House Of Wax : Nick Jones FF ✅

Thirty-two. 32

Lying there amidst the wreckage, Lilian's eyes reflected the sorrow of what had transpired. It was over, but the emotional weight lingered. As the scene dissolved, the aftermath of the night unfolded, with officers coming and going from the Sinclair house, red lights strobing in the darkness—a stark reminder of the horrors they had endured.

Sheriff Howgie, a well-built man in his fifties, stepped out of the front door, his authoritative presence evident as he approached Lilian and Nick, who sat together on the front porch steps, their shoulders slumped in exhaustion. Lilian's head rested on Nick's shoulder, her expression a mixture of weariness and relief, while Nick sat silently beside her, a comforting presence despite the chaos they had just endured.

"How you guys doing?" the sheriff inquired, his voice filled with genuine concern as he surveyed the scene before him.

Lilian lifted her tear-filled eyes to meet his, her expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. "How do you think?" she retorted, her voice heavy with exhaustion. While Nick let out a chuckle, it seemed the event had caused his girlfriend to grow a sharp tongue. "Sorry, stupid question," the sheriff replied, his tone softened by understanding. "Deputy Nelson here is going to give you two a ride to the hospital. Your folks are meeting you there."

As the sheriff helped them to their feet, Lilian's gaze drifted to the three body bags lined up on the lawn, a stark reminder of the horrors they had witnessed. "How could nobody know about all this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackling of distant flames.

The sheriff sighed heavily, his expression somber. "This town's hard as hell to get to," he explained, gesturing to the desolate surroundings. "Been abandoned for ten years—not even on the map. You put that with the bogus detour signs, and all you people traveling from out of state... where do you even start looking when you turn up missing?"

Lilian nodded, the weight of the sheriff's words sinking in. It was a harsh reality to accept, but she knew he was right. As they walked together towards the waiting police vehicle, Lilian couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air.

Inside the vehicle, Lilian and Nick sat in silence, their hands intertwined as they processed the events of the night. Wade lay on a stretcher, wires and a breathing mask attached to him, while Dalton pored over a camera he had managed to retrieve. Unfortunately, all the footage had to be erased—a necessary measure to ensure their safety, especially considering the sinister revelation that Bo had been the one filming Lilian in her sleep.

A deputy approached the sheriff, interrupting the silence with urgent news. "Sheriff?" he called out, his tone grave. The sheriff turned to face him, his brow furrowed in concern. "What's up?" he asked, bracing himself for whatever news was to come.

"Turns out Sinclair lost his license to practice in New York in the sixties," the deputy explained, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Sheriff Howgie's eyes widened in realization. "Resettles here where no one knows him. Starts up again. No wonder he performed the surgery himself. Couldn't afford the attention," he mused, connecting the dots.

But the deputy had more to reveal. "There's more. Trudy and the Doctor didn't have two sons—they had three."

The sheriff's jaw clenched as he processed the revelation, the implications sinking in. As the police vehicle drove on, carrying its exhausted passengers towards the hospital, Lilian couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. The night's events had left an indelible mark on all of them, and the truth of what had transpired was far more sinister than any of them had imagined.

As they made their way past, Lester, the truck driver who had intentionally transported them to the town. In the middle of cutting up a read kill and tossing the pieces into the back of his truck, with his dog, the Mongrel dog by his side. Lilian locked eyes with him, and he responded with a gentle smile and a wave—an understated acknowledgment of the horrors they had faced alongside one another. 

"Hey, are you feeling alright?" Nick raised his head and sensed his girlfriend's heart rate accelerating. "Um, yeah?" Nick glanced outside to see Lilian fixated on something. It was a familiar truck, the identical dog, and most importantly, that sinister grin from the man. Nick felt his anger spike, but at that moment, all he could think about was ensuring their safety. He vowed to never return to that place again.

"Don't worry, I've got you," Nick whispered as he leaned in to give her a comforting kiss on her forehead, protecting her.

-THE END-