The Dead House - Dawn Kurtagich Page 0,34

looks up at her through eyes full of moisture. “Get out of my house. Now.”

Brenda blinks, then scoffs. “Well, happy bloody Halloween to you too.” She gets to her feet. “Come on, Mike. Let’s go.”

Mike gets up and walks over to Naida. He towers over her, standing a little too close. Scott steps closer, his face menacing behind her.

“Weirdness personified,” Mike tells Naida. “I always said so.”

They leave through the open front door.

Brett gets to his feet. “Well, that was—”

A shriek from outside pierces the quiet of the room.

Ari is out the door in a flash. Naida’s eyes widen. She turns to Scott, who runs outside with Brett. Naida hides the board under the sofa cushions and then runs from the room.

Halloween Party Clip #8

The angle is distorted and blurry as Scott runs outside. Then he stops dead, the camera focuses, and we see Kaitlyn passed out on the front lawn. Ari is beside her, trying to pick her up.

Brett is clutching his head. “What do we do?” he asks, an edge of panic in his voice.

“Kaitie,” Naida breathes from behind Scott. He turns, and we see her running. Down the steps, over the grass, shouting at Ari—“Don’t touch her! Put her down!”—falling to her knees beside Kaitlyn, whom she lifts out of Ari’s arms and onto her lap.

“Kaitlyn? Can you hear me? Kait!”

“Who the hell is Kate?” Brenda says, but no one is listening.

“Oh, my God,” Naida says. “Call an ambulance. I’m not sure she’s breathing—”

“Call an ambulance!” Brett yells before Naida has finished speaking. “Now!”

“Where’s Juliet?” Maggie cries, running over from the street. “Has anyone seen Jules?”

Brett runs inside when no one seems to be calling an ambulance.

“Where is Juliet?” Maggie screams.

“What’s happening to her?” Ari demands. “What’s going on?”

“Kaitie, wake up. Oh, God, please. Carly, please, come on…” Naida’s words are rushed as she taps Kaitlyn’s face and shakes her body.

Brett runs outside. “Where’s the phone?” he yells at Naida. “Has anyone got their phone?”

As he is yelling, Kaitlyn takes a sudden breath and opens her eyes wide, then they roll back in her head.

Naida gasps and then bursts into tears. “She’s okay! She’s good—it’s okay!”

One slurred word dribbles from Kaitlyn’s lips. “Carly…”

“It’s okay,” Naida whispers to Kaitlyn, stroking her hair. “It’s okay. I think I got there in time.”

Kaitlyn’s eyes roll, flutter, and close.

“Help me,” Naida says to Scott.

He starts to pick Kaitlyn up, but Ari is closer and faster, and soon she is cradled limply in his arms instead.

Naida nods. “Up to the guest room.”

Ari carries Kaitlyn inside.

“You sure she’s okay?” Brett asks.

She puts a hand on his arm. “I told you, sugar. She is the way she is.”

TAUNTON ADVERTISER

Tuesday, 2 November 2004

MISSING GIRL LAST SEEN AT HALLOWEEN PARTY

Elmbridge High School student Juliet McClarin, 16, has vanished after attending a Halloween party at a local friend’s house last night, two miles from the school. McClarin, last seen at approximately 9:00 PM, is 5 foot 3 and weighs approximately 120 pounds. She has sandy blond hair and was wearing a Red Riding Hood costume at the time of her disappearance. There is speculation that Juliet tried to walk back to her dorm room alone after leaving the party. Taunton police officials are requesting the public’s assistance in locating Juliet. Any information should be made available to the Taunton Police Department and will be kept confidential.

29

93 days until the incident

Diary of Kaitlyn Johnson

Monday, 1 November 2004, 2:00 am

Attic

Nothing from Carly in the Message Book. Don’t know how to take it.

I’ve decided that what happened at Naida’s party was probably because of the alcohol. Serves me right for drinking like that when I know Carly’s on meds. I wanted that release—that feeling of flight. It’s the nearest I can get to actually jumping off that roof, Dee. Scary thought.

Does it make me a joke? Because, honestly, I feel like one.

Later

I wish I could stay here, but I have to get Carly back to the dorm before sunup. It was so amazing to have Ari at the party with me. It was actually fun. Well, before the psycho Ouija board thing.

Just thinking about him makes me smile.

5:47 am

Dee… is it you?

If it’s you, please stop smiling at me.

30

93 days until the incident

Naida Camera Footage

Monday, 1 November 2004, 6:00 AM

Kaitlyn’s Dorm Room

A door, closed. A hand knocks.

“What?” comes a tight voice.

“Can I come in?”

Naida doesn’t wait for a response. She opens the door, steps inside, and closes it behind her.

“Get that thing out of my face,” Kaitlyn says right away,