AllFreeNovel
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See? It’s shit like that that proves he fucking cares. If only he’d listen to himself.
We spend the rest of the night putting together a plan, and it’s late by the time we call it a night and leave the cinema room to head to bed.
“Do you hear that?” I question when we’re out in the hall.
Conversations cut off as we all fall silent, listening.
Tap, tap, tap.
“What is that?” Emilia asks in a quiet whisper.
I share glances with the others before turning my head toward the source of the sound and following it up the hall. Kai tells Emilia to stay back before I hear footfalls behind me.
The tapping sound gets louder as I approach the open doorway into the gym, and before I can step through it, Kai puts a hand on my shoulder. I glance down, finding him holding out a small handgun. Darting my gaze up to his face, he murmurs, “Take it.”
Showing me his other hand, where another one is nestled, I nearly snort. Kai gives the impression that he’s the perfect boy scout, but he’s always armed and ready. I take the proffered gun with a sharp nod of thanks, checking the safety is off before lifting my arm and stepping into the darkened gym.
Kai flicks the light on behind me while I quickly scan the room. Nothing immediately jumps out at me. My brows furrow as I do another sweep.
“There’s nothing here,” Kai states, keeping his voice low.
I’m aware of Wilder and Emilia entering behind me as I move further into the room. Thetap, tap, tapcomes again, and I spin to face the bifold glass doors that lead out to the back lawn.
The interior light reflects the room back at me, preventing me from seeing anything outside. “Flip the lights off,” I order, focusing on the glass doors leading outside.
Someone turns out the lights, and when my vision has adjusted, I squint at the strange object hanging on one of the doors, illuminated by the faint moonlight.
“What is that?” Emilia asks.
Kai and I move toward the doors at the same time. He flicks the lock and slides the door open while I step out, scanning the yard before giving my attention to the item hanging on the door.
In the dark, all I can make out is the general shape. However, when Wilder turns the gym light on again, it provides a backlight, revealing the object in all of its horrifying glory.
“What the fuck?” I gasp, staring at the item in horror.
“Holy shit,” Kai murmurs.
“What is it?” Emilia calls, stepping closer.
Kai immediately throws out his arm. “Don’t.”
“Why? What is it?” she repeats, stopping in her tracks.
“Uhhh.” I have no idea how to explain what I’m looking at.
Pulling up the flashlight on his phone, Kai takes a closer look. Rather him than me. I’m happy enough standing right here, where I can see the grisly scene in as much detail as I care to. In fact, I’d rather view it from where Em and Wilder are standing. I’m not easily turned by blood. I spent much of my youth getting into fights, and I’ve shed blood in Hadley’s name, but this is just cold-blooded, deranged violence.
The flashlight only serves to add a glaring light to the horror decorating the door. The red blood glistens, making the ashen color of the skin glaringly obvious.
“Guys!” Wilder calls. “Don’t leave us hanging in suspense here.”
My gaze flicks to Emilia’s wide eyes, filled with questions. She catches me looking at her, and I grimace. “I’m pretty sure it’s more of Louis.” The blood drains from her face, hand clamping over her mouth as she stares at me in shock. “His hands, to be precise.”
She stumbles and Wilder grabs her. Wrapping his arms protectively around her middle, he pulls her in against him as he glowers at the object on the door with a deranged expression. One that promises violence and death. It’s a look I haven’t seen since Hadley was kidnapped and he was hellbent on tagging along to rescue her. One that clearly saysI’ll happily rip off every one of your fingernails before gutting you and leaving you for dead if you go near my loved ones again.
It’s a look that he wouldn’t be wearing if he wasn’t in fucking love with Emilia.
So why the hell is he still fighting it?
