Page 18 of The Last De Loughrey Dynasty

His words silenced me. He was right. The more I thought about it, the more I understood what he was trying to explain.

“Come with me,” Archer said as he strode past me. It took me a moment to catch up, but I followed him blindly back into the police station. He placed the file back where I’d taken it, and we quickly left again.

“Thank you for letting me find out the truth,” I said after a long silence as I followed him down the street.

I could only really see him from behind, as his steps were far longer than mine, and he was rushing. He wore a long blacktrench coat that swayed in the wind, slapping against my knees as I tried to keep up.

“I told you not to thank me,” he shot back, finally slowing his pace.

“Are you allergic to gratitude or something?” I asked, a little sarcastically.

He stopped abruptly, turning around, so I walked straight into him. Before I could stumble back, he gripped my shoulders to steady me, just as he’d done when he had saved my life a few days ago. His hands were strong, firm, but he released me the second I was steady again. At least he wasn’t so arrogant as to let me fall flat on my arse in the mud. I appreciated that my jeans didn’t have to suffer.

“I just saved your pathetic little reputation by covering for your attempt at theft. The least you could do is respect my wish and refrain from thanking me.” His tone was sharp, almost venomous.

I couldn’t tell if he was furious, but he was certainly upset.

I blinked at him, speechless, as he turned away and carried on walking. There was nothing I could say, no witty retort to fire back at him. Instead, I fell silent.

Why was it that whenever someone made me feel small, the words just dried up? It had always been that way.

I glanced at my wrist to check the time. One minute passed. Then two.

“Why did you want me to come with you? I need to catch my bus back to school,” my voice came out as a whisper. Two minutes and twenty-two seconds.

When I looked up, I realised Archer had been watching me the entire time I’d been focused on my watch.

“Forget it. I’ll give it to you later. You look knackered, and I’m meeting the others soon.” The irritation in his voice had faded, though he still didn’t sound particularly pleasant.

I nodded, and without another word, he turned and left.

When I returnedto Aquila Hall, I headed straight to the library to research theories about the dead returning to the place of their death to find peace. My theory was that most of the souls lingering here hadn’t found peace and were seeking help to move on.

Most of the stories and documents I found were folklores or urban legends. Many described spirits inhabiting objects, such as dolls or jewellery that once belonged to them.

A chilling legend spoke of ghosts haunting buildings or families involved in their tragic lives, seeking vengeance.

When I was thirteen, I saw a woman, covered in blood, standing at the foot of my bed. She just stood there, watching me, blood dripping from her mouth onto the floor. It’s been too long to remember every detail, and it was dark that night, but I distinctly recall her mouthing something to me. I never knew what she was trying to say.

Perhaps she’d been murdered and thought I could help her find peace. All I’d done was scream so loudly my parents came rushing in, and she vanished in an instant.

It’s one of my most horrific memories.

I packed up my things and returned to my room since curfew was only fifteen minutes away.

Archer had said he wanted to give me something, but that hadn’t happened yet. His entire friend group hadn’t shown up for dinner. According to Betty, the kind lady in charge of serving the meals, they spent most weekends entirely in Owley until curfew. So, I ate dinner alone and went back to the library afterwards.

I think the library might officially be my favourite place here.

When I unlocked the door to my room, I froze. Maisie wasn’t alone. For a moment, I thought they were both asleep, but only she was. Her head rested on her boyfriend’s chest, both of them snug beneath her giant comforter.

Nathaniel, however, was wide awake. His eyes locked on mine, those same judging eyes I thought I’d shaken off over the last couple of days. Yet, as he softly brushed Maisie’s cheek while she slept, I could tell he wasn’t a threat—just someone fiercely protective.

I quietly set my things down by my bed and grabbed some clothes to change into in the bathroom.

“Archer gave me something to pass on to you,” Nathaniel whispered suddenly.

I turned to follow his gaze, which landed on an envelope sitting on Maisie’s nightstand.

---