Page 10 of Carnival
“But they died in a car crash. This killer is using a butcher knife. And if the killer is the man I slept with, he’s definitely notolder than 25. That would’ve made him… around seven years old at the time of the crash.’’
“Murderers evolve, Rosie. The longer they kill without getting caught, the bolder they become. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they started off by staging car accidents. Besides… if it’s an organization, I bet that there are more killers, older ones, too.’’
“But that was over a decade ago. Why would they stop killing and then start again two years ago?”
“Maybe they never stopped. Maybe they just shifted their focus onto the carnival.’’
“Why?”
Aria groans, lying down on the couch. “I don’t know. I can’t figure it out, and it’s pissing me off. One thing’s for sure, though.’’
She stops and looks at me, and I can’t help but shiver under her intense gaze.
“I feel it in my bones; you are somehow connected to this. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why, but I know that this whole thing just became a whole lot more dangerous. I’m on your side, Rosie, but the moment this even starts to feel too much, I’m calling Hudson.’’
With a deep breath, I nod. “Yeah, that’s probably the smartest thing to do.’’
“And I’ll be calling Arlo. He won’t tell them, but he’ll be on standby if we ever need anything.’’
“I’m feeling creeped out, by the way.’’
Aria snorts. “Don’t worry, I’ve got my weapons on me. I’m the best shooter in my family, so I’ve got you covered.’’
“Better than Arlo or Hudson?” I tease, grinning.
She flips me off but doesn’t say much, to which I laugh. They’re all exceptionally good at shooting, with the exception of Noelle, who’s more into knives and daggers. As the night goes on, we laugh, chat, and have some sort of relief after the heavy information she shared with me.
Eventually, she makes sure I’m locked inside, with the security high, as she goes to investigate the victims to see if she can find out something at that pub.
And once I’m left alone, I manage to fall asleep, yet somehow, deep down, I can’t shake off the feeling that someone’s watching me, that someone’s inside with me.
Locked in.
4
Rose
I’ve never been a heavy sleeper. It’s most likely due to the fact that my life in the system was terrible, and I always had to sleep with one eye open. It followed me into adulthood, and it didn’t help that my early university days were filled with me high on caffeine, unable to sleep properly.
Aria’s been out for a while. Given how long I’d been living with her, I’m able to recognize her footsteps in my sleep. Mainly because she’s not that easy on her feet. She can be when she wants to, but that’s strictly reserved for the missions she goes on with Arlo. Other than that, she doesn’t care if anyone’s sleeping; she walks in, and you’d think it’s an elephant coming through the doors.
That’s why I’m terrified.
My eyes are closed shut as I’m turned to face the door. However, I can sense something – someone behind me. It’s faint, and if I were a heavy sleeper, it never would have wokenme up. The breathing is soft and at a safer distance from me. But I’m too confused.
How did they get in?
I could’ve sworn all the windows were closed.
The paralyzing fear creeps up my neck as I clutch the gun under my pillow. For the first time, I’m cussing myself out. Arlo and Aria offered to teach me how to shoot and defend myself. Each and every time I rejected their offers, thinking I’d never need to use any sort of weapons.
My blood runs cold as soft footsteps inch closer to the bed. It’s maybe a couple of short steps, and there’s still some distance between us. Whoever this is, they know I’m awake. The trembling of my body gives it away, as well as the uneven breathing. It’s only a matter of time before they do whatever it is they came here to do.
Their breathing is soft, almost like they’re trying to conceal themselves entirely. But I hear them. I can hear the wood slightly creak under their feet as they make another step forward. I grip my hand around the gun under the pillow, bracing myself. If it's a short distance, there’s only a slight possibility I’ll miss them.
I can’t have that much shit luck, can I?
An eerie sensation runs down my body, my feet getting stone cold. It’s a fairly warm evening, yet all I can feel is immense cold. My bones are rigid, and I’m praying Aria gets home soon. Despite that, I know that I can’t count on her to bail me out of shitty situations all the time. Besides, whoever this is, they’re here for me.
