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“No,” I argue.“I came here wanting answers.I was happy with the house's appearance because I figured there wouldn’t be any trouble.”

“If that’s true, why aretheystill outside the wards?” He gestures behind me.

I glance back at Ben’s snarling face.It’s positioned beside one of Mitri’s guns, aimed directly at Grant’s head.Mal is hitting the barrier as hard as he can in frustration.Kimi is rolling around on the ground, still laughing.

“I think it’s a good thing they’re stuck out there,” I reply.

“No shit,” is his sarcastic response.

“Why did I get to come in, and they didn’t?” I turn back to him with a frown.

“You had no ill intent when you entered.”

“Wait,” I hold up both hands, palms out.“You mean they couldn’t come in because they wereplanningon hurting someone?”

He raises an eyebrow and nods.

“Thoseassholes,” I scowl.“That’s why I told them to go back to the car!See?I was right!”

Grant doesn’t reply, and the two middle-aged men join us.The older man is ushering the children back inside as they strain to watch us.

“Why did they attack me, then?I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“They’ve been more active ever since the reporters started coming around,” the blond one on the left explains in a soft and melancholy voice.

“Reporters?” I ask in surprise.

“Following the story, those vultures,” the red-haired man on the right spits on the needle grass in disgust.

“The missing person's story?” I ask in excitement.“Do they know anything?I never found any articles about it.”

The three men look at each other in confusion.

“How did you know about that?” Grant asks suspiciously.

“That’s why I’m here,” I rush to explain. “I’m looking into Laverne Rodriques and Darlene Reyes's disappearances. I was hoping I could get in touch with anyone from the Salt Houses and try to dig into their history a little. Maybe try and match up what I’ve discovered with any clues on where I can find them.”

The three look at each other again.

“Please stop doing that.I’m getting left out of the loop here.”And it’s annoying.Look at that!I didn’t say it out loud.

“Who are you?” Red hair asks.

“Beatrice, or just Bea.Would you be willing to talk with me?I mean, I can let bygones be bygones if you can,” I shrug and cross my fingers behind my back, hoping this will be the big break I need.

“Come on inside,” Blondie sighs, trailing back towards the open door.

“I think I’ll stay out here,” I call back to him.“I’m full up on surprise attacks, and if I leave their sight, they might go ballistic.”

We all look back at the four outside.They’re lined up like menacing statues behind me, glaring.Even Kimi is in on it this time.

“If you don’t come inside, the hexes will get worse,” Grant gestures to the punctures on my arms.

The itching hasn’t stopped, and they’re starting to ooze some clear fluid that’s slowly soaking into my shirt and pants.

“What, exactly, did I get hexed with?” I ask cautiously and eye my wounds.

“Infectious disease and skin rot,” the red-haired male says with a menacing smile.