I'd Sell My Soul

Chapter 15: Stranger Things

Katie Aberdeen's POV:

I was taking a hot bath, trying to unwind from my shift at the saloon. I had used my special bath salts from the mercantile, the ones that smell like lavender and rose. I'd even picked up a bag of bath bombs from the drug store. Between fighting Brianna and all the drama with people getting murdered, I was exhausted and in desperate need of just a moment to decompress. Still, something felt off. Felt ominous. My parents were out on their Thursday night date so Grandma took Izzy and Amanda to their fall concert at school. I had the house to myself for the first time in forever. But I didn't feel alone. The hair raised up on the back of my neck because I swore I heard the door downstairs. It was enough to make me get out of the bath and throw on pajamas as fast as I could. I quietly opened the bathroom door and listened for a sound. The house made a settling sound which jolted me slightly. I creeped down the hallway and grabbed the metal baseball bat that was on the inside of Izzy's bedroom door. That's when I heard a slight knock sound in the kitchen downstairs. My heart leapt into my throat and my mouth went dry. Someone is here, my gut is telling me. I make a decision about my next move. I pull out my phone and call Levi.

"Whoever's here, you have five seconds to get out! I called the cops and I'm armed and I know you're here! I'm coming after you, last chance!" I yell over the banister. That's when I hear someone start running. I scream and charge down the stairs and into the kitchen. The back door is wide open and I see a figure disappearing into the shadows. I close the back door and lock it before sprinting to the front door and making sure it's locked too.

"Fuck." I say as my hands start shaking and u crumple to the floor.

Levi showed up fifteen minutes after I called him. I unlocked the door, still clutching the bat tightly. I made sure to check in the front window that it was him before opening the door.

"Thank God you're okay." He embraces me. I'm still shaking like a chihuahua. We pull away at the same time, both of us not really one for displays of affection.

"There was someone here! They broke in the back door. I just can't believe it." I reiterate my words from earlier on the phone.

"What did they take with them?" He asks as we walk into the kitchen to the scene of the crime. He immediately starts looking around. For what I don't know. Maybe clues?

"That's the thing. Nothing! I checked. Nothing bc was stolen or even broken!" I shutter.

"Well they must've been coming up with a plan and scoping out stuff when you threatened them. Scared them off." He suggests.

"Or." I say expectantly.

"Or what?" He blinks.

"Or it's the fucking creek killer." I blurt out, putting my hands on my head in panic.

"What? Come on now." Levi laughs slightly shaking his head.

"You come on! Someone knows we were at the creek that night maybe they think we saw them and know who they are. This is not a coincidence. I'm not dumb like the horror movie girls." I cross my arms.

"Katie what is the likelihood of that? Hm? This is not some conspiracy." Levi leans against the wall.

"Levi wake up! Some girls were murdered at the creek a few weeks ago and now someone broke into my house without taking anything. It's not a coincidence. We need to call Ali." I assert, pulling my phone out.

"Yeah I don't know if Ali's talking to me right now." He looks down at the linoleum checkered floor.

"What did you do?" I stop searching for her contact in my phone.

"More like, it's what I didn't do. It's what Farrah did." Levi shrugs.

"Farrah Monroe, who's dead?" I snort.

"She lied to Ali and told her I was Sophie's father." Levi sighs.

"Wait a minute, Ali still believed you're the father? I found out the truth a year after she left for college, I assumed she knew too." I think out loud.

"So you thought that too?" Levi uncrosses his arms.

"I mean for like a second. But then I hooked up with Josiah Cameron one summer and he told me he was friends with Sophie's dad and he told me the truth." I shrug.

"Right it's Chad Hallet. That doofus that took Jenny out." Levi says.

"That's not true it's-" but I'm cut off by the front door opening. I jump, clutching the bat.

"Kathryn? We have ice cream!" Grandma calls and my nerves steady again.

"I'm in the kitchen." I call. A second later Grandma appears holding a pint of cookie dough ice cream.

"Oh Levi! Hello. Would you like some ice cream?" Grandma smiles and sets the pint on the counter.

"Oh no thank you Bernadette, I'm headed out actually. I have someone I need to see before the night ends." He nods, giving me a glance. Izzy wanders in the kitchen, scowling when he sees the bat in my hand.

"What are you doing with my bat?" Izzy eyes me.

"When Levi knocked I grabbed it. You can never be too careful kids." I lie and hand him the bat. Levi scoffs at this, clearly disappointed I lied. "I'll walk you out."

"Good to see you Bernadette, Izzy, have a good night." Levi waves as we walk out of the kitchen. I walk him outside the house. Clutching myself to shield from the late fall chill. "So you're not gonna tell them someone broke in?"

"No need to scare them...besides, if I'm right, you or Ali are next." I sigh and look around the dark street.

"I think you're wrong...but I'm gonna go check on the Monroe's anyways. Goodnight Katie." Levi shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans before stalking over to his truck. I walk back in the house and find my grandma still in the kitchen. She's staring at something.

"Grandma? Everything alright?" I approach her. I stop next to her and follow her gaze. She's staring at the counter.

"One of my knives is missing." She points at the block of kitchen knives on the counter. I too notice one of the larger sharper knives is missing.

"It's probably around here somewhere." I swallow.

"I certainly hope so. That nagging set was expensive." She chuckles and walks out of the kitchen leaving me standing in the middle, paralyzed with fear.