Page 14 of The Curse of Redwood

“Then why are you still here?” Z motioned to the doorway. “The door’s right there. I suggest you use it.”

However… now that he’d pointed it out, I felt the truth in his statement. Had the pull to Redwood only been so strong because a part of mewantedto return? For some reason, my eyes started to water.

“Do you feel nothing between us?” I asked, my voice shaking. When his eyes found mine, I walked closer. “The first night we met, I felt something. I can’t explain it, but it drew me to you, Z. That connection grew stronger on Halloween. And now you’re acting like you don’t even like me.”

He squared his jaw. “It’s better this way. Emotions make everything… complicated. What we shared was entertaining, but it’s over now.”

“Entertaining? That’s how you describe our night together?”

“Would you rather me say it was dull?”

“You’re a real asshole.” I shoved past him and stormed into the hall. The dark hall.

The only light was in the room I had just left. But I was too stubborn to backtrack for the candle and admit I was scared. So I marched forward, my footsteps echoing down the corridor, and tried not to think about how I sensed someone behind me.

Was it the ghost boy from earlier? A different spirit?

Oh shit, what if it was Lady Death?

“You’re going the wrong way,” Z said, appearing beside me.

I screamed and flung an arm out to hit him, but my hand went right through his body. He hadn’t fully materialized, otherwise, I would’ve smacked him. He would’ve deserved it. The damn jerk.

“Well, I don’t know my way around!”

“No reason to yell,” Z said calmly. Amusement shone in his eyes. “Come with me. I’ll lead you outside.”

Was heentertainedby me again? It took all my self-control not to whack him upside the head.

As I followed him down the hall, I tried to observe my surroundings. The lack of light made that difficult. All I saw were shadows, dark shapes that looked to be furniture, and the occasional glimpse of a painting on the wall or a vase in the corner. At least… I hoped it was just a vase.

Then, we turned a corner and I stopped walking.

The long corridor had a row of windows to one side. Moonlight spilled in through them, allowing me to see the long curtains brushing the floor and the sconces on the wall. My gaze then fixated on the grandfather clock at the very end of the hall.

Even though it was dark, I knew without a doubt it was the same place from my dream—the first dream I’d ever had of Ezekiel. I could even imagine him standing there in his riding clothes, asking me to come with him.

“Carter?” Z asked, noticing I wasn’t following him anymore. “What’s the matter? See a ghost?”

“Ha ha very funny,” I responded dryly before taking a step forward. I reached out my hand and touched the windowsill, my fingers gliding along as I walked. I then ruffled the curtains just like I’d done in the dream.

Z’s frown deepened as he stared at my hand. “What are you doing?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “Just felt like touching it.”

“Well, don’t.” Z straightened his posture and continued walking ahead of me.

“Hateful ass,” I muttered under my breath.

“I can hear you. I’m dead, not deaf.” Z reached the end of the hall and turned right.

I’d already known that’s where the stairs were. Somehow.

The grand staircase curved downward, passing passageways and doors. Where did they lead? A dome was in the ceiling above the stairs. The light streaming in didn’t make the place any less creepy, though. The silver light of the moon emphasized the dark shadows and tricked my eyes into thinking I saw faces staring back at me from the open doorways and halls.

Farther down we went, and then I recognized the entrance hall from when I’d gone to Ben’s book signing.

“There’s the door,” Z said, stopping on the bottom step.