Page 59 of The Wishing Game

I blink, slowly nodding. He doesn't acknowledge me as he storms out with his sister in his arms.

What does he mean that he needs to tend to her? Why not do it here? Where are they going? The questions fill my brain as I stare at the open door.

Taking a deep breath, I plop myself on the chair, folding my hands in my lap.

What just happened?

Why was there silver flowing out of her wounds?

Too many questions and no answers.

Around half an hour of pure worrying passes before I decide I can't stand still anymore. While Cer tends to Thea, I can at least take care of my little ghost problem. Thea said that it's harder to initiate contact with new spirits, but I don't have anything to lose. In fact, the mere thought that Nikki could be attached to me, wandering around the halls of the theatre, all ripe for plucking by that damned demon, makes me want to hyperventilate.

"Nikki? Please, if you can hear me, give me a sign," I say aloud as I pace around the dressing room.

I'm not even sure if a spirit can leave the object it has attached itself to, but at least I can warn him about the danger.

"Nikki? Are you there?"

Minutes on end pass as I utter plea after plea, but they all go unanswered.

I release a sigh as I fall back into the chair, watching the gossamer fabric of the dress swoosh into the air. Such a pretty dress. If only Nikki were here to see it, too.

My lips tremble lightly as I stare at my wedding ring and the commitment it signifies. I'd promised to be by his side, in life and in death. He'd promised it back, too.

So where is he now?

Why isn't he here when he promised me?

"You said you'd never leave me," I utter a broken sob. "You said you'd never leave me," I repeat, louder this time. "Youpromised, Nikki. You gave me your vow. So why did you? Why did you leave me?"

Breathing hard, I clench my hands, fisting the material of the dress. A light rip echoes in the air and I still, almost paralyzed. Slowly, I gaze down, noting the tear in the light fabric.

"Oh, Lord." I let out a cry of frustration.

Getting to my feet, I reach behind to undo the belt. I need to take this dress off before I do more damage.

As I struggle to untie the knot, a light, pulsating noise reverberates from the side of the dresser. I half turn, frowning. Maybe it was just my imagination. I focus again on undressing when a bang on the wall makes me jump up in surprise.

"Jesus," I whimper, half scared to death.

Not a couple of seconds later, and the same pulsating noise resounds in the room, almost as if someone is knocking on the outer wall in small, precise beats.

My hands fall to my side, the belt still intact. I take a few steps toward the dresser, parting the row of costumes to the side to reveal the wall. I stare at the blank patch, the darkness even more pronounced in this corner. When I don't notice anything else amiss, I make to step back.

Thud.

I stop, blinking.

Thud.

This time, the sound is louder and coming straight from the wall in front of me. Pushing more clothes to the side, I step deeper into the wardrobe, letting my palms be my guides when my eyes are not of much help. I feel around the wall in an attempt to decipher the odd sounds it's emitting—my foolish heart perhaps thinking it might be a sign that Nikki is near. At the same time, though, my rational side knows that I'm still within the barrier Cer had created and not only is there no way for the demon to breach it, but it stands to reason that Nikki wouldn't either.

I purse my lips, letting out a small sigh as I nestle against the wall, placing my ear next to its surface.

"Is it you, Nikki?" I ask wistfully.

My eyes flutter closed as I lean back, placing my entire weight against the wall. The rack of clothes is like a rich foliage that cocoons me inside, the light from the dressing room a faint flicker at the end of the tunnel.

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