Spellbound Façade

chapter 24

"Chuck, if this plan's gonna work out, you gotta ditch the girl."

It was early in the morning, somewhere between four and five am.

"No. She's stickin' along." He gruffed, flicking his head away from the others' gaze.

The moon is only a faint whisper in the sky, leaving the room in a canopy of darkness. The sun has stretched too far away to warm the dark.

"She'll complain, I know her type." Mason urged.

The lakeshore strangler rolled his eyes, looking away from the man in growing vexation. Tif really did leave a nasty mark on his dating record.

"Nor isn't like that," He gruffed, picking in agitation at a splinter in the floorboard. He flicked it absentmindedly, enjoying the prick on his finger.

Charles pulled his legs to the side, feet dangling over the ledge.

"How long have you even known her, hm? Is she really someone you can trust?" His partner asked with apprehension, speaking faster.

The killer was stagnant.

Legs unmoving.

"Don't start talkin' to me about trust, Mace." Chucky growled. He jerked his head to Mason, staring with furrowed brows.

"Hey, I'm the one who picked up your call." The other man huffed nervously, and wiped a hand on his brow. Perspiration seeped on his forehead. Charles could smell it from where he sat.

It was disgusting.

"She's comin along. Don't talk back." His eyes met Mason's once more, churning with warning.

Test me

See what happens, just try.

Chucky pushed himself off the ledge, shoes slamming on the wooden floor. Nora jolted awake from the couch at the noise. She lazily held a hand over her eyes, rubbing away any sleep.

"Jeeze, what time is it?" She complained.

Her eyes lazily held Chucky's own, before whipping her head down. She didn't remember changing into a shirt- wait- whose was this? Must be Chucky's, though she didn't know he liked White Zombie. Nevermind that, when did she change?

Everything after drinking that vodka was kinda a blur.

Damn alcohol.

"Time to break into that bitch's trailer, doll." Ray sneered, catching her eyes. She was taken aback by his sharp tone. He was in a mood, she could tell. Something must've happened to set him off.

Nora peered at the glass pane window.

Not even sunrise.

What the hell was his deal?

"C'mon," He gruffed, throwing a coat at her. It covered her head, obscuring her vision. She brushed it away with a shake of her head.

She followed him with wide unblinking eyes as he found a loose base board, and jabbed a sharp blade between the gape. Wiggling it for a moment, the piece of floorboard soon released with a sharp snap. He carelessly chucked it away, which hit the wall, then clattered to the floor.

He reached an arm deep beneath the floorboard. Nora squinted.

Was that a sparkle?

Ray palmed the object with a smirk. His teeth glinted in the darkness, while his smile stretched wider. The dark pools of his pupils deepened.

A chill scurried over Nora like the light touch of a finger running down her naked spine. Her eyes grew wider in trepidation, clutching Chucky's coat tighter. She felt sick to her stomach.