Page 14 of Tasting Innocence
Chapter Five
Not everybody goesup to the third floor, some being too afraid, and others claiming they’re going to explore other parts of this place.
I climb the stairs next to Dex and Scarlet, following behind Renzo and Ronan. Trevor, and a couple other people I don’t really know are with us as well.
When we get to the top, our heads shift from left to right, trying to decide which direction to go.
“Wanna split up?” Renzo asks.
“Classic mistake in all the horror movies,” I quip.
“Oh, come on, Vi. This isn’t a scary movie,” he says with a grin.
“Okay, well, when you get abducted, tortured, and are never seen again, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
A few people laugh, and he says, “Okay, deal. I’m going to the right. Who else?”
Ronan, of course, volunteers to go with him, and a tall blonde guy, that I’m pretty sure my brother hooked up with before he was with Ronan, chooses to go left.
“I’ll go with you guys,” Scarlet says, standing next to Renzo. She looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to join her.
“I think I’m gonna go this way,” I say, jerking my thumb in the opposite direction.
“You going with her?” Zo asks Dex.
“Uhh...yeah. I can,” he replies.
Zo nods. “Watch out for her.”
I put my hands on my hips. “I thought this wasn’t a scary movie.”
“It’s not, but I know Dex will make sure you’re safe just like I would.”
I hate that he said that, but it’s true. However, as much as I gave Dex a hard time for being like a brother to me, I don’t think of him that way. I wanted him to hate it like I do and prove to me he’s nothing like a brother.
The group splits up and travels down the pitch black halls. Unlike downstairs, there aren't any candles on the walls lighting it up, and since the doors to the rooms are closed, no light from outside is shining in.
Trevor and the two other guys I don’t know travel down the hall first, leaving me and Dex to walk together.
“I’m gonna open this door and maybe let some light in,” Trevor says at the first door we come across.
Everyone stays back as he finds the doorknob and twists. It’s slow and cautious, like he’s afraid something or someone might jump out. It creaks open and a fraction of light filters through, but when I see the window, it looks like it’s covered in a thick layer of dust, so the light isn’t too bright.
“Go in,” one of the other guys whispers.
“Why are you whispering?” Trevor asks.
“Just go inside,” Dex says.
“I opened the door.”
I shake my head and stalk forward. “Stop being babies.”
Inside, the floor squeaks under my feet and I spin around, searching for anything interesting. It’s a small room with a cot-like bed pushed against the wall and an oval frame above it, holding a picture of a white-haired woman.
Dex follows me inside. “This is why I have to be with you. You’d be the character in a horror movie that investigates the room after hearing a noise, or go outside and leave the door open for someone to come in when you aren’t watching.”
I’ll admit I’m a lot of talk, which is why I say, “Should I leave my door open for someone to come in tonight?”