AllFreeNovel
Share Us
So was pouring a bag of M&M’s into a bowl of hot, buttered popcorn and letting it melt all over each other.
So good.
Maybe I’d just eat that for dinner while watching some unhinged psycho walk slowly around with a knife, miraculously catching up and slaughtering everyone.
Comfort food + comfort show = best night ever.
No. Not best night. You would need something else for it to be the best night ever.
I ignored whoever said that. She was not a ray of sunshine.
Finally, I stepped into the glowing circle of light the lamp overhead cast, and I walked around to the driver’s side of my ancient Mazda. Pretty soon, a museum was going to offer me money for this relic. Until then, it would get me from A to B, and I wouldn’t complain.
Still rummaging around in my bottomless tote, I let out a frustrated sound and ripped the bag off my shoulder so I could stare down into the open top. “Stupid keys,” I uttered, shoving around everything inside, trying to find them.
The telltale jingle I hoped to hear remained mutinously silent, and I gave the bag a shake. “Where are you?”
Realization made me gasp. I’d knocked the bag over earlier in the practice room, and they must have fallen out. I probably hadn’t heard the keys fall over the sound of my ears being murdered.
“I am so eating popcorn and melty M&M’s for dinner,” I vowed as I trudged back toward the massive theater arts building.
In the daytime, it looked like a castle, something you might see in a movie or even in a storybook. And I supposed that was still true right now, but the movie would likely be Dracula, and the book would be something by Stephen King.
The side door I exited through earlier locked behind me, so I went to the wide glass doors that led into the lobby of the massive auditorium. My shoes squeaked over the polished floor, then were muffled as I walked down one of the carpeted aisles to a side door near the stage. Once through, I started down the hall toward the practice room.
A faint sound faltered my steps, and I tilted my head to listen. When no other sound came, I brushed it off. Probably one of the custodians cleaning.
I started walking again, but more sound stopped me in my tracks. This was louder and definitely not someone cleaning.
I tiptoed down the hall, slinking along the wall like a skilled spy to follow the muffled noises. I ended up going past the practice room, my keys and growling stomach completely forgotten as curiosity ruled my attention.
The wooden door was large and heavy, and if not for the fact it was just slightly ajar, it probably would have subdued all the sounds inside the room.
I crept closer, hand clutching the strap of my bag as the muffled noises grew louder.
Girl, get your keys and get out of here. This is stuff ain’t nobody need to see.
I ignored the intrusive thoughts and leaned in, pressing my eye to the slim crack.
“Agh!” I gasped so loud that it echoed down the long empty hallway. My sneakers made that ear-piercing shriek against the floor as I stumbled back.
Ohmigod!
I started away, the shout behind me making me run faster. Still shocked by what I saw, I tripped, falling onto my hands and knees.
“Come back here!” someone hollered.
Shit! I glanced over my shoulder, and the anger that met me was so intense it gave me the momentum I’d been lacking to lurch up and race back down the hall. Seeing the side door I’d used earlier, I shoved through, nearly falling outside onto the sidewalk.
My heart was hammering so hard I couldn’t draw in a full breath, and when the door handle behind me shook, I stopped breathing altogether. Rushing around the corner, I pressed my back into the stone of the building so hard I felt my sweater snag.
“Where’d she go?” a voice asked as they pushed through the door.
“You go that way. I’ll go this way,” another voice answered.
Two voices that did not belong together.
Footsteps drew closer, and I gazed around, frantic for somewhere to hide. With little choice, I slipped behind two large plastic trashcans parked a few feet away.
