Page 111 of Dead Serious: Case 3 Mr Bruce Reyes

“What the fuck is that?” Danny whispers. “It feels like something is crawling all over me.”

“I know, me too,” I whisper back, tucking the box under one arm and reaching out with my free hand to lay it on his back in comfort. Suddenly, there’s a clatter behind us.

“Ow.” I glance back and can just about make out Sam’s scowl as he rubs the back of his head. He reaches down and picks up a small hardback book.

“What?” he mutters in confusion.

“Uh-oh.” I see another book come flying in our direction. “DUCK!”

“Ow.” Danny winces when he’s hit with a paperback.

Books shoot off the shelves, pelting us from every direction, and we try to protect ourselves, but it’s no use. We fumble our way through waterfalls of books tumbling from the tall bookcases until we’re wading through a river of books.

“Go! Go! Go!” I urge Danny forward as I take another hit between the shoulder blades and hiss in pain.

Finally, we burst into the stock room and slam the door behind us, those of us with a pulse breathing heavily.

“Um, where are we?” Danny asks from somewhere in the pitch-black, windowless room.

“Hang on a minute,” Sam says, and a moment later the small space is lit by the light from his phone.

“This is Viv’s stock room,” I explain, pointing to the blank wall. “And that over there is the entrance to the portal.”

“It’s a wall,” Danny deadpans.

“Yes.” I snort. “But trust me, the doorway is on the other side.”

“I suppose it was too much to ask that there was an actual door on this side.” Danny sighs. “How are you supposed to get to it?”

“Um…”

“It’ll be easier if we just show him,” Bruce says.

“Are you saying we’re taking him with us to the other side?” I ask in surprise.

“Yes,” Bruce nods. “Him and Sam both. It’ll be safer for them than waiting here.”

“It will be safer for them through there, with the killer chaos monster?” I reply dubiously.

“Wherever Tristan goes, I go,” Danny says stubbornly.

“Guys, tick-tock!” Sam reminds us.

“It’s okay, Dusty, you can let go now,” Bruce says, and she releases him. He sways slightly but straightens. “Tris, it already knows you. You can just step through. Dusty, you’ll have to help Sam and Danny. I’m not strong enough.”

“Gotcha.” She winks and moves to stand behind them.

“Ready?” Bruce says and I nod, clutching the box tightly.

“Danny.” I turn back to look at him. “Stay close to Sam and do what he does.”

Drawing in a deep breath, I pass through the wall.

T-Minus 25 Minutes…

It’s different this time. Before it was like moving through a cold waterfall. One step and I was in the cavern overlooking the dais, the gateway to the afterlife sitting atop it.

Now the shift seems to stretch into long minutes, like attempting to run in a swimming pool. It feels as if everything is pressing against me, trying to shove me back through the wall, but I duck my head and push forward.