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“You’re serious?” I inquire.

“Mhmm.”

Scrutinizing her entirely, I look for any sign that she’s not up for this. But as my gaze sweeps from her face to her toes, I realize that’s not my call to make. If she wants to go, I’ll take her.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Chapter Fifty-six

Mallory

He’s worried about me, and I completely understand why. I shouldn’t want to come back here, I should want to stay as far away as possible. If he knows me as well as he thinks he does though, he sees my intention a mile away. Still, he gives me whatever I need.

Thirty minutes later we pull up, the bright yellow police tape whipping around in the breeze. The mid-afternoon light sits high in the sky, but still autumn’s cold chill slips through my sweater. Nox kills the engine, eyeing me warily as we dismount.

I slowly explore the area around us, the memories assaulting me as violently as Ted did. My heart starts to pound in my ears, as the ability to breathe escapes me. My shoulder throbs and my knees go weak, but I manage to stay upright. Panic pouring off me in rivers of sweat that trail down my spine.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Lennox’s voice filters in through my spiral, and I turn toward him. I can’timagine what I look like, toeing the line of a panic attack, but he doesn’t abandon his task. The bright red jerry can held tightly in his hands as theglug, glug, glug,of the gas tank filling breaks the silence. Another gas can sits tightly tucked away in the storage container behind my seat.

I’m alive. I’m here with Nox. He’s alive. I’m okay.I remind myself. “No, but if I need you, I know you’ll find me.”

“Always,” he replies, and my heart swells. I hope he doesn’t hate me for what I’m about to do.

I move towards the front door, reaching for the handle. There’s a tremor through my body, trepidation wrapping itself tight around my chest, but I stuff it down.

It’s just a house. Get a grip. Nox will forgive you…eventually.

I grab the knob, swing the door open, and step inside. Immediately assaulted by the moist, stale air and the reek of decay that’s wafted up from the cellar.

I fucking hate this place.

“Babe?!” Lennox calls from outside.

“Yeah?” I holler back.

“I’ll be right back, I’m going to take a leak.”

“Okay. Check for blood!”

“You got it!”

Well that was easy.

I sprint to the kitchen window, watching as he disappears into the trees. I have mere minutes before he’s back—I have to hurry.

Inching open the front door again, I clear the creaky steps, jumping down into the soft grass. Moving quickly to the quad’s storage compartment, I rummage through the bags, pocketing what I need. Then I grab the jerry cans, and race back inside.

Fuck this cabin, and all the horrors that have seeped into its walls. Fire’s seen as cleansing in many religions around the world, so maybe burning this hellscape to the ground will free the souls of Johnson’s victims that are trapped here. Something tormented me in the dead of night, whether it be my own mind or a ghost, it deserves to be free.

I fling open the bathroom door, splashing the accelerant onto the floor. Working quickly, I hit both bedrooms. Pouring extra into the one with the bullet hole in the door frame. Nothing will be left of Victoria’s time in this terrible place.

Backing down the hallway, I pour a steady stream until the first can is empty.

I race back outside, placing it in its spot as to not alert Nox that something is amiss, then take off towards the cellar.

Graves

Does she think she’s sneaky? She’s never been able to completely pull the wool over my eyes, except for that time at the mill, which was absolutely thrilling.