Page 99 of Unmasked

Within seconds, I’m out.

CHAPTER 63

Mallory

I’m giggling as I hang onto Mandy’s arm, carefully making my way up the rickety steps. “I hope we don’t fall through the damn porch.”

Mandy giggles. “We won’t.” She looks so cute dressed as a sexy female pirate, stumbling in her heeled boots. “I should’ve chosen different shoes. I might take us out wearing these death traps.”

“Nah. You’ve got this.”

She looks at my red glowing mask skeptically. “Let’s hope. You look too damn sexy to wind up in the hospital. I can’t wait until Stryker sees the picture you sent. He’s going to lose it when he sees your costume.”

I grin as we step inside the creepy house. “When I saw this black leather dress and the mask, I knew they’d go well together. The fishnet stocking and the boots are the icing on the cake.”

“One look at your costume, and he’ll forget all about work and drive his ass here to fuck you into oblivion.”

“Mandy. Bold thing to say.” I giggle, then wink, “I really hope he does.”

She grins at me, but our smiles fade as our attention turns to the creepy house we’re standing inside. The cool air hits me, making me shiver as I take it in. The stairs are straight ahead. The living room is to our left. To the right is a kitchen.

We shiver, moving closer together as we enter the living room. Everything is covered in dust and cobwebs, and eerie candles cast shadows on the wall.

“I can’t believe you brought your sketchbook,” Mandy whispers.

“Why are you whispering? We’re the only ones here.” I nod toward the door. “Corey is outside, waiting by the trees.”

We move to the kitchen, my eyes moving around the dusty room. “I wanted to sketch this for Stryker.”

“Only you.” She shakes her head.

“They went all out, didn’t they?”

“It’s the biggest scandal to ever happen at SRU. They’re capitalizing on it.”

We head up the creaky old stairs, with Mandy leading the way. I cling to my sketchbook, trying not to touch the rickety cobweb-laden banister.

Turning left, we head down the hallway and enter a bedroom.

“This room is supposed to be the youngest son’s room. Rumor has it that the asylum director shot him first. His wife woke up thinking someone was setting off fireworks. She heard it again, and that’s when he went into his daughter’s bedroom and shot her.”

I shiver as I look at the blood on the bed. “They’ve certainly made it look realistic.”

“Spooky, huh?” She swallows as we exit that room and head into another one. “This is the daughter’s room. She was the second victim.” Blood is on the bed and spattered on the walls and floor. I shiver before we turn and head down the hallway to the final twobedrooms.

“The mother got up to investigate. The oldest son had woken up from the sounds and met her in the doorway. From here, they could see him shooting the daughter.”

“What happened to him that made him go crazy and shoot his family?”

“Rumor has it his sanity was slipping after working with the criminally insane for so long. They promoted him to an administrative position, thinking that would prevent him from burning out.”

“Obviously not.” I shake my head. “I wish Stryker could see this. But I have such good visuals in my head that I can draw it for him.”

We walk through the son’s room and finally to the master bedroom. I shiver, goosebumps lining my skin, as I look around at the unmade bed. The scene looks so realistic, as though it just happened.

We turn around and move into the hallway. Mandy is in front of me when she suddenly stops walking. I crash into her back. “What the hell?”

She looks at me over her shoulder. “I think your wish came true.” She spins and hurries down the steps, leaving me on the second floor.