Page 66 of Hell House
“I’ve got it.” I assure her, trying to hurry her stubborn ass out of here. Being trapped here could be deadly in more ways than one. We manage to hit a dry part of beach and haul ass up the path and out of the stronghold of the ocean waves.
“Are you alright?” I wrap my body around her soaking wet one. She’s shivering and here I am again, offering her my warmth.
“F-f-fine.”
“Goddammit, baby. Let’s get you warmed up.”
“I d-don’t need your help.” I push her back looking straight into her glassy jade eyes.
“I’m not letting you drown, or freeze, although it seems that’s the way you want to go since you’ve tried that several times since I met you.” She lets out a little laugh, wringing out the wetness of her sweatshirt.
“Come on, let’s get you back to the house.’’ She lets me put my arms around her as we hurriedly trek up the dark path. We make it back in record time. The house has died down some, with most everyone up in their respective rooms or playing games in the game room. I wrap a blanket off the couch around her and set about making her some hot chocolate.
She has a far away look as I hand her the pipping hot liquid. I sit next to her, but she’s lost in her thoughts. We’re silent, both too focused inwardly. I feel out of place. If she had touched that wall of skulls tonight… I shudder at the thought.
I’m in so deep with her that I don’t know what my role in this plan is anymore. Do I fulfill the Headmaster’s wishes, using the girl I care for as a pawn to open a veil into purgatory just to free me and my fraternity brothers from this curse, or do I choose Salem? Choose to stay locked with this demon inside of me for eternity?
“Goodnight, witch.” I say leaving her as I turn my thoughts inside out. I don’t know how to fix this. I don’t know how to choose, and that kills me.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
Salem
Skye cinches up my corset, until I can scarcely breathe. “Oh- my- God, not- so- tight.” I say gasping between words. After Pierce and I got back from the cave, he let me go to sleep off the shitty night. I’ve avoided him since. Those skulls and pentagon gave me a feeling of dread that settled deep in my stomach. It didn’t help that since then, my nightmares had been plaguing me, becoming more intense. I was sure that the cave was the one from my dreams, I just didn’t know why. What did it all mean if anything?
“Whoops. Sorry.” Skye says attempting to loosen the black ribbon so I can breathe. “I’ve never done this before. Okay. How’s that?” She asks, stepping back putting her hands on her hips, studying me.
I take a tentative breath in and am happy to find that my diaphragm is allowed to move this time.
“Much better. Blue isn’t really my color- I like my oxygen too much.” She laughs, stepping closer wielding a deep red lipstick in her hands.
“Pucker.” She says. I obey, letting her apply this last touch to my look. She hands me a tissue to blot my lips together. Once I feel that I’m sufficiently blotted and not in danger of swiping my lipstick into an accidental Joker look. I stand taking a glimpse at Skye’s phone she’s holding out for me to get the full effect.
“Wow.” I say, taking a step forward. The dress is heavy, but even more beautiful than it was online. It could have gone the other way. I was no stranger to online shopping disappointment.
Skye takes a few pictures from different angles before I fix my mask to my face with some adhesive. Its black lace matches the lace on my corset and is sprinkled with several rhinestones so that it glitters when the light catches it.
“Looks like there’s a blood moon tonight.” Skye says as she scrolls on her phone. I tug at the top of my dress, not paying attention.
“Do you think this will hold, or will the girls come popping out if I do one too many hops inTheCha Cha Slide?”
“I doubt this is the kind of event where you’ll be doingThe Cha Cha Slide.”
“Well, that’s the only dance I know, so maybe I’ll get lucky and just graze the snack table until I can slip out.”
“Don’t act like you’re not excited. I could tell by the look on your face when you put on the dress. You owe it to this amazing dress to take it for a spin around the dance floor at least once.”
“Well, I can’t argue with that logic.” I give a little twirl and can’t help that it makes me feel all kinds of girly. Shit, I didn’t know I had it in me.
It’d been a bear of a week, crammed full of tests and papers drowning me in schoolwork. I’d successfully avoided Pierce and hadn’t heard much from Walker other than to keep practicing my chords, and only saw Emmet in passing while grabbing breakfast. I’d have to face at least two of them tonight, which made my stomach knot with nerves. Those two certainly knew how to work my emotions. I found myself almost missing them.
“What are you going to do?” I ask Skye.
“Probably just study or hang out in the common room.”
“Thanks for coming up and helping me get ready, the mirror in here is a joke and the bathroom was overflowing with testosterone.”
“Ugh, don’t I know it. I’m holding my bladder right now, waiting for them all to leave.”
