Page 21 of Emerald Treats
I laughed aloud. "I hate running," I told the empty room, but my heart was already beating faster in anticipation. This whole situation might give me a new appreciation for it, though.
My eyes fell on a large, ornate clock mounted on the wall. The time showed 8:45 PM. Fifteen minutes to mentally prepare for whatever my devious mates had planned.
I stripped out of my clothes and carefully put on the new outfit. The stockings clung to my thighs in a way I knew would drive them wild, and the dress hugged my curves perfectly, short enough to be enticing but not so tight I couldn't move freely.
Every rustle of fabric heightened my awareness. Were they waiting just outside? Were they already in position somewhere in that elaborate maze?
The lace of the emerald underwear felt deliciously wicked against my skin. Whatever game they had planned, it was clear they wanted to hunt me through this haunted playground.
"You want to chase me?" I whispered to my reflection as I smoothed the dress over my hips. "Let's see if you can catch me."
I checked the clock again—8:52 PM.
My pulse quickened as I sat on the chaise, feeling the familiar heat of anticipation building inside me. Six men, all wanting me. All planning to pursue me through a haunted store.
The clock ticked slowly forward—8:56 PM.
Somewhere beyond the door, I heard the faint sound of movement, then silence again.
8:58 PM.
I stood and approached the door, my hand hovering near the handle.
8:59 PM.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself.
9:00 PM.
The clock chimed softly, and I turned the handle, stepping out to meet whatever my mates had planned in the darkness beyond.
The entire space felt altogether more sinister, now that I knew what my guys were planning. The purple and red lighting had dimmed significantly, leaving long, menacing shadows that seemed to reach for me like grasping fingers.
My eyes landed on the staircase that stretched upward, each step adorned with flickering LED candles and more of those unnervingly realistic spiderwebs. Miniature jack-o'-lanterns lined the banister, their carved faces leering at me with knowing grins, as if they were in on whatever my mates had planned.
"Up we go, then," I whispered to myself, my voice immediately swallowed by the haunting music that now filled the space.
The soundtrack was nothing like the cheesy Halloween tunes Faris had been playing in the car. This was all dissonant strings and jarring piano notes that seemed designed to set every nerve on edge—the kind of music that played right before the killer jumped out in a horror movie.
I ascended the stairs slowly, one hand trailing along the banister. Each step creaked beneath my weight, though I couldn't tell if it was intentional or just old wood protesting. The fishnet stockings rubbed my thighs as I climbed, making me acutely aware of how exposed I felt in this getup.
Halfway up, I froze. Was that a footstep behind me? I whipped around, my heart hammering, but saw only shadows dancing across the empty staircase.
"Get it together," I muttered, continuing upward.
The second floor opened into a space that had been transformed into what looked like a Victorian séance room. Plush velvet furniture, crystal balls that emitted an eerie glow, and tarot cards scattered across antique tables as if abandoned mid-reading.
The music swelled suddenly, a crescendo of violins that made me jump. Then I caught it—the distinct sensation of eyes on me. I spun around, scanning the shadows. Nothing. But the feeling persisted, raising goosebumps on my arms.
"I know you're there," I called out, trying to sound braver than I felt. "You wanted to hunt me? Well, here I am."
Something moved in my peripheral vision—I turned, but caught only empty air.
Another footstep, this time definitely real. Close. Then silence.
My breath quickened as I backed toward the center of the room. Six predators, and only one me.
I forced myself to stand still, listening intently. The Victorian séance room surrounded me with its gothic opulence, but I knew I wasn't alone. The sensation of being watched crawled over my skin like a physical touch.
