and over again for weeks,” I cry. “I couldn’t stand the sight of anyone, including myself, I might add. Where is this coming from?”
The real Diece fights his way to the surface and scrubs his hand across his face in defeat. Like the battle that’s raging inside of him is taking its toll, but he doesn’t know how to stop it.
“Talk to me, D,” I plead. “Where is this coming from?”
“Honestly? I don’t even know anymore. Look—”
The door flings open, and D shoves me behind his massive frame to protect me from the unexpected visitor.
“What is it?” Diece barks.
“We had a few motion sensors go off in the back,” Lou announces, his voice laced with panic. “Someone’s on the property.”
“Who?”
“We don’t know. Dark figure wearing a hoodie. Come on.”
“I’ll be right there,” Diece returns before turning back to me. “Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“I gotta go help find our little visitor.”
“Do you think it could be—”
“Just stay here and don’t leave this room. Lou will be in the security room down the hall. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
His back muscles bunch and flex beneath his white shirt as he stalks toward the door, leaving me alone.
And scared out of my damn mind.
Racing toward the closet, I grab the first set of clothes I can get my hands on. The thin cotton material sticks to my damp skin as I pull the T-shirt over my head then stick my legs into a pair of shorts. Once decent, I run my hands through my short hair and stumble across the hallway into Will’s room.
I can’t leave him alone.
The door creaks as I push it open and take in his room. It’s blanketed in darkness, with only the light from the window casting shadows along the walls. There’s a little lump beneath the covers, and I breathe a sigh of relief before spotting the closed door that belongs to the closet. It taunts me. Daring me to open it and check for the monsters that lie in wait.
I hate closed doors. I hate them with every fiber of my being. The unknown of what’s waiting on the other side. The claustrophobia that threatens to consume me. All of it. With my heart in my throat, I inch closer, then look back at the little lump on the mattress.
For Will.
I need to check for Will.
My hands tremble, and my palms are sweaty as I reach for the handle and twist.
It’s empty.
I exhale and laugh to myself at how ridiculous I’m being when a hand covers my mouth and jerks me back. A squeal escapes me, only to be lost in the perpetrator’s black glove.
But it’s the smell that makes my knees give out. The familiar stench of acrid smoke.
His warm breath fans my cheek and makes me gag as the familiar voice that haunts my dreams chills me to the bone.
“Did you miss me, Peach?”
30
Q
Paralyzed, I squeeze my eyes shut, convinced I’m locked in another one of my nightmares. My fingers grapple with the doorjamb as he tugs me backward, treating my body like a ragdoll. I’m desperate to find some traction, but it’s useless.
Elbowing him in the side, he hunches forward but keeps his hold on me and shoves me toward the bed. I land on top of Will with a thud, sandwiched between the two of them. Will’s eyes snap open before Sei backhands him and seethes, “Make one sound, and I gut you right here.”
Will’s lower lip quivers, but he nods his understanding and doesn’t make a sound.
“Good boy,” Sei praises, keeping his voice quiet. “You’re going to stay here and not make a peep. If you do, I’m going to kill your little friend here. Understand?”
Again, Will nods.
“Good. And Peach”—he leans forward and breathes me in—“you’re going to come with me. I’m going to remove my hand, but if you make a single sound, then I’ll kill the kid. Understand?”
Will’s eyes widen with fear as they connect with mine before he mouths, Please.
My head bobs up and down like a good little soldier while vomit creeps its way up my throat.
No, no, no, no. This can’t be happening. I can’t do this again. But I can’t let him hurt Will. He’s just a kid. He deserves a life without monsters like this one. How do I get us both out of this?
Sei removes his hand and pushes himself up, then tangles his hand into my hair and wrenches me to my feet when I don’t join him