looked down at Owain.

He was staring back at me. He leaned in. Brought his lips close to my ear, and said one word.

“Run.”

twenty

Andrew

Owain

Iripped myself from Ryan’s arms, looking at the ghosts one more time to make sure they understood what needed to be done.

Bronwyn nodded and rallied the rest while I rushed to the door and ran through it.

“OWAIN!” I heard Ryan calling after me. I heard him struggling against the ghosts holding him in place as best as they could while I rushed towards the stairs.

Just keep him safe. I thought to myself. I had to trust they’d keep him safe.

I felt freezing cold air hit my back. The hair on my neck stood up. Prickles went down my spine. Cool dread settled. I was running out of time.