Page 73 of Grave Possession (Grave #2)
Chapter Sixty-one
Graves
T he seconds drag on as I stand here like a putz, waiting for Mallory to return.
I slide my mask back on, moving toward the ridiculously adorned chair in the centre of the stage.
The crown lays abandoned on the seat, taunting me.
It’s so fucking ridiculous, but I snatch it up and put it on.
It’s what my uncle would’ve done, so I follow suit.
I turn toward the mass of swaying bodies, then sit. Leaning back and spreading my thighs comfortably. A woman close to the stage winks at me and I shake my head, dismissing her. The fucking audacity.
I cast my eyes to the right. The throng of people enjoying the rave-like environment set up in the mill bleed out through the doorway.
Their bodies, covered in glow sticks and other illuminative jewelry, dance uninhibited everywhere, even as an angel is bent over the handrail, getting bucked into from behind by a Xenomorph.
Swinging my sight to the left, the horny wolfman pack ushers a group of women into the haunted hiking trail. Howling and thrusting against the four ladies, they disappear into the shadows, shrieks and laughter fading along with the sight of them.
Grey waves for my attention, probably wondering what the hell is taking me so long.
He taps his finger against his wrist, then gestures something that conveys “let’s get on with it” with his motioning hands.
I nod, then turn back to the mass of people before me.
I guess Mallory is standing me up. I can’t blame her, this whole night is pushing her so far out of her comfort zone, I’m surprised she’s even lasted this long.
But I can’t deny the aching stab of disappointment and abandonment I feel in her absence.
I look to the DJ, who cuts the music, and extends a microphone to me. I rise from the throne to retrieve it. Here goes nothing. I heave in a deep breath, centring myself before exhaling slowly. Clearing my throat, I wait for the attendees to quiet down.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming tonight,” I start with a shake in my voice.
Looking to Greyson, who stands behind the towering speaker, he nods, encouraging me to continue.
“I know it would’ve meant a great deal to my Uncle Oscar.
The turn out is one that will go down in Crystal Creek’s history.
The citizens of our small town worked many sleepless nights to bring this all together, and I hope all of you enjoy the many activities available.
” I find my confidence the longer I talk, the words now flowing out of me as if they were always meant to.
“As many of you know, my aunt and uncle, Deanna and Oscar Graves, were the founders of the Henderson Haunt many years ago. They believed in balance, living a good life while also not denying yourself of the things you crave. But they also both agreed on the importance of moderation. Too much of a good thing all the time makes the soul yearn more and more. So, mixed with their love of Halloween, this month of chaos was born.” Emotion starts to clog my throat, knowing the waters I’m venturing into next.
“After Deanna passed, Oscar kept the Haunt running. He said it’s what she would’ve wanted, and where he felt closest to her.
I always thought he was crazy. How could an event as wild as this have you feeling anything other than horny?
” Quiet laughter floats through the atmosphere, and it makes me smile.
“But now, with my uncle passed on as well, and the torch being passed to me, I finally understand what he meant. Their spirits live on through the happiness of others revelling in what they created. I will never stop striving to fill the enormous shoes he left behind, and I can only hope to be half as good of a host, police captain, and man, as my uncle was.”
Greyson moves across the stage, coming to stand next to me for support.
The entire party has quieted during my speech, almost all of the attendees have stopped whatever filth they were engaging in to listen to me.
“You’re doing great, Captain,” he whispers to me.
“Now wrap it up so I can kick your ass in beer pong.” I stifle a laugh and nod slightly as his competitive smirk glints in my periphery.
A bellowing scream pierces through the momentary silence, immediately putting us both on alert.
Every single person’s head swivels back and forth, the air tense with anticipation of another harrowing scream.
Nothing comes so I break the tension in the only way I can think of.
“Seems like someone is thoroughly enjoying tonight’s festivities,” I joke, forcing out a laugh.
A wave of murmurs and laughs move through the party, dissolving the apprehension.
“Thank you all for coming and have a wonderfully filthy fright,” I say in closing.
Handing the mic back to the DJ as he starts the music again, “People Are Strange - Festival Mix” livening the crowd almost immediately.
“That was weird, right?” Officer Smith asks, leaning close so I can hear him over the music.
“Yes. It was a little too guttural to be from someone having fun.”
“Should I go snoop around?”
“Maybe,” I reply.
Victoria flies by me in a flash of orange, crashing into Officer Smith’s chest. Immediately, the off-putting scream is forgotten by the both of us.
He holds her tight to him as her body shakes violently with sobs I can barely hear over the music.
