Page 75 of Your Masked Haunting

Shut up. Not helping right now, I snap back.

When I finally reach the main floor without interruption or running face-first into a stranger, I open our messages again.

Where are you? I’m on the main level by the front door. What is this? A reverse chase from the matchmaking party?

You’re starting to scare me

Please just come out

Walking over to the light switches, I flip them all on, illuminating the entire area, immediately making me feel safer. At least if anyone’s in here, I’ll see them coming.

Or you just put a spotlight on yourself and announced your location.

I’ll call him, just to see if he picks up.

Although, if this is a game and he’s trying to scare me, he probably won’t answer. I’m getting tired of this really fast. The rings in my ear seem to grow louder and louder as each one passes unanswered.

His voicemail sounds, and I hang up, opening our texts and sending more, hinting that this might be going too far for me.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I have a feeling like I’m being watched. My head snaps up out of instinct, my eyes landing across the foyer beside the fireplace. But I don’t see anything.

The house shrinks, crushing around my shoulders and chest until it feels like I can’t breathe. The air’s hot and thick, and all I want right now is the cool fall air on my cheeks. As I type out my next few messages, I unlock the front door and slip onto the porch. Immediately, my shoulders relax.

This isn’t funny anymore, Casper.

I’m going outside. I can’t stay in here. Come talk on the porch

Why aren’t you answering me?

Casper?

Hello?

Impatience is gnawing me alive. I’ll try calling him again, and again, and again. But as each one goes unanswered, the pit in my stomach returns. My skin goes cold, and goose bumps break out across my entire body.

What if … what if … it really isn’t Casper and I’m standing on the deck in plain view?

My feet are restless, and I let them carry me away, down the steps and off to the left, where the pumpkin patch, stands, and storage are set up against the side of the very tall veranda. I tuck myself away between the mountain of pumpkins stacked almost as tall as me and the wall of lattice that encloses the area beneath the deck.

Are you still at the rink?

He doesn’t answer after a moment, and I’m done playing this game. My stomach is churning like I’m going to hurl, and each second becomes more likely than the last that my stomach is going to empty itself.

If this is him, I need him to end it. As much fun as we have running around together, this isn’t enjoyable for me right now.

I want to be snuggled and held and not lured outside and stalked. A different day? Yeah, absolutely, but maybe with a discussion beforehand on setting that boundary. I need to know ahead of time for my own sanity, especially with the alleged ghost running around.

Casper, please answer me! Or come out of the shadows. I’m hiding by the pumpkins because I’m so fucking scared

My blood runs cold as I hear movement for the first time—a jiggling of the doorknob on the front door. But even if it’s Casper, I don’t want to do this anymore. I mean, I didn’t really want to do it from the start. But we are far past my comfort zone.

I hear your footsteps

Ghostface

Ghostface

No response.