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“I see things that seem to come true, so yeah, I guess,” Tess replied, her fingers absently tracing the edge of the tarot cards strewn out on the table.
I leaned forward, my elbows resting on the table, causing the crystal ball to wobble slightly. “Alright. Good. How do you kill him?”
As I posed the question, the symbols etched into the floorboards pulsed faintly, as if reacting to the pivotal nature of this moment.
“I threw a match on him, and he went up in an explosion.”
I stared at her. Clenched my fists hard to concentrate on my physical reality in the room. “Okay, we can work with that. Did you bring matches?” The room itself seemed to be holding its breath, waiting for Tess’s response.
She shook her head. “I forgot to.” The whispers from the bookshelves grew more insistent.
I ran my hand over my head, disturbing the heavy air and sending dust motes swirling in the candlelight. “Well, you saw it happen, so they’ve got to be here somewhere, right?”
She shrugged. “I guess so.”
I scanned the dimly lit room, as if they might be right there in front of us. “We need to find some matches and something flammable. He’s not going to go up in any explosion without it.”
She nodded, her silhouette painting inky figures on the book-lined walls.
“What’s he look like?” I asked, the table’s velvet covering bunching up against my arms as I moved.
She pressed her lips together, her hesitation drawing the moment out. “As big as you, but flabbier.”
Without thinking, I winked, then ground my teeth because I was supposed to be controlling myself with her.
“His face is tattooed like a creepy clown,” she continued.
“Hisface?” I echoed, my surprise ringing out against the silent room.
“It took all day,” she replied, her fingers absently tracing one of the strange symbols etched into the table’s surface.
“That’s a guy who’s committed to the cause,” I said, the sarcasm in my voice seeming to bleed into the air.
“He’s nothing if not all in,” she agreed.
I clapped my hands together, the sharp sound shattering the eerie quiet. “Great. Me too. Let’s go.”
As we stood, the room seemed to resist our decision. The temperature plummeted further, and the shadows in the corners writhed, as if trying to ensnare us. The symbols on the floor pulsed with anotherworldly glow, growing brighter with each step we took toward the door.
My heart raced, adrenaline surging through my veins. Tess thought we were about to face a monster, but he was only a man with the power of a wraithshade. I was the bigger monster. I glanced at Tess, her face a mask of determination tinged with terror.
As my hand touched the cold metal of the doorknob, Tess’s voice halted me back. “Reaper,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the quiet cacophony surrounding us. “Whatever happens out there... I don’t care what happens to me. Promise me we’ll end this. Finish him.”
I nodded, my jaw set with grim determination. “I can’t wait.”
With a deep breath, I turned the handle. The door creaked open, and as we stepped over the threshold, leaving the eerie chamber, I vibrated with glee.
The hunt had begun. And with every second that passed, the man grew stronger in confidence, feeding on the fear that permeated the very air we breathed. But he was just a baby monster compared to me.
I couldn’t wait to meet the motherfucker.
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Devil’s Playground
Tess
We headed down themurky corridor, the floorboards creaking beneath our cautious footsteps. The musty scents mingled with the metallic tang of blood that wafted from a distant corner of the haunted house.
We’d agreed finding a smoker was our best bet for matches. It was the only lead we could think of as we navigated the darkness and uncertainty of the mansion.