He shoots me a what the fuck look, and I return it with a clueless downturn of my lips while shrugging my shoulders.
I have no idea what happened, but she could’ve been triggered by any number of things at the Haunt.
It was a last minute decision of hers to attend, after weeks of being steadfast in her decision not to go. It’s why she’s dressed up in a bloody orange convict jumpsuit. The Halloween store was closed down for renovations, and this is all we could scrounge up from the station last minute.
Greyson leans down, listening intently to whatever Victoria is telling him.
I turn my back to give them some privacy, wondering what the hell happened to Mallory, and if she got lost on the way back from the bathroom.
Did she have anything to do with that scream?
It was distinctly male, and very coincidental that it happened when she was out of my sight.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, but as I move to pull it out, Greyson sidles up beside me. “Where’s Mallory?” he snaps.
My hackles immediately rise, I’m defensive based on his tone alone. “She went to the bathroom. Why?” I yell over the thumping bass.
“Victoria finally went to talk to her, and she brushed her off.” I’m surprised, but at the same time…tit for tat.
“Is that why Victoria came tonight? To confront Mal?”
“No, she said it was to support us both, she didn’t mention Mallory at all to me.”
“This isn’t really the best place for a heart to heart, Grey.” He shrugs.
Who knows why Victoria decided now, of all times, to try and confront Mallory, but apparently it wasn’t the best idea. “Is she okay? Do you want to take her home?”
“No, she said she wants to stay and try to have some fun.”
I nod, gesturing to the dance floor. “Go. Take her and have fun then.” He nods, patting me on the shoulder, then moves back to Victoria, sweeping her off her feet, and disappearing down the stairs into the shadows.
I scan the area for Mallory, but she’s nowhere to be seen. Again, my cell vibrates, and I pull it out. A Motion Detected notification lights up the screen. Confused, I swipe to open it.
The new motion activated flood lights illuminate the front yard as my little siren sprints up the gravel driveway. She’s covered in blood from head to toe and favouring her left leg, the limp becoming more noticeable as her pace slows nearing the front door.
What the fuck happened to her?
I jump down off the stage, taking off like a bullet towards the house, passing a man in the throes of passion with a pumpkin on my way.
The slimy orange guts cover his groin and cock as it thrusts in and out of the jack-o-lantern’s crudely cut mouth, seeds spurting out and falling to the ground with every punch of his hips.
The run home seems to take no time at all, and when I hit the doorstep, I pause to catch my breath. Quickly, I text Grey, letting him know I’m stepping out for a bit, and to manage the Haunt in my absence.
Flipping back to the notifications, I watch Mal stumble up to the front door.
She smears blood all over the panel, trying to key in the code.
The light flashes red, and she bounces in annoyance, pushing the crimson-coated doll mask up onto the top of her head.
She shakes out her hands then keys in the code again.
The door panel flashes green, and her body visibly sags in relief.
Mal pushes the door open, and disappears into the house.
Moving to a new camera feed, I watch as she leaves a steady trail of blood drops and smears through the house until she enters the bathroom, where there are unfortunately no cameras set up.
A sharp cry cuts the silence, and I snap my attention back to reality.
Pocketing my phone, I creak open the front door and move through the house.
Down the hall, the bathroom door is slightly ajar, steam pluming out through the crack.
I approach it, holding the door firm and slowly opening it, praying the hinges don’t squeak.
I peek into the small room, even behind the foggy glass I can see the red running off her skin in rivers.
“Shit. Shit. Shit,” she whispers to herself. “Why can’t you just control yourself, Mallory?”
What did you do, my lethal little siren? Did you kill someone else? Was that scream I heard a result of your savagery breaking the surface again?
My dick twitches to life in my pants, and I have the unrelenting urge to fuck with her.
How dare she hide this from me, again . Does she think I will leave her?
Toss her away like trash or arrest her for the things she’s done?
If those are the thoughts in her pretty little head, I’m going to have to set her straight.
Quietly as I can manage, I sink down to my knees, reaching across the small room.
Grabbing her blood-soaked costume, I inch back out the door, leaving her bloody mask where it rests in the sink.
Quickly, I dart across the house to the kitchen, grabbing a bucket from under the sink, and putting the clothes inside.
I don’t know how much time I have, so I work as fast as possible to clean up the blood with wet wipes.
I’ll bleach the floors properly later. Pulling a few from the pack, I inch back to the bathroom.
Determined to clean up everything I can see before heading out to burn the evidence.
Her addictive scent wraps around me, beckoning me to join her under the hot spray. Not this time—I have much more enticing plans tonight, and they’ll still end with me buried to the hilt inside my lethal little siren.