Page 45 of Terror Tuesday

Another, firmer knock makes me gasp. From the end of the bed, I snatch my robe and throw it on, tying it tight. When I fling open the door, Sora’s dark brown eyes narrow at me, with her black silky bob perfectly in place. The woman has never had a bad hair day.

“Olivia, um, can I come inside?” Even her pajamas look pressed after a night’s sleep.

My voice won’t work, so I step back and let her in with a nod. “W-What’s up?” The words are hoarse and hushed. I need water.

“So…I heard a rumor last night.”

“Hmm?”

Sora isn’t known for hemming around a subject. The fact that she is fills my stomach with dread.

“Well, I heard that perhaps Hunter Remington is dead…andBryce Holloway.”

How would a normal person respond to this if they didn’t know the answer?

My body chooses laughter. Like…hysterical laughter. It’s unstoppable. Tears spill from my eyes at the absurdity of it all. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry.”

Sora’s brown eyes widen. “So, it was a joke, then?”

“I-I guess so.” I try to calm my breathing. To take things more seriously, but the giggle keeps bouncing around in my lungs.

“What do we say to people? No one has seen them for a few days.”

“I think they ran off together.”

One of her eyebrows quirks, and I fear I’ve gone over the edge. “Really?”

“No! Not really, Sora. As I said, Hunter and I are officially over. I broke up with him on Saturday. Maybe he left for Vegas to get drunk on Daddy’s dime. I don’t know. He’s not in my life anymore. And neither is Bryce Holloway, for that matter. Now, are you going to write that in the paper or?—”

My chest squeezes at the mention of the newspaper, the Nighthawk Ledger. Naomi…

Sora nods once, then bends a little to look into my eyes. “Are youokay?”

Hurriedly, my thumb swipes at some tears that have fallen over my cheeks. “Yes, yes. Just, uh, a bit broken up. And didn’t get in until late, you know…”

“What are we doing about group five? Do you think we should bring in the university therapists to help them tomorrow? I’m sure they’ll need lots of processing. Brittany needed surgery two years ago after a night inThetadungeon, remember? She still doesn’t talk about it.”

“I…I’ll think about it.” No, because group five isn’t coming back.

If I didn’t think it would raise even more suspicion, I’d shove Sora out of my door for some privacy. Tothink. Turning slowly, I crawl toward the shards of my dress, and she, for once, slips out without another word.

As soon as the door clicks shut behind Sora, I sit on the edge of my bed, surrounded by shreds of silk. The last of Naomi’s laughter echoes somewhere in the corners of my mind. Her smile. A hint of her peachy scent.

The laptop screen stays black. But IswearI feel him watching.

I rip my curtains closed and grab a belt, tightening it around my balcony doors. No more serial killer cunnilingus. No more butterflies of death.

My phone buzzes again, and I flinch, then grab it. TheCardells Control Allthread lights up, and my dread delves deeper.

It’s not Naomi…

Henry

Yoooooo did omega 5 actually get locked in the dungeon overnight??

Aiden

Don’t say that in text.