“What’s wrong?” Nick asked.
Alex re-read the message before looking up at his friend. “Brock doesn’t have cell phone access, right?”
Nick shook his head. “He barely has access to people. Still in solitary.”
“Right.” After nearly killing his cellmate. “Visits from anyone? Other criminals?”
“While in solitary?” Nick arched a brow. “Why? What’s going on?”
Alex showed him the text.
Nick wrinkled his forehead. “What was the texter’s demand?”
“He wanted me to stop blogging. I assumed it was Brock.”
Nick glanced at the message again. “I’ll put Wu on it, but chances are, it’s just another troll.”
One who’d gone so far as to find Alex’s private cell phone number?
Unlikely. Highly unlikely. This person meant business.
You May Enjoy…
If you’re enjoying the Alex Mercer series, you’ll probably also really like my standalone novel, Lies Never Sleep.
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Two friends enter an abandoned insane asylum hoping to make a viral video... Instead, they disappear. As friends and family search for them, unexpected secrets come to light. Some secrets are darker than others, but everyone is a suspect. When the truth finally comes out, will the boys be found dead or alive?
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Excerpt
Atlas James hesitated at the edge of the property as they crept through the rusty wrought-iron gate. His heart thundered in his chest, both from nerves and excitement. The phone shook in his hand as he captured the video.
Emmett Powell turned around, wide-eyed and grinning, though it was barely visible in the moonlight. “You ready?”
Atlas didn’t want to admit his nerves were getting the best of him. “It’s gonna be awesome.”
“Right? And best of all, we’ll finally be famous. This video is going to go viral for sure. We’d better get going before midnight strikes.” Emmett pushed aside some old vines growing up and protruding from the trees, then opened the second gate—the owners of the insane asylum had been serious about keeping the residents locked inside. It creaked in protest.
“Try to keep up.” Atlas rushed past Emmett down the uneven path. It had probably once been a perfectly-level walkway, but roots and decades had changed that.
Emmett caught up to him. “You think anyone else is here? I mean, it is the anniversary of the slayings.”
As far as Atlas knew, nobody else had ever been brave—or stupid—enough to break into the old building on this date. “I think we’re good.”
“If we don’t get killed, right?” Emmett laughed and whacked Atlas on the back.
“Right.” Atlas aimed his phone at the old asylum.
The large abandoned building loomed before them, partially blocking their view of the moon. It looked more like a mansion than a mental hospital, but rumor had it, that was how it had started… until the original owner went crazy and killed his family and servants. Then his house became a mental hospital after no potential homeowners would buy it.
Emmett held up his phone and aimed it at himself. “Atlas and I are here on the anniversary of the Ichabod slayings. We’re the first to attempt this, and we’re going to try to lure out old Dr. Ichabod himself. Or maybe even the original owner of the building. What you’re about to see is history!”
Atlas glanced over at the building. After having only walked a little way, the moon was now directly over the building.
Emmett continued speaking into the phone as they made their way closer to the towering building. It was even taller and creepier up close.
They both skidded to a stop as they reached the steps leading to the front door. Emmett turned his phone toward the building, giving more narrative before pausing the recording.
Atlas held his breath, trying to calm his pounding heart. If this kept up, it would burst through his chest. The sound echoed in his ears, drowning out everything in the night. Even Emmett’s voice. He turned toward his friend. “What?”
“You ready?”
He studied the building, and a chill ran down his back. Rumors and stories he’d heard since childhood spun through his mind. As much as he wanted a viral video, he hoped they wouldn’t actually run into any murderous spirits. Ghosts didn’t exist, right? With any luck, they’d just find some cool relics and the video would still make them famous. “Yeah, of course. Can’t wait to see what’s in there.”
Emmett marched up the steps like he owned the place.
Atlas swallowed and pulled some of his hair behind his ears.
It was the moment of truth. Everything in him screamed to run away. But he was no chicken. Not only that, they’d planned this for months. He couldn’t let Emmett down. Besides, they might actually go viral. And if they didn’t do this now, they’d have to wait another year for the anniversary of the sanitarium’s closing.
Atlas caught up with Emmett. Each step felt like it would break under their weight. None did.
“What are we going to do if it’s locked?” Atlas stared at the enormous door with several deadbolts.
“It’s not.” Emmett spoke with the confidence of experience.
“How do you know? Have you already been here? Did you come here without me?”
“The locks were all broken when that doctor killed everyone, remember? People tried to escape, but nobody made it off the property that day alive. The police broke all the locks to get inside. The sight was so terrifying, several of them passed out.”
Atlas shuddered. What would they find? Old blood stains? Murder weapons?
“Ninety years ago tonight.” A thread of excitement ran through Emmett’s voice. “And we’re here!”
Atlas questioned his sanity, but pushed the thoughts aside. It was just an abandoned building. Ghosts weren’t real. The anniversary was no more significant than any other day.
He hoped.
Emmett reached for the doorknob.
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More information: https://stacyclaflin.com/books/lies-never-sleep/
Author’s Note
Thanks so much for reading Take On Me.
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About the Author
Stacy Claflin is a USA Today bestselling author who writes about complex women overcoming incredible odds. Whether it's her Gone saga of psychological thrillers, her various paranormal romance tales, or her sweet romance series, Stacy's three-dimensional characters shine through.
Decades after she wrote her first stories on construction paper and years after typing on an inherited green screen computer that weighed half a ton, Stacy realized her dream of becoming a full-time bestselling author.
When she's not busy writing or educating her kids from home, Stacy enjoys watching a wide variety of shows like Reign, Supernatural, Walking Dead, The Originals, Designated Survivor, Pretty Little Liars, Stranger Things, Haven, and Once Upon a Time.
For more information:
stacyclaflin.com/about
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Also by Stacy Claflin
An Alex Mercer Thriller
Girl in Trouble
Turn Back Time
Little Lies
Against All Odds
Don't Forget me
Tainted Love
Take On Me (Coming Soon)
Curse of the Moon
Lost Wolf
Chosen Wolf
Hunted Wolf
Broken Wolf
Cursed Wolf
Fall Into Romance
Lost in Romance
Gone
Gone
Held
Over
The Gone Trilogy
Dean's List
Indigo Bay Second Chance Romances
Sweet Complications
Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series
Sweet Dreams
Sweet Reunion
The Hunters
Seaside Surprises
Seaside Heartbeats
Seaside Dances
Seaside Kisses
Seaside Christmas
Bayside Wishes
Bayside Evenings
Bayside Promises
The Hunters: A Collection
The Transformed
Deception
Betrayal
Forgotten
Ascension
Duplicity
Sacrifice
Destroyed
Transcend
Entangled
Dauntless
Obscured
Partition
Fallen (The Transformed Prequel)
Silent Bite: A Transformed Christmas
Hidden Intentions
Saved by a Vampire
Sweet Desire
Valhalla's Curse
Renegade Valkyrie
Pursued Valkyrie
Silenced Valkyrie
Vengeful Valkyrie
Unleashed Valkyrie
Standalone
The Transformed Series - Four Books
The Transformed Box Set
No Return
Tiny Bites
Haunted
Dex
When Tomorrow Starts Without me
The Only Things You Can Take
Lies Never Sleep
Watch for more at Stacy Claflin’s site.