SCAREBNB

seven: affirmation

Nobody moved.

"Gabriel," Elijah whispered. "Gabriel, grab the gun."

I felt Gabriel shift, and then he rose to his feet. I did too. I don't know why. I just didn't want him to go alone. I followed him, keeping one hand on his back. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and realized Elijah was doing the same.

I needed to know whoever—whatever—was on the other side of that door.

"Who is it?" Gabriel asked, his voice loud and clear. I couldn't see much, but I knew he was holding the gun outstretched. I could picture it in my mind, his finger on the trigger. The tendons in his forearm pulsing. Ready.

The knock sounded again, and I jumped. Gabriel didn't though.

I heard the lock jiggle.

"Did you do that?" I whispered. I waited for him to say yes. But there was only silence.

"Go back," Gabriel said beneath his breath. "All of you. Lock yourself in the bathroom."

"What—No."

"Sierra," Cadence cried. "Come on!"

Elijah's hand didn't move. We were both staying. I wanted to hide in the bathroom. Of course I did. But I couldn't sit and wait for some horrific fate to find me. I knew if I left to hide, I'd succumb to my fear again, and that was more terrifying than whatever could be waiting for us on the other side of the door.

There was another knock. I could see the shadow of Gabriel lifting his gun.

But before the wood gave way, there was a slow hum. And then light.

The room exploded with brightness, and when my eyes adjusted, I realized the power was back on. The footsteps ran away from the door in heavy thumps.

"Oh my god," Elijah said, his voice strained.

Cadence and the others returned from the hall, running to see what had happened. But nothing had happened, except the power returning. I let my hand drop from Gabriel's shoulder blade. My knees gave way and I fell to the floor.

"What just happened?" Lucas asked.

"I have no idea," Gabriel replied. He'd lowered the gun, placing it back at his hip.

And then I saw it. From my kneeling position I could make out the peeling sheet of baking paper beneath the door.

I pushed my fingertips beneath the wood, wincing as the bottom of the door scraped against my nailbeds. My heart flatlined as I pictured someone grabbing them from the other end, or crushing them beneath their foot. I could barely get my fingers to close around the edge, pulling the piece of paper back onto our side.

The writing was still there. Nothing had changed. Only, the sheet was now stained in a rotting black blood.

"We're going to die. We're going to die, we're going to die, we're definitely going to die."

I had to put my hands over my ears to drown out the sound of Cadence as she rocked in the corner, flaking pink nails clasped around flaking pink nails as she held her knees to her chest.

"We're going to die. Oh my god, we're going to die."

Gabriel looked at me from the other end of the sofa, and I met his eyes. He then glared toward Cadence, and then looked back to me, as if trying to have a silent conversation about how annoying she was. I rolled my eyes in reply.

Sun had started filtering through the room, strands of gold peeking across the horizon. Cadence sat against the wall by the balcony door. Annie and Lucas were nestled in one another's arms, I occasionally heard them whispering. Elijah was standing next to the door, as if on guard.