Page 89 of Hell House
I’m coming, Salem.
I reach the entrance of the cave, and listen for their voices, hurrying my way to where I think they’ll be.
Wind whips through the cave whistling against the jagged rocks. Water sloshes at my feet, threatening with the high tide. I creep over the rocks as silently as I can, like my heart isn’t lodged in my throat and my head isn’t throbbing with regret. I see a flash of light near the back of the cave, and my stomach clenches with dread.
Was I too late?
Lights spark down the skull wall and the cave fills with sounds of screams as hands try to rip and push through the crack. The cave flashes a bright red as the Headmaster continues his chant. Salem has tears tracking down her face, her mascara smeared, and her hands bound behind her back. He has her shoved down onto her knees.
I need to get to Salem before he finishes his incantation.
I slink closer to where the Headmaster has Salem on her knees, but where was Emmet?
Were Skye and Lukas on there way?
Salem lets out an ear-piercing scream as the Headmaster pushes her hand against the rocks. My heart is thudding hard as I scramble over the rocks, the water rising every second that we’re here.
I’m coming Salem.
The earth rumbles beneath my feet, making it near impossible to remain standing. My arms flail as I try to maintain my balance. A large boulder slams down next to me, the stalactite missing me by mere inches. A shout fills the cave, and I see my brother Lukas, barreling towards us. Emmet springs up, gun in hand and aims it straight at Lukas’s chest.
I run at a full sprint towards Emmet, tackling him to the ground. I hear the gun go off as Emmet’s head cracks against a rock.
The Headmaster turns, a sneer coating his face as he breaks Salem’s contact with the wall, positioning her body as a shield in front of him as he holds her tight by the throat. She claws against his grip, but her strength is no match for the unnatural demon that possesses him.
“Lukas!” I croak out searching for my brother, as I try to wrestle the gun out of Emmet’s hands. He’s woozy but still strong, kicking me straight in the ribs with a sickening crack. I let out a wheeze, feeling like I’d just been hit with a truck. I spit out a wad of blood and manage to wrench the gun away from Emmet’s grip.
I’m so close, the ground still quakes as I push off the ground running at full speed to Salem, my lungs burning the whole way. Her eyes flick over to me, and she shakes her head no, but I’m not leaving her with this psychopath that wants to kill her. She recognizes my decision to ignore her as I brace myself to put a bullet into his head. He turns at the last second, his soulless eyes promising vengeance right before my finger pulls back the trigger.
In that moment it’s like time slows down and everything becomes slow motion. I see the moment the bullet sinks into his skull blowing a hole through his head. He crumples, lifeless and mouth agape.
The shrieks from behind the veil become louder and more insistent as Salem scrambles away from me, bringing her knees up into her chest. I drop the gun, unable to process what I’d just done. The image of the Headmaster’s shocked face burns into my memory.
“Salem! Baby, I’m so sorry, I’m here. I’m right here.” I go to her and gather her into my arms, and she lets me cradle her.
“Pierce. Why?”
“I’m so sorry baby. I thought, fuck! I thought it was the only way to save us. The Headmaster linked our souls up with demons.”
She looks at me in disbelief.
“It’s true.” Lukas says, clutching his side.
“Oh fuck! Lukas, are you shot?” I go to him seeing blood gush out of his wound.
“It’s just a scratch.” He says with a little cough, his fingers turning crimson with the effort to stop the blood flow.
I go to snatch up the gun, when another rumble goes through the cave. A piece of rock comes careening down and smacks me in the head. I’m down before I even know what happened.
“Pierce!” Lukas and Salem scream in tandem. My vision is tunneling, black creeping around the edges as I fight to take a breath.
“Holy fuck.” Salem says rushing to my side. I reach for Salem whose eyes are rimmed red. Her flushed cheeks hold two streaks of mascara, but she’s never looked more beautiful.
“Pierce, oh my God.”
“I’m okay.” I murmur, blinking hard, her face going out of focus for a moment. Shit, that hurt.
“We need to get out of here.” Lukas says, his face pulled tight as he holds his side. I nod my agreement, standing up, grabbing onto Salem’s small palm. I feel a wave of dizziness hit me, and I fight back the urge to vomit.
