Page 87 of The Haunting of Lockton

Keeping to myself was way less painful.

A low wailing came from the tree up ahead. Mary’s apparition appeared beside it, her white wedding gown a stark contrast to the surrounding darkness.

“Evening, Mary.” I stepped closer but not too close. She might not have registered my presence, but surely some part of her, deep down, was aware of me, and I didn’t want to startle her. “It seems we both have an aching heart tonight.”

Her form shimmered. The mournful wails continued.

“I wonder… if you could go back and end things with Bartholomew before that fateful wedding day to spare yourself this pain, would you?” The leaves rustled with the wind, and I snuggled more into my overcoat—an era-appropriate one to match my costume. Our one warm day was nice, but the temperature had dropped significantly with the setting sun. “If you miss him this much, you must’ve been really happy. At least for a while.”

That’s when I noticed the sudden quiet.

The cries had stopped.

A cold sensation touched my cheek, and I came face-to-face with Mary. Her features were distorted, and her eyes had an eerie paleness. Like ice with a milky overlay. Without uttering a single word, she then lowered her glowing hand from my cheek and drifted across the grass to an old tombstone. She knelt beside it, and the wails started again.

I touched my cheek as the backs of my eyes stung, tears threatening to spill over. She hadn’t answered me, but it was the first time she’d shown awareness. Was it her way of saying she didn’t regret loving Bartholomew?

Did I regret getting involved with Skyler? It was too soon to throw words like “love” into the equation, but I liked him. A lot. Which was why this sucked so much. I very rarely liked anyone. Someone with a pulse anyway.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

I turned to see Skyler approaching. He wore gray joggers, those bright-colored Vans with the neon laces, a green V-neck tee, and a black zip-up hoodie over it, currently unzipped.

“I knew you were a stalker.” My voice remained steady despite my surprise at seeing him.

“You left me no choice.” He stopped a foot in front of me. That close, his scent tickled my nostrils: crisp and fresh. Intoxicating. “You weren’t answering my texts.”

Confused, I reached into my inner coat pocket for my phone and checked it. Sure enough, there were two text messages and one missed call. “You reallyarea stalker.”

“No one else has ever made me try this hard.”

I snorted at that. “Being knocked down a peg is good for you, then.”

“You’re not going to read them now, are you?” he asked.

“Well, it would be rude not to.”

Amused by his sudden awkwardness, I clicked to read the texts. The first was sent around two thirty.

Skyler:Hey! We left things really weird between us. Can we talk later?

The second had been sent around six o’clock. Val had given me enough time to eat and have a short breather before heading to the cemetery. I’d been too in my head to look at my phone though, so I had silenced it. Unplugging was best when my mood was low. It prevented me from saying things I’d regret or be embarrassed about later.

Skyler:Guess you’re at the cemetery now. Text me when you’re done?

The missed call had been about thirty minutes ago.

“Sorry I missed these,” I said, sticking my phone back in my pocket. “Did you need something?”

Skyler’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Do I need something in order to wanna see you?”

There was a wobble in my chest. I forced down that vulnerable feeling, throwing it behind a stone barrier. Or a door.

“What’s the point?” My voice sounded so empty.

“What do you mean?”

“We clearly want different things,” I responded. “And you probably won’t even be here a week from now. It’s best if we just cut ties and move on.”