Page 65 of Hell House
Salem
Ifeel my thoughts circling back to that eerie cave. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since our kayaking trip, nor shake the feeling that I’d been there before. I pull out my phone and press the map app open, zooming in on its location. It’s not that far of a hike and I could probably make it there and back before dark.
I tuck my phone into my hoodie’s front pocket. I’m wearing it with a black skort and some fishnet stockings that I’d ordered online replacing the ones I’d lost in the fire. I decide to wear a pair of Doc Martins for the walk instead of my Converse that I loved so much. I pop in an earbud, cueing up some music while I slip out of the house intent on putting this cave thing to rest.
I pass some of the guys in the kitchen arguing about how much basil is too much basil, while Graham wields his spatula like it’s an extension of his arm. Skye is laughing at the scene unfolding as she chops up some garlic. I nod to her, gesturing that I’m going out. She smiles, nodding back then goes back to her garlic chopping shaking her head at the guys surrounding her.
The air is cool, but not uncomfortable making me feel invigorated as I stride through the woods. There’s a path that winds from the house, up a steep incline and down to the beach where we had stopped the other day. I focus on my breath, getting lost in the lyrics of my music, humming to myself. God, that time up on stage had been everything. I ached to do it again and wondered if Walker would ever ask me. He’d made himself scarce all week, only sending me an occasional text here and there. His absence ate at me in a way that didn’t make sense. We’d only shared a kiss, but it was electric. Plus, things with Pierce had been more than rocky. I never knew where I stood with him. I push the boys from my thoughts and focus on my footing, avoiding the divots and tangles of roots that line the trail.
I get to the top, noting that we’d been there for morning yoga not that long ago, remembering that Pierce and Lukas had crashed our session, leering at our asses in downward dog like the assholes they were. They’d been hiking this same trail, I realize.
The way down was infinitely more difficult, and I silently pat myself on the back for choosing the Doc Martins for this. I carefully hoist myself over a fallen tree, barely missing its jagged bark that leaves a light scratch mark up my arm. Shit.
The trail leads out to a hidden cove near where we’d picnicked. The same sense of familiarity niggles at the base of my skull. Getting down the path took longer than I anticipated, and the sun is already starting to dip down in the sky. I hurry my pace along the beach, coming to the opening of the cave.
A shiver worms down my spine, stealing me of all my warmth. I’m filled with the sense of foreboding like the very ground I’m standing on is evil.
My toe has barely crossed the threshold when I hear a voice calling me from behind.
“What are you doing here, Pierce?”
“I could ask you the same thing.” He looks good. Too good. His dark blonde hair flutters in the breeze, sweeping across his forehead making me want to reach out and push it back, but I don’t. I pretend that I haven’t seen every inch of this heartthrob in front of me.
“Come on, let’s go back to the house. Tide is coming in.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ll leave when I’m ready.” I turn on my heel and head into the dark cave with Pierce boring his angry green eyes into me.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Pierce
This fucking girl. I don’t know how I’d gotten so attached to her so quickly, but I need to protect her from what she was about to stumble upon in this place. I was addicted, even though I shouldn’t be. She didn’t know who I really was. What I’d done. Sometimes I could forget that I’d done it at all, but the knowledge was always right there, waiting to eat me alive. Threatening to have me removed from her forever. She didn’t know I was her enemy, needing her for whatever power lay in her veins.
“Salem.” She ignores me, swinging out her phone as a flashlight, illuminating the darkness of the cave. The light reflects off the puddles and rocks that line the ground.
I look back at the mouth of the cave and notice that the sun is quickly approaching the horizon.
“Salem.” I say with more urgency, scrambling to keep up with her pace.
“What the fuck is this?” She stumbles backwards, coming to a halt.
I grab her by the arms and look at what has her so shaken.
Her toe sits just outside a crudely carved out circle in the sand complete with a pentagon and several large rocks dotting each point. It looks fresh enough that whoever made this, must have just been here. Or maybe still be here. I scan the area, listening for anything that could be out of the ordinary.
“Salem, let’s go.” I pull her by the arms hoping she follows me, but as she takes a step back her flashlight collides with the cave wall. She shrieks, dropping the phone, cracking the screen with a loud crash.
“Why are there skulls?” Her entire body is shaking. I pick up her phone and slide it into my pocket.
“Baby, let’s go.” I urge, feeling a surge of power washing over me that quakes my knees.
She finally snaps out of it, and grabs my hand, rushing us towards the cave entrance. The waves are breaking through quickly, the tide coming in and covering a part of the beach. If we waste anymore time, we’ll be completely shut in. The sun has set, and a chill lingers in the air, the harsh wind biting into my face.
She’s close behind me, Doc Martians slapping loudly as we step through the current. We’re almost there when Salem slips, bringing me down with her. My knees hit stone and the water rushes at us wrapping around our legs and attempting to drag us out to sea.
“Hold onto me.” I yell, gripping her by the forearm and hoisting her up. She’s completely drenched and shivering, sputtering sea water out of her mouth.
“My phone!” She whips her head back to the cave.
