Page 114 of The Haunting of Lockton

“If you were here, how did you learn he died?” Julian asked.

Owen stilled. Blood continued to drip from between his lips. “The doctor visited me. Samuel Howard.” He said the name with a deep growl. “He came to deliver the news that the love of my life was dead. He said he failed infixingRoy and that it wassuch a shame. Yet, he smiled when he told me.” Owen’s body quaked again, and the edges blurred, as though he were struggling to hold his form. “I fell to my knees and cried. All I remember after that is the color red. Red on the walls. Red on my hands.And screams. Some from me and some from others. Glass that shattered much like my heart. Then… the click of a trigger. And I knew nothing more.”

“Why are you still here?” Julian asked.

“Trapped.” The word came out wet and gurgled as he spat up more blood. “Confined to this cell block. My prison and my grave.”

“You were murdered in this cell?”

“Dr. Howard shot me,” Owen responded. “After I escaped and stormed the asylum, he managed to subdue me. He then placed restraints on me and a blindfold so I couldn’t see.” He touched the edge of his eye. “So I couldn’t make objects fly. He threw me back in here. I could’ve stopped him. Yet, after seeing Roy… his beautiful tanned skin pale and cold, I welcomed the cold barrel of the gun.”

Did he know Roy’s ghost was trapped too, waiting for him by the upstairs window? So, I told him.

Owen’s head snapped in my direction. “He… he waits for me? Even after all these years?”

“Yeah,” I answered. “He misses you.”

“He… misses… me.” Owen’s body flickered.

“Samuel Howard is here too,” I added.

Big mistake on my part.

Owen’s features morphed back into the lethal expression from earlier. “Where is he?” The question boomed throughout the entire corridor. His jaw unhinged even more, and more blood gushed out. “Bring him to me! I will rip him apart!”

Julian touched Owen’s arm.

A bright light filled the corridor, and I flung up an arm to block the sudden assault on my retinas. When it dimmed again, Julian and I were alone.

“What happened?” I asked, rushing back toward the cell door.

Julian squatted down and rested his hands at the back of his head, his breathing erratic.

“Jules?” I dropped down in front of him. “Talk to me. What the fuck just happened?”

“I don’t know.” He sounded so weak. “I sensed his rage, Sky. He was about to come after you, and I… I don’t know. I just wanted to protect you.”

“What was that light?”

“I don’t know. I think it forced him away for now though. I still sense him, but it’s faint.”

“See? A psychopathic human would’ve been better. Evil, murderous ghosts are way worse.” My attempt to make him laugh failed. He was too shaken up.

“Owen’s not evil,” Julian said, wheezing a little now. “His soul is so damn tormented. Beneath his rage, I felt his shattered heart. When he was talking about Roy, there was this crushing wave of grief. It…” He clutched his chest. “It hurts, Sky.”

His eyes rolled back, and he slumped against me.

“Jules?” I shook him, but his body was limp. Panic clawed up my throat. “Julian! Wake the fuck up.”

He didn’t.

“No, no, no.” I gathered him in my arms and gently slapped at his cheeks. His skin was clammy. My panic intensified as memories of him lifeless and cold flooded my head. Back then, he’d almost died because of me. Hehaddied. For a moment. Tears burned at the backs of my eyes. “Goddammit, wake up!”

I hooked an arm around his waist and lifted him up off the floor. He was deadweight against me. But he was still breathing. That’s what kept me from entirely losing my head. As I carried him from the solitary wing and back upstairs, I didn’t think about what dark entity could be lurking in the shadowy corners or rooms. I only focused on getting my brother the hell out of there.

Nothing terrified me more than losing him.

Chapter Sixteen