The moment he was close enough, he held it out for Abe to take. The gesture seemed to pain him, but he did it anyway. Abe’s large hand wrapped around the base easily, letting him examine it without removing the protective arm from around his waist. The lines of his brow deepened as he held it up to examine in the light.
“Are you sure this is it?”
Mihail invaded his personal space as he craned his neck to examine it. A woman in blue was painted over the wood, the surface riddled with all the cracks that he could remember. The face was different. The demonic smirk that had haunted him the night before was gone, returned to an angelic little smile. And it seemed that the wood had soaked up the droplets of his blood. It looked now just like it had when he first spotted it upon the pedestal.
“Yes,” Mihail smiled, happiness bubbling up in his chest at the physical proof that this nightmare was over. “That’s it. Why?”
Abe opened his mouth to respond as he flicked his eyes to meet Mihail’s gaze. For a long moment, he kept his silence. Then sighed, shook his head, and offered him a weak smile.
“I’m sure it’s nothing. Just, promise you’ll tell me the moment anything strange happens, okay?”
“Of course.”
The nod Abe gave was an easy, smooth motion. It wasn’t enough to distract Mihail’s attention from the tension that was playing across his broad shoulders. Mihail didn’t have time to think about it as Abe gingerly removed the arm from around his torso and draped it over Mihail’s shoulders. It took a concentrated effort on Mihail’s part to both help take Abe’s weight and not hit any of his wounds. As carefully as he could, he placed his hand on Abe’s waist, startled to find the heat that normally pulsed from him had dulled.
“I’m ready to go home now,” Abe said with a pained hissed.
“Oh, right, we actually have to walk,” Mihail grinned.
Together, they began to shuffle towards the drawbridge, their process slow and steady.
“Mihail?” Abe asked abruptly.
“Yes?”
“I hate your house.”
* * *
FREE Bonus Novel!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the book. If you did, please take a minute to share your review. I read each and every review and they inspire me to create more horrific worlds!
Don’t forget your FREE bonus novel by Ron Ripley! Sign up for the mailing list below to download Sherman’s Library Trilogy in 3 formats, get FREE short stories, and receive future discounts: http://www.ScareStreet.com/SaraClancy
FREE books (30 - 60 pages):
Ron Ripley (Ghost Stories)
Ghost Stories (Short Story Collection)
A.I. Nasser (Supernatural Suspense)
Polly’s Haven (Short Story)
This is Gonna Hurt (Short Story)
Multi-Author Scare Street Collaboration
Horror Stories: A Short Story Collection
And experience the complete novels (150 - 210 pages):
Ron Ripley (Ghost Stories)
Sherman’s Library Trilogy (FREE via mailing list signup)
The Boylan House Trilogy
The Blood Contract Trilogy
The Enfield Horror Trilogy
Moving In Series
Moving In Series Box Set Books 1 - 3 (22% off)
Moving In (Book 1)
The Dunewalkers (Book 2)
Middlebury Sanitarium (Book 3)
Moving In Series Box Set Books 4 - 6 (25% off)
The First Church (Book 4)
The Paupers' Crypt (Book 5)
The Academy (Book 6)
Berkley Street Series
Berkley Street (Book 1)
The Lighthouse (Book 2)
The Town of Griswold (Book 3)
Sanford Hospital (Book 4)
Kurkow Prison (Book 5)
Lake Nutaq (Book 6)
Slater Mill (Book 7)
Borgin Keep (Book 8)
Amherst Burial Ground (Book 9)
Hungry Ghosts Series
Hungry Ghosts
Haunted Collection Series
Collecting Death (Book 1)
Walter’s Rifle (Book 2)
Victor Dark (Supernatural Suspense)
Uninvited Guests Trilogy
Listen To Me Speak Trilogy
A.I. Nasser (Supernatural Suspense)
Slaughter Series
Children To The Slaughter (Book 1)
Shadow’s Embrace (Book 2)
Copper’s Keeper (Book 3)
The Sin Series
Refuge (Book 2)
Purgatory (Book 3)
The Carnival Series
Blood Carousel (Book 1)
Witching Hour Series
Witching Hour (Book 1)
David Longhorn (Supernatural Suspense)
The Sentinels Series
Sentinels (Book 1)
The Haunter (Book 2)
The Smog (Book 3)
Dark Isle Series
Dark Isle (Book 1)
White Tower (Book 2)
Red Chapel (Book 3)
Ouroboros Series
The Sign of Ouroboros (Book 1)
Fortress of Ghosts (Book 2)
Day of The Serpent (Book 3)
Curse of Weyrmouth Series
Curse of Weyrmouth (Book 1)
Blood of Angels (Book 2)
Eric Whittle (Psychological Horror)
Catharsis Series
Catharsis (Book 1)
Mania (Book 2)
Coffer (Book 3)
Sara Clancy (Supernatural Suspense)
Dark Legacy Series
Black Bayou (Book 1)
Haunted Waterways (Book 2)
Demon's Tide (Book 3)
Banshee Series
Midnight Screams (Book 1)
Whispering Graves (Book 2)
Shattered Dreams (Book 3)
Black Eyed Children Series
Black Eyed Children (Book 1)
Devil’s Rise (Book 2)
The Third Knock (Book 3)
Demonic Games Series
Nesting (Book 1)
Keeping it spooky,
Team Scare Street
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
FREE Bonus Novel!