Page 180 of Phobia
Shit. Shit, yeah.
Hammering footsteps make me jolt. I rip my mouth away with a growl and shove Madison away. He trips from the sudden movement and clambers to the floor with a shriek.
Such a beautiful melody.
I can’t wait to hear him scream for me again.
I flash my eyes and take a step forward. “They’re comin’.” And with immaculate timing, more feet hammer down the hall. A door opens with a bang, then there’s a piercing scream.
Madison’s eyes shoot wide. He stares at the door, chest heaving. He looks back at me. I lunge with a cackle, and he shrieks and shoots to his feet, scrambling toward the door.
I watch with longing as my treat flies out of the room, leaving the door hanging open on one hinge. I yank on my hair with a silent growl, breathing heavily through my nose.
Reveling in the scent of his piss lingering in the air, the last piece of him left—aside from the clothes I ripped off his body, which will certainly be coming home with me—I press the tiny button on the edge of my earpiece. “One of the last one’s out and on the way.”
My eyes catch on the stain in the carpet below the dolly, and I grin.
Chapter 8
The floor beneath me wobbles and slants as I push my feet into it, sending myself reeling faster and faster. An echoed, hollow scream fills the air, louder and more piercing with each passing second. With each choking beat of my heart.
The room Static had me trapped in felt like a whole other world. At least, it did until he freaking shoved me right back into reality—literally.
I trip over my own feet and stumble into the wall. My palms slam down on the plaster, sending a plume billowing into the air. I choke on the particles, gasping. Sucking in lungfuls that burn and shred my esophagus. My fingers dig into my throat, squeezing the sides until the pressure of my Adam’s apple being shoved backward makes me gag. Air finally fills my lungs to capacity, so fast more tears melt my eyes.
Doors line either side of the narrow hall. I veer to the left, toward what appears to be a window. I bang on the glass, hammering my clenched fists against the opaque glass. It rattles in its frame, shuddering and groaning from the pressure of my assault.
With strength I didn’t realize I still had, I put my whole weight into it, shoving forward and slamming my hands against the window. I need to get out of here.
I—I can’t breathe.
My skin’s crawling with phantom legs, more than eight. Maybe ten—twenty. A hundred. All over every inch of exposed skin that burns in the rotten, musky air that smells of death, decay, and ruin.
Of horror and nightmares brought to life.
Hell on Earth becauseJesus,that’s what this has got to be. The devil tempts me, right? That’s what the pastor at church growing up always said. That he’ll bait his victims, tempt them, make them crave to give in to their darkest desires…
My eyes slam shut as the more than vivid… notmemories,per say, because it just freaking happened, but the recollection of what that… clown did to me.
God. If I’m not already in Hell, I sure as heck have a one-way ticket there now.
Goodbye, pearly gates.
A door behind me creaks open. I jolt and suck in a breath at the same time I shove all of my weight against the window, making myself as flat and as small as possible.
A foot slides across the exposed wooden floor. A board creaks. A silent curse. Nails scratching against the plaster.
With my head angled to the side, my chin nearly touches my shoulder. I strain my eyeballs further past me, making out the shape of a body. “Lenny?!” I whisper yell, pulling my sweaty torso off the glass with a draggingschnick.
“Fuck!” His scream bellows out, echoing down the hall, bouncing off the ceiling for four long, drawn-out, and far too freaking loud beats. His hand flies to his bare chest, which is slick with rivulets of something.
I bring myself closer, unable to help my increased, rapid breaths. I haven’t stopped panting since we got here. I’m about to pass out again any second. I can feel my brain screaming from not getting enough air to circulate.
One of his eyes is swollen shut. My gaze travels up—and that’s when I scream.
Blood.
Dripping out of his forehead.
