“You could always burn it on top of that wall they climbed over,” Isla says, drawing my attention to the gate. She’s leaning against the steel bars, appearing human in every way except for the slight glow emanating from her.
Ten minutes later, we’ve written out the words that Lanie asked for, added our own to the stomach of the doomed scarecrow, and made it around the back of the cemetery to the wall.
I’m tall enough to reach the top, making it easy enough to light the stuffed ornament on fire.
“Someone help me lift her over,” Lanie’s voice sounds from the other side of the stone divider.
Nina and I share a look, and a part of me deflates knowing that one of us is going to have to put ourselves at greater risk for the group.
“I’ll do it,” I say, turning toward the wall.
A dainty hand lands on my shoulder, and I turn to see Nina.
“We’re going to need someone on this side that can help lower Corinne. I’m not strong enough to do it on my own.”
I purse my lips, preparing to scold her, but she shakes her head.
“I’m doing this.” She moves around me, preparing to climb the wall. “Help me over.”
I don’t like this. Not at all. But I also know that determined look on Nina, and there is no talking her out of it.
I lift her up so that she can grasp onto the top of the wall and hoist herself over. On the boost up, I’m apparently a little too strong, and Nina damn near catapults over the wall, falling on the other side.
“Oh my god. Nina…are you all right?” I shout, a little too loudly for what’s supposed to be a stealth operation.
“I’m fine, Hercules. Would you hurry up, Corinne? It’s dark and creepy in here,” Nina says, but I’m not entirely sure what’s happening on the other side.
She’s not wrong though. This entire place is dark and creepy.
“Alyssa, light that sucker on fire,” Lanie commands. “It’s 11:58.”
I huff, dropping to my knees to rifle through my purse for the matches, when a bright light shines down on me.
“What do we have here?” a male voice says from behind me, and I freeze in place.
“Hurry up,” Lanie shouts. “You’ve got to do it.”
I do as she says, trying and failing to find the matches.
“Stop. Whatever you’re doing, just stop,” the man commands.
My arms fly up into the air, and I know that we’re all in trouble.
13
Two of Swords
Nick
The Falls Havenharbor, usually humming with the activity of sailors and fishermen, is active for an entirely different reason tonight. There’s a frenzied energy permeating the surrounding area as police rope off a section with tape, and a group of people work to prepare the body for transport.
“What do you make of this?” Chief Skiver of the Falls Haven homicide unit asks as he saunters up next to me.
I inhale a deep breath, the smell of seawater infiltrating my senses.
“Her family was concerned that she might have fallen into bad company,” I say, recalling Chief Grayson’s words days after the girl went missing.
He nods. “Wouldn’t doubt it. Especially given her recent employment at Haven’s Bard. That place is a mecca for trouble.”
