𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬; #2 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳 - #1 - 𝘵𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.
After the tragic death of both parents, Sutton and Jaime are sent to live with their aunt in Emmett for a fresh new start. But things take a dark turn for the worse when...
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Sutton took a quivering breath as she stared down the dark narrow wooden stairs. The cold concrete wall beside her was close. What was this place? A cellar? A basement? Sutton took a tentative step down, the step wobbled but held her weight. It had to be the basement.
She could make out only a little in the dark room. There were three large stainless steel ice boxes lined up on the wall opposite her, two shelves stuffed with random objects—some were mason jars filled with filthy looking water, others had things inside them—Sutton fought back the urge to throw up at the foul smell. On the wall where the stairs were leading her was a large medal surgical-like table.
Sutton froze. Her trembling hands stopped and her breath seemed to hitch in her throat at the sight of a girl lying on the table. Perfectly still. Too still . . .
She took a hesitant step, then another, until soon, she found herself stepping on the wet basement floor. As she got closer, she could see more. Now, she could see the girl's neck—slit wide open from side to side. Her pale lips parted and her white milky eyes staring dead at Sutton. Her mouth started to move. Oh no! Was she still alive? Sutton feared she'd begin speaking to her when suddenly a large rat emerged from between her pale lips.
Sutton jerked her gaze away as her breath trembled. She couldn't see that.
She scanned the area desperately and spotted the small, but promising, window just over the mysterious ice boxes. She quickly rushed behind the shelves and climbed on the middle icebox. The stainless steel stung her skin. She gripped the grimy locked and undid it. She tried to slide the window open, but it was nearly rusted shut. Still, she pulled with everything in her. Even when the grime bit at her skin and she bared her teeth in both pain and struggle.
When she couldn't seem to get it passed two-thirds, she released her grip with a hiss and held her raw shaky hands in front of her.
She looked around for something that could help her finish prying the window open. Suddenly, she spotted a light shine down the stairs.
She slid off the ice box and quietly tucked herself against the shelf on the wet floor. Her knees pulled up to her chest and she held her breath. She peeked and found Kaleb Kingsley walking down the steps with a flashlight in hand. What is happening? What is he doing here? What am I doing here?
Sutton trembled as she watched him flash his light across the room. Please don't see me. Please don't see me. When his light landed on the dead girl, he froze.
I need to get out of here . . .
Kaleb grinned at the sight of Vanessa Jenkins.
With his flashlight raised, he carefully walked over. Her waxy grey skin shined in the light. He shooed away a rat that had crawled onto her chest. The rodent hissed at him and scurried away with a loud squeal.
