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“Sounds like a plan,” I agree as I pull her into me for a kiss. “And we can take a bath when Eli and Wolf do the dishes.”
Raven giggles at my words, and kisses me again.
“I like that idea very much.”
“Of course, you do,” Eli states coming up behind her. "Jayce, looks like you got your prize after all.”
“Prize?” Raven asks, confused.
“I carried more bags in than Eli,” I shrug.
This gets a real laugh from Raven, and it’s like music to my ears. We need a night of normal and that’s what I’m going to ensure we get.
Raven
The sanitarium looms over the treeline, looking ominous against the backdrop of clouds and a full moon. It’s like the entire world knows what’s coming and I hope it’s a sign that this will be the last night we have to deal with Stella. We all need a break from the torment, Lucien most of all. Adjusting to modern life is hard enough without a psychotic ghost trying to kill you all over again.
“Did you hear that?” Eli hisses as he stops in front of me, nearly making me crash into him.
“No, just our footsteps,” Jayce whispers back. It’s silent out here outside of the slight rustle of leaves in the breeze and the random cars passing on the highway nearby.
“He’s right, I heard it,” Lucien argues. “Someone is here.”
“Living?” I ask to make sure we aren’t talking about Stella. Then again, if this place was as scary as it looked in pictures, I doubt she’s the only one haunting these grounds.
“Stick together. We are not going to be those assholes in scary movies that all separate so the serial killer hiding among them can pick them off one by one,” Eli says. The fact he’s one hundred percent serious has me biting back a laugh.
“What?” Lucien asks, confused by the reference.
“Oh just wait, you’ll understand the moment Raven plans our next movie night,” Jayce promises. “Life changing. I’m just not sure it’s in a good way or not.” He laughs quietly as I swat at him.
“You’re all blessed to be in my presence,” I joke. What I don’t expect are the three matching soft smiles they give me back.
A snap of a twig nearby has the smiles falling and all of us scanning the trees surrounding us carefully.
“Move,” Eli hisses, veering us off to the left. My eyes stay trained on the ground, making sure I don’t step on something and give us away. The thought of someone lurking among the trees has my heart trying to beat out of my chest.
Each step we take is followed by movement somewhere in the forest. It almost sounds like we’re being surrounded, but even Stella doesn’t have that power, right?
“Don’t panic, it’s the echo of it, there’s not an army around us,” Jayce promises but even he sounds shaken.
“I know you’re out here!” The voice is a man’s voice, but he has the same taunting quality that Stella does. “Oh, Iris.”
“What the fuck?” I gasp. “Did she possess someone?”
“I didn’t know that was possible,” Lucien says. He’s so pale his freckles stand out starkly against his complexion.
This time, the steps aren’t walking, but running, and we all take off without a word.
“Follow me,” Jayce growls, taking us around the back and stopping just under a wrought-iron archway that has seen better days.
“Someone’s been digging,” Lucien says. “You don't think…” He trails off but we all know exactly what he’s thinking.
“I wouldn’t put anything past that crazy bitch. She can’t even grasp the fact that I’m not Iris,” I grumble but my words turn into a scream as I’m roughly jerked backward. My body slams into the rough stone of an old pathway and I gasp against the sharp pain.
The security guard over me stares down, his face twisted into a scowl. “So, you think I’m crazy?”
“I’m not the one possessing an innocent guard,” I challenge her despite how stupid that move probably is. She’s unhinged and goading her won’t end well.
