Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
First things first, I need a plan.
Quinn warned me not to go into the forest, but if I’m going to reach the estate before they find me, then the forest is precisely where I have to go.
I need food, water, and a real freaking plan before I decide to go full-blown Xena the Warrior Princess to save my friends.
There have to be some supplies stored in this lighthouse somewhere.
I risk one more glance into the woods before heading back downstairs.
I’ve already searched the small bedroom, but none of us really checked out the surroundings of the room we woke up in.
My whole body is on edge as I tiptoe down the last set of stairs before I reach the main room.
Travis said he killed David, and I know Amber is dead, but I’m still hesitant to make my presence known since I don’t know where Ahmed is hiding.
Who else might be creeping around this lighthouse?
Somebody shot Amber, so it’s safe to assume someone has to be nearby.
I enter the room filled with our cages and gag.
I’ve always hated the smell of blood. The coppery, tangy scent of Amber’s blood is overwhelming, making me dizzy and nauseated as I search the room.
David’s limp body is hunched over next to one of the cages, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle.
Travis really did kill him.
But why? You’d think he would want the extra set of eyes and ears as they hunted me down.
Instead, Travis has partnered with Quinn, who is busy keeping him engaged far away from me.
At least I hope he is. I’m still unsure how I feel about Quinn’s help.
He was being truthful about the table leg, and he must have done something to Ahmed to get him out of the way.
While helpful, it doesn’t erase the kernel of doubt and suspicion nestled right there next to my heart.
There isn’t time to debate his motives right now. I need to hurry up and get out of here before someone finds me. Travis will only hunt in the woods for so long before making his way back.
The large room has two more doors lining the walls, in addition to the door leading to the staircase. Raising the table leg, I make my way quickly to the first door while scanning the room for hidden danger.
Please have something in here I can use.
I twist the handle, and the door opens with a loud, thunderous creak. Turning back towards the cages, I pause to make sure the area is still clear before slipping through.
I want to scream in frustration when I see that it’s a small bathroom. There isn’t even a shower curtain to use. Just a small sink, toilet, and standing shower. All of which are covered in rust and grime. The room smells like urine, making my stomach roll all over again.
I hurry out and toward the last door. I’m surprised to find that this door is also unlocked.
The handle turns like butter on a hot day and opens quietly, almost as if begging me to enter.
I take a hesitant step into the room, my eyes darting in every direction.
The room is about the size of a walk-in closet, though instead of clothing, there’s a large, black trunk sitting in the middle of the floor.
And sitting on top of the closed trunk is another bouquet of pink flowers. These are very much alive, unlike the dead ones left for me earlier. Sitting next to them is another note with my name written on it.
My hands shake as I reach for the note, pulling the letter out slowly.
My dearest, Teagan,
If you’ve found this, then you’ve exceeded my expectations.
You just might have the heart of a true final girl if you were able to escape your new friends, or should I say foes?
Now, do you have the guts to do whatever it takes to get back to the estate and rescue your fellow thriller queens before time runs out?
Inside this trunk are the supplies you desperately need. But you have to earn them. To get them, you’ll have to be willing to get your hands dirty.
Are you ready for your next task, Teagan?
You’ll find what you need in the pocket of Amber’s dress.
Good luck, my dear. And don’t forget to Live, Laugh, and Murder your little heart out.
A. M. Pierce
I already know he has something sinister planned for me. My nerves feel like they are flaying me alive from the inside as I force myself to walk over to where Amber’s body rests.
I don’t want to do whatever Pierce has planned for me. I can’t risk the lives of my friends, though.
Amber’s body is sprawled across the floor, sitting in a giant pool of her own blood. You wouldn’t think that a person would have this much blood in their body. I gag again as the coppery scent hits my nostrils.
I’m glad her eyes are closed so she can’t watch me dry heave over her corpse.
I find myself strangely grateful to Travis for this one kind gesture because I don’t think I could go through with this if she were staring right up at me with her lifeless eyes.
Eyes that were staring at me with such gratitude only an hour earlier.
Tears pour down my cheeks as I whisper an apology to her, wishing I had gotten to know her better before her life was stolen away because of me.
I wish Pierce had killed me instead.
It takes me a moment to get control of my emotions. I’m pouring sweat, snot, and tears. I use the flannel sleeve to wipe my face.
I can do this, I can do this.
Reaching into the pocket of her dress, I rummage around for whatever Pierce has waiting for me.
I expect it to be a key to the chest, but instead, my hand wraps around something hard and metal.
When I pull my hand out, I see that it’s a pocket knife.
I open it and look at the blade. The top part of the blade is sharp and smooth, while the bottom half is serrated.
The crackle of the speaker above makes me scream. I slam my hand over my mouth as the creepy voice floods back into the room.
“Good girl, Teagan. You found my gift. But you know that won’t get you into the chest.”
I gaze into the camera on the ceiling and cross my arms over my chest. “Then what do you want me to do?”
