Page 110 of Trick or Stalk

Neither do I.

Then something cracks outside.

Probably a branch.

My gaze remains locked on the dark, blurry window.

Stay where you are.

I know better than to investigate. I've literally spent the last hour yelling at fictional women for doing exactly this.

Penny growls again.

I slowly push the blanket from my lap.

“This is how people die in horror movies.”

Her ears remain pointed toward the window.

I stand. “Which means we're absolutely not investigating.”

I reach over and scoop Penny up. She squirms in my arms, trying to look over my shoulder.

“Nope.”

I carry her back to the couch. “We are intelligent women.”

She looks at me.

“Mostly.”

I sit down and pull the blanket around us.

My eyes drift toward the window.

Nothing moves.

No mask appears.

Eventually Penny relaxes, and so do I. Mostly.

I start the movie again.

And try not to think about what could be outside in the rainy darkness.

CHAPTER 17

Hades

Rain runs down the back of my neck.

I ignore it.

I've been standing beneath the trees for almost twenty minutes, watching Presley through her living room window. Again.

At least tonight I have an excuse.

I'm checking that the back door is closed and locked.