Page 4 of House of Horrors

“My Halloween costume…who are you going as?”

He scoffs. “Myself, dipshit. I’m scary enough.”

My eyebrows furrow when I take in his face, and a redness around his eye that looks painful. “What happened to your face? Did you walk into a fist?”

Jason gives me a scathing look that would make a grown man piss his pants. “Shut up.” His gaze traces my skin, and I almost shiver at his intensity. “You’re barely wearing any clothes.”

On the inside I’m smug because that’s the point, but I shrug like I didn’t realize. I glance down at my halter neck dress that resembles a sparkling disco ball. It barely covers my crotch, and I’ve altered it to include cutouts at my hips to accentuate my curves. Using the leftover fabric, I crafted a matching headband for myself. I thought I looked sexy. The material struggles to hold my breasts, but my brother’s intense, disgusted stare begins to shake my confidence.

“I’m wearing a dress because I’d hoped to go to a party afterwards. I don’t want to overheat and have to take off layers.”

Jason’s eyes narrow instantly, and he moves into my space, the warmth of his body wrapping around mine. Having him in my orbit sends my head spinning, as if I’m drunk on his presence. Each shaky breath allows me to inhale his spicy cologne like a freak, and the wet heat spreads between my thighs intensifies by the second.

“Who invited you to a party? You just moved here.” Suspicion laces his tone.

I nibble on my lip, realizing how flimsy my plan is.

“I thought you could take me to one, so I could make some friends.”

Lie. I wanted us to party so that I could have Jason’s body grinding up against mine. We’d dance until the night became morning before stumbling home where I’d drag Jason into my bed.

It might be a terrible plan, but it’s a wonderful dream.

Jason grips my cheeks, the rings he’s wearing cold against my skin. He brings his face closer, his lips barely hovering above mine. My breathing stutters as I inhale his smoky, honey-like scent. My eyes flutter shut, chest rising and falling faster while my core begins throbbing.

Jason’s breath ripples against my skin, and I shiver thinking about how easy it would be to press my lips against his.

“No one would want to be friends with you. I sure as fuck don’t.”

My heart crumbles. It’s a nightmare that the one person I have a major crush on also hates my guts. My very existence infuriates him.

“You’re a burden.”

Jason’s words are a familiar knife stabbing into my gut, further deepening the wounds my mom has already inflicted.

I wish I had never been your mother.

You’re the worst thing to ever happen to me.

You’re the reason I’m so unhappy.

My mom’s voice echoes cruelly in my ears. They’re a reminder that I can never win her love—that I wasn’t good enough for her. But I’ll win Jason’s love. I will be good enough for him.

I take a deep, shaky breath, holding back tears, and force a trembling smile across my face. Although my new brother is usually mean, loudly voicing his hatred so much that I’ve come to expect his venom, his words still hurt.

“I know. I’m sorry. I promise I can be fun. I’ll prove it to you.”

He rolls his eyes again, then steps back. “Come on. If we’re late, I’ll hate you even more.” His words lack their usual sharpness, but my mind is too distracted by trying not to cry to think about what that means.

I follow Jason as he walks past our neighbor’s house. At the corner, I look up to see a street sign crowned with curling metal vines swinging slightly from an elegant black post. The lantern sitting at the top flickers on with a low hum as dusk falls. It’s only a short walk before we reach Main Street.

When mom first told me we were moving to Grimwood, I was unimpressed and overwhelmed with grief by the thought of leaving our home. Moving from a beachside location to a small, rural town that’s hard to find on a map is a step down. Grimwood doesn’t even have any decent malls. There’s only one street of shops. One of the stores, The Mystical Macabre, offers candles, ritual supplies, ghost-hunting gear, and other paranormal items. I’m not sure why anyone would need that. This town is a big difference from California.

But since living here, my perspective has changed. Grimwood has a strange presence, as if it’s hiding secrets waiting to be discovered. A creepy mist shrouds the surrounding forest and lake, and the slightly eccentric locals whisper of terrors haunting the dark. My favorite sight is the asylum. It towers on the edge of town, locked away by iron gates and Do Not Enter signs. The true crime lover in me can’t help but wonder what evil lurks inside. Somehow, I’m growing fond of Grimwood, like I’m exactly where I’m destined to be.

Jason hasn’t shared details about the friend we’re visiting, but from what I’ve learned—since I’m determined to know everything about my brother—he’s been best friends with Nicky since they were in their mothers’ wombs. But the topic of Jason’s mom is so taboo that I suspect something terrible has happened, yet nobody, not even the kind old ladies on our street, will talk about it. Jason’s and Nicky’s moms were close friends, so it’s sweet that their bond has continued through their sons.

It’s a brief walk to his friend’s house. We stroll along the street, metal lamp posts crackling to life, and flags of orange and black strung between them. Small planters adorn the sidewalk. Beneath all the peculiar quirks, it’s a charming little town. We turn left past the cemetery, passing families with lively children fueled by sugar. It’s not long before we reach our destination.