The voice lets out a shrill laugh. “I want you to find the key.”
“And where is this key at?” I ask. Surprising myself when my voice comes off strong and confident, even if my insides are quaking with fear. I know whatever he wants next won’t be pretty.
“The key is located inside one of your fallen comrades, of course.”
“Inside?” I look to Amber and then to David, both dead at my feet, and feel faint again. I grab the bars of Amber’s cage and gulp down deep breaths of air. It tastes like salt and iron.
“I’ll give you a hint,” the voice says. “It’s in the place that’s responsible for your unfortunate circumstances. Good luck.”
The hum of the speaker goes silent. I’m left with nothing but two dead bodies and a pocket knife to carve them up with.
What does he mean by the place that’s responsible for my circumstances?
My brain? For having my own thoughts and feelings about his novel?
My mouth? For speaking those thoughts aloud?
I’ve never been good at riddles, so I try a different route of thinking. If there is a key hidden inside of David or Amber, surely there’ll be an incision, right?
I shove the knife in my pocket and delicately lift Amber’s head to check for any evidence of a post-mortem surgery.
It’s covered in blood, so I have to feel my way around her blonde locks.
I don’t feel anything but matted up tangles.
I check her hands next, which are just as bloody, but much easier to inspect.
I find nothing except torn fingernails and more blood.
Using the flannel to wipe away my tears again, I head over to David’s body to search the same places. His hair is nearly shaved to his scalp, so I’m able to rule that out quickly before checking his hands. Again, nothing.
What does he mean by the place that got me into this mess?
I look back down at David and notice there’s a darker red patch staining the chest of his Hawaiian shirt. I yank the shirt open while whispering my apologies to him for having to do this. I didn’t know him well, but he deserves better than having his body mutilated for Pierce’s amusement.
There! Right above his heart are newly placed stitches that spell out T.K.S…my initials…Teagan Kaitlyn Shepherd.
Everything around me blurs as I fall to my knees.
“How the hell did my heart get me into this mess?” I shout, shoving my hands into my hair. I can’t do this. I can’t rip him open.
The speaker crackles again above me. “Are you not doing this because you love your friends? How does that not prove that your silly little heart led you right into my grasp?” the voice says. “I expect it won’t be the last time your little heart gets you into trouble while you’re my guest.”
The hum of the speaker goes silent again, leaving me alone to wrestle with my torn emotions.
I’m doing this to save my friends—but also to save myself.
“I’m so sorry, David,” I whisper as I crawl towards his body and pull the knife out of my pocket. “Please forgive me.”
Using the tip of the knife, I pluck at the stitches, loosening his flesh, giving myself ample space to fit my fingers into.
Though he’s been dead for about an hour now, blood still runs freely out of his body as I dig around for a key.
I’m sobbing now in earnest, my tears mixing with his blood as it pours out of him.
I’ve been searching for so long that I start to wonder if Pierce is playing with me, that maybe there isn’t even a key, and this is just another pointless task to show that he’s in complete control here.
I’m just about to give up when my fingers finally brush against something hard.
I know before I pull it out of David’s chest that it’s the key.
As soon as I have it safely in my palm, I rush back to the dirty bathroom and hurl my guts out in the toilet, leaving a trail of David’s blood dripping behind me.
My body shakes uncontrollably as I empty the contents of my stomach.
When the heaving subsides, I get to my feet and rinse my hands in the sink, watching the blood on my hands disappear down the drain.
Thank goodness for working plumbing in this decrepit lighthouse.
Too bad the water can’t rinse away my sins.
I’m the reason Amber and David are dead.
I need to get to Windermere before I’m forced to do something even worse.
I rush back to the room with the chest as soon as the violent aftershocks of the adrenaline coursing through my veins stop.
My hands are shaking, making it difficult to insert the key.
Once I do, I turn the latch and throw the chest open to see what I’ve just sold a fraction of my soul for.
Inside are several boxes of water, foil packs of tuna, granola bars, some fresh fruit, and a large bag of trail mix.
It’s not the medium-rare steak I was hoping for, but it’s better than nothing.
I grab an apple and nearly choke as I inhale it.
Juice drip down my chin, and I hastily wipe them away before chugging down one of the boxes of water.
The granola bar goes down just as painfully.
I’m not sure how long it’s been since I last ate.
The more I consume, the less hollow my stomach feels.
Now that I’ve got some supplies, I need to get out of here before Travis circles back looking for me.
I grab the duffel bag I found upstairs and shove all the food and water into it until there is nothing left in the chest but a long, black velvet bag.
Lifting the bag carefully to inspect it, I find a machete inside and smile for the first time in what feels like days.
I tuck the table leg into the bag with my provisions, pat the pocket knife in my pants to make sure it’s still there, and swing the machete in the air a few times.
This will do perfectly.
It’s time for me to save my friends—and hunt down my prey.