Page 86 of The Corruption of Hollis Brown

Walt went so quiet that it felt like he was screaming.

What?

How do you mean, “haunted”?

What? We’ve talked about this. I told you about Jorge—

No. The night we met, you said, “Jorge was cut up by ghosts or whatever” and you said it very sarcastically. I assumed another kid did it and you said that because you didn’t care who.

Hollis rolled his eyes.

No. Rose Town is definitely haunted; no one has been able to build there for years. Like almost a hundred years. There’s all these accidents and stuff. A bunch of people have died.

But you said you went there to get fruit sometimes, that first night. That’s what you told me the night we met.

Yeah . . . during the daytime. And it’s reckless to even be doing that. Why does this matter so much to you? Stop freaking out, I can literally feel our blood pressure going up.

Hollis, we need to talk when we get home. I don’t want to ruin this slumber party, but I have some things to tell you.

Or you could just tell me now.

I can’t—

“We’re ready!”

Fuck. Hollis—

Just calm down before you give my body a heart attack. We can do this later.

Pulp

There was a glow coming up the stairs.

“I know it’s cringe, but don’t laugh at it or anything,” Annie said. “Close your eyes.”

“I can either walk down the stairs or close my eyes, you gotta choose.”

There was some whispering, then Annie darted up the stairs, red-faced and grinning. She clasped his arm.

Hollis closed their eyes.

He was led to the middle of the room, and Annie guided him to sit down. It was bright and warm.

“Can I open my eyes now?”

“Not yet.”

Annie scrambled across from him.

It smelled like burning herbs.

“Okay . . . now.”

Hollis opened his eyes.

There were candles everywhere, on every surface.

Yulia and Annie were sitting in front of him. Yulia had a hollowed calabash and the chicken from earlier for whatever reason, and Annie had a necklace wrapped around her arm. Yulia had painted her face in white chalk stripes, which was as disorienting to see as it was beautiful.