Page 82 of Tempt Me

I tried to get my act together and nodded my head, more or less falling into the chair in front of his desk.

The guard took a stance by the door, resembling a stone gargoyle.

“This is the first time we have had a reporter interested in interviewing Hospital Thirteen,” the Warden said, conversing.

He was smiling, but I knew the toying nature behind it. It was just like Pharaoh. Those lips curved in the same ways that meant you were just another fun toy to break.

My stomach shifted with the thoughts of how my professor used and broke me.

“My name is Fallon Summers. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Warden.” The giant waved a hand at me to sit before he sat back down behind his desk.

“Call me Goliath,” he said. “Goliath Masters is my name, and forgive me, but I think we have met before, Fallon. You know one of my brothers, correct?”

How he said the word ‘know’ made me realize pretty quickly that Goliath knew he was more than just my professor.

That made sense, though. He was related to Pharaoh. They looked like carbon copies of each other.

“He is my professor,” I said with an unintentional huff to my tone. I hated being toyed with. This asshole was no better than his dickweed brother. “So I am trying to find out about the history of the Hospital. I understand this is a reconstructed facility of the prior facility known as Hospital Twelve, correct?”

The giant lost his smug grin, and now I was the one with a smile on my face.

“I also understand that the prior facility was destroyed after a number of patients were killed by a fellow patient. Is this correct?”

Goliath’s face confirmed my questions.

“What I don’t understand is why exactly there was a cover-up in regards to those deaths and why there is no known information as to what exactly happened. There were survivors of the Hospital Twelve massacre that were sent here, of course, including a patient that was exonerated.”

The Warden looked slightly curious in his annoyance. The way he stroked the pen on his desk made me uncomfortable. I could see his calculation of my entire being. He was studying me as much as I was examining him.

“It seems as though you came here for answers you already have, Miss Summers.”

I picked up my camera and scrolled to the picture of the article, turning the image to face the man behind the desk.

“What was covered up? Who killed those people? Everything you have presented the public with is just a bunch of lies and red tape. Why? What are you hiding, Warden Masters? What became of this killer that everyone refuses to name?”

Goliath sat back in his chair, still staring at me with intrigue and humor.

“I can see why my brother has taken such an interest in you, Miss Summers. The feelings of intrigue seem mutual.”

I snorted. “No. I want answers to my questions. I don’t care about your brother or why he was let out.”

Goliath sighed, setting down the pen.

“Some ghosts are better left hidden, Fallon,” he said. “When you go digging them up, they will begin to haunt you.”

I bristled, his words cementing the fear I felt with all this bullshit. I needed answers, but I didn’t at the same time.

What if Pharaoh is the monster they tried to hide? He was in the cemetery that night that Hannah died. Was it all an act? Was he freed from the prison he destroyed?

He was fucked up in the head. That was clear. He talked to someone who haunted him. Was this person a ghost he knew…or created?

“His name is Joe Derjerh, Little Sleuth. And if you did your homework correctly, you’d see your ‘professor’ is a hero. One of the one’s that fucking killed that scum bag, saving the love of my life and so many others that night.”

Pharaoh…

Was this the truth? Or is he trying to cover up his brother’s sin?

“Can I see some history files on this, Joe? How did he even get out?”

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