Page 18 of The Haunting
James
I heard a creak and turned around as we crossed the floor towards the kitchen. Clio had unearthed several of those industrial coffee pots. All we needed to do was fill it with water and bring back mugs, sugar, and milk.
A second noise echoed through the hall. This one sounded more like a snap, and I glanced up just in time to see the links on the chandelier towering above us break.
Instincts kicked in, and I leapt at Inglorious and Nanci, shoving them out of the way and knocking them down.
Nanci screamed and hit the floor as the chandelier crashed to where we’d been walking. Something hit my foot hard at the same time, and I cried out as sharp pain flooded through me.
Voices filled the entrance hall as the others rushed out. Hurt, I flipped onto my back and shoved upwards, staring at the smashed glass surrounding us.
“James!” Kate screamed and rushed towards me.
“Mind the glass!” I warned. Kate picked her way around it and knelt beside me.
“Are you injured?”
“My foot,” I gritted out. Drake and Calamity appeared, shaking their heads.
“It’s pinned down and twisted in the frame. We’re going to try to lift it off you. Kate, can you wriggle his foot free?” Drake asked.
Kate nodded and moved to my feet.
“On three,” Drake said to Calamity. He counted down, and they both heaved.
“Fuck, that’s heavy,” Calamity gasped.
“Chance, Inglorious, we need you,” Drake stated.
The four of them lifted the weighty bronze chandelier, and Kate yanked my foot out.
I hissed in pain.
“Should we take his boot off?” Kate asked as she patted my thigh absentmindedly.
“Gonna have to. Let’s get James comfortable, and then we can find out what the fuck happened!” Chance said.
They pulled me to my feet, and my ankle gave way. “Shit, I think it’s bruised.”
“Can you walk?”
I sent Chance a dark look. “You aren’t carrying my ass!”
“Wasn’t suggesting I did!” Chance retorted. Leaning heavily on Calamity and Inglorious, I hopped into the sitting room and collapsed.
Drake slowly eased my boot off, ignoring my winces as I breathed through my mouth. The pain was now overwhelming, and I puffed out a sharp hiss instead of screaming. Kate fluttered around, and I reached out and yanked her down beside me.
“There’s a first aid kit in the SUV,” Phoe said, wringing her hands.
“I’ll go,” Inglorious replied.
“Not alone,” Drake ordered, and Inglorious hesitated. “No, I don’t care what any fucker says, shit ain’t right here. Nobody goes anywhere alone.”
“I’ll go with him,” Vladimir offered.
Drake paused before answering, and I guessed he was suspicious of Vladimir. “Thanks. You’re both armed?”
“Yeah,” Inglorious replied, and I knew Drake had just checked that our friend could defend himself.
