Dead End: Midnight Hollow by Penn Cassidy (free novel 24 TXT) 📗

Freddy watched his brother, grimacing as if he too could feel Norman’s discomfort. His brother looked back at him, and Freddy nodded firmly. Norman shook his head and whispered something back to my auntie, who smiled kindly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Okay, change of plans,” she announced. “Wait here for Pip and Maddie, and we’ll be right back.” With that, she spun away in a flurry of colorful robes. Norman, looking uncomfortable, followed closely, placing his hands in his pockets.

“Jessica, can you go with them just to make sure he’s okay?” I asked quietly. She responded with a four legged salute before hopping down off me and skittering after them.

They walked a ways down the street, coming to a building that looked like it belonged in the eighteen hundreds. It had a gothic vibe with the towering grey columns, turrets, balconies, and huge steel doors in front. A sign on top of the building said Blood Bank. We all knew what was happening and what went on behind those doors, yet none of us spoke, realizing that Norman was going to have possibly the hardest adjustment.

“There you are!” Auntie Pip called out, coming our way. “We were just heading to the Witches Den for some potions. Been having a bit of a pest problem, gnomes in the garden again. But this is nice, too. Where did Fe run off to?” She was still chewing on mouthfuls of sickly sweet spiderweb candy. I cringed just looking at it.

“Uh, blood bank with Norman.” I pointed over my shoulder and tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear when three angry gazes swung my way, as if it was my fault yet again.

I mean…it kind of was, but I didn’t like the looks. It was just a reminder of how I’d fucked up their lives. Well, at least they had lives, thanks to me. Maddie slid to my side and looped her arm through mine, grinning around a mouthful of purple cotton.

“This place is crazy awesome, like a real life haunted attraction all year round!” She was beaming. “This place is right up your alley, Tobs. Have you even looked around you yet?”

She was completely right. I felt oddly at home here, but I’d been afraid to voice that, thinking maybe it would be just one more reason for them to blame me for all of this.

In every direction I looked there were shops of extraordinarily odd things. Some of the buildings looked straight out of the Renaissance, with the decaying dark wood and stained glass windows. Some buildings seemed to be leaning slightly sideways, while others were tall and slender with curved chimneys reaching up towards the double moons. Fairy lights were strung up between the shops and arching over the street, where there were virtually no cars, just people walking around.

I spied a cute window full of books, belonging to a place called The Wicked Quill. A small wooden door led into the shop with planter boxes hanging off the front, filled with lavender stalks. Evening primrose flowers were planted along the inner walkway, giving it a homey feel. I adored reading, and I suddenly couldn’t wait to get inside and find a good book to curl up with.

“And over there you’ll find Ghost of Our Pasts movie theater,” Pip announced, gesturing down the street. “It plays the best mortal made films. The creatures here tend to find it fascinating, the way mortals dress up and pretend to scare each other. Fascinating, yet horrifying at the same time.” Cobwebs hung from a black and white striped sign above a scrolling marquee.

“Is that a bubble tea café?” Maddie gasped, already heading that way before I could stop her.

Fog was coming out of the tea shop windows, which were cracking a hair, and an old, rusted cauldron shaped sign was swinging back and forth, squeaking in the breeze. The sign read Toil and Trouble Tea. I would’ve been all for it, if it wasn’t for the questionable looking crone out front, stirring a pot of something bubbly as she cackled. I didn’t know what she found so funny about a bubbling cauldron, but my stomach turned at the thought.

“Candy is one thing, but there’s no way I’m going in here,” Michael said with a shudder as we all watched the witch pluck a grey hair off a wart on her chin and add it to her cauldron.

My stomach flipped again. I hoped she was just making a potion, and not trying to pass that crap off as tea.

“Okay how about this,” Pip suggested. “I’ll take Maddie, Micheal, and Jason to the Witches Den for some potions. We would have gone there regardless for some school items and gnome repellent. Freddy, be a dear and go with October to the book shop. I can see those wheels turning and she’ll go with or without you, but I’d rather you keep an eye on her.”

Freddy was still scowling towards the blood bank, impatiently waiting for Norman, but he nodded to Pip absently.

Pip leaned in closer to me, and lowered her voice as she said, “Look for some books on necromancy while you’re in there. The bookkeeper has a lovely collection of antiques. Your dad didn’t leave his things behind, and I’m afraid our grimoires won’t do you much good.”

I nodded grimly. I supposed I was on my own for now. Plus she was right, I should definitely look for some how to guides or something if I wanted to learn how to raise the dead…or how not to. I didn’t bother waiting for Freddy, because all he would do was bitch at me, so I took off into the bookshop without saying anything as everyone split up in different directions.

An old-fashioned bell chimed the moment I opened the door, and the comforting smell of parchment, ink, and coffee beans filled the air. I took a deep breath, feeling relaxed for the first time since being here, and