PROBLEM - Anthony Lockwood

CHAPTER TWELVE

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xii

we're perfectly normal i swear

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SHOWERED AND BANDAGED, Alice was dressed in an A line, red mini dress. She and Lucy both sat on her bed, going through different newspaper clippings and papers on Anabell Ward. They stayed up for ages, discussing the theories behind her dissapearance and trying to find out who was behind her murder.

They researched for hours, until both girl were passed out asleep, surrounded by papers and dasies.

As Alice slept, the ring fell from her grasp onto the ground.

"Meow."

Alice stirred, eyes opening to find Annabel Ward's ghost hovering above them.

"Can you see this?" Alice murmered.

"I can see this," Lucy whispered, eyes wide.

Alice looked up at Annabel, who seemed tranquil enough. "If you hurt us, we can't help you."

"Let me go," Lucy muttered.

Annabel screamed.

Both girls dived out of the way. Alice grabbed Onyx and they ran out of the room, and down the stairs, slamming the door shut and tearing off.

"You wake up Lockwood, I'll grab my kit," Lucy declared.

"On it."

Alice knocked on the door furiously, but recieved no answer. She threw open door and dashed to Lockwood, who was fast asleep, shaking him. "Lockwood, Lockwood get up! Annabel's ghost is in the house!"

"Wha-what?" Lockwood grunted, sitting up, his blanket falling away.

He was shirtless.

Fuck, he had abs.

Alice blinked, turning away and hoping that he couldn't see the blush on her face in the dark, suddenly her throat had grown very dry. "Um, the ghost from Sheen Road, she's in the house. She appeared in my room and scared the living shit out of Lucy and I."

Lockwood jumped up, grabbing a tshirt and pulling it on. "Grab those boots."

"Boots?"

Alice was confused, but picked them up anyway, and handed them to Lockwood. He turned, grabbing them and blinking as he surveyed her for a moment.

Lockwood swallowed.

"What?" Alice questioned.

"Nothing," Lockwood muttered, tearing his eyes from her and standing in his doorway, throwing the boots so that they hit George's door.

George opened the door nonchalantly, but there was an annoyed edge to him. He wore a long t shirt and no trousers. "Can't you even be bothered to cross the landing to wind me up?"

"Annabel Ward's ghost's here," Lockwood revealed.

"That's impossible," George disagreed.

"Why would I be lying?" Alice hissed, "Lucy and I saw her in my room just now."

"What's Lucy doing in your room at 3 in the morning?" George inquired.

"This is hardly the time to be having this converstation," Alice warned.