Page 38 of Love at First Fright

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Brad!”

He looked up from the monitor, eyebrows raised. “What?”

“Enough with the pranks, okay?”

He blinked. Stared at me like I’d suggested the moon was made of cheese. Then understanding dawned across his face. “That wasn’t me, you twat.”

“Come off it.” I gestured at the receiver. “That shitty device is clearly an audio player with pre-recorded messages. To make it look real for the homeowners.”

Brad’s expression shifted to disgust. He rolled his eyes so hard I was surprised they didn’t get stuck. “Goddamn it! I can’t believe I got sent out here with you! And I can’t believe Gerald hired such a non-believer. He must really be getting desperate.”

The receiver crackled again.

A scratchy female voice pushed through the static, clearer this time.

“…leave…leave…leave…”

The cat hissed. Backed away from the device, fur standing on end along its spine.

My mouth went dry.

Brad whipped out an EMF reader from his utility belt. The device lit up red, beeping frantically. He stared at it, then at the receiver, then back at the reader.

“Wow,” he muttered. “This must be at least a Level Three entity. Maybe higher.”

His voice sounded distant. Muffled.

The room had grown cold. Not just chilly—cold. The flavour of cold that sank into your bones, made your joints ache.

My breath fogged in front of my face.

My teeth started to chatter.

A giggle echoed through the library. High-pitched. Childish.

I jumped, spinning around. “What was that?”

“Shh!” Brad pressed the Spirit Receiver against his ear, adjusting dials with quick, precise movements.

Another giggle.

Behind me.

I spun again, heart hammering.

A shadow shifted behind the nearest bookcase. Small. Person-shaped. Gone before I could focus on it.

“Brad—”

“I said shh!”

I moved towards the bookcase on unsteady legs. Peered around the corner. Nothing. Just empty shelves and dust and morning light filtering through grimy windows.

Something tugged on my trouser leg.

Sharp. Insistent.

I yelped, jumping backwards, fists raised. If Brad had crawled around to mess with me, I’d kick him in his stupid face.