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

“How come? Isn’t she a cheerleader?” I asked as we raced down the halls.

“Cheerleaders are social outcasts around here. Most of them are clowns, and even by our standards, they’re a lot to handle.”

Maddie shivered. “Didn’t exactly get a warm welcome from the last clowns we encountered.”

Cal tipped his head in question, so I said, “We got chased by a few of them when we got into town. It wasn’t pretty.” I remembered the way my heart had leapt into my throat as we ran for our lives. I still had no idea what would have realistically happened had they caught us.

Cal laughed, stopping us short. “Don’t let those guys intimidate you. They were probably just fucking around, and you guys were the perfect targets. Payton’s family runs the Killer Clown Motel downtown. They’re weird, for sure, and you really don’t wanna piss them off, but they’re harmless. Her uncle is even on the city council with my dad.”

“Huh…” I said, scratching my head. “I literally have nothing to say to that.”

He gave me a suave smile. “It’s all right, little mortal. You’ve got a lot to learn. It’s a good thing I’m such a good teacher.”

“Feel free to teach me your ways, oh wise one,” Maddie purred, sidling up to Cal again.

For just the briefest of seconds—so short I almost missed it—I could have sworn I saw a blush stain his cheeks, but it was gone in an instant. Hmm…curious.

“Well, ladies, it looks like this is your stop.” He gestured to an open classroom door. Maddie giggled and brushed past him slowly, but I lingered a moment.

“Listen,” I said, lowering my voice. “I really appreciate your help. We’ve been so lost, and this whole situation makes me feel like I’ve finally lost my mind. Thanks for showing us around and treating us like…” I giggled darkly. “Well, not like we’re human, I guess.”

Cal grinned. He really was charming, I supposed. Still, my belly didn’t flutter when he smiled at me. My heart didn’t do backflips when he leaned in for a half hug. But I did embrace him, enjoying the soft smell of cinnamon and vanilla that wafted off of his jacket. “Anytime, October. I’ll see you girls around, so please don’t be a stranger.”

With a smile, I turned away and finally stepped into my first class.

Our first two classes were easy, easier than I’d imagined, but they were the only two classes Maddie and I had together. I was done for the day, but she had something a little extra on her schedule—a class on witchcraft that the aunties had signed her up for, despite her complaining about going.

I was kind of jealous, not going to lie, but I was happy Maddie would get some help. I knew she was trying to cover up all her worries with jokes. Over the last week at the manor, weird and unexplainable things had started happening around Maddie. Doors would open for her, items would levitate, and a few times, I could have sworn I saw her stirring her tea without touching the spoon. We were all pretty sure Maddie was a witch.

It made sense, and I hoped she would just embrace it. Michael, as it turned out, was a rare sort of warlock. The snake and the blazing hellfire were signs of dark magic, and the aunties told him they’d do their best to help him through it. Jason was struggling with his demonic familiar and trying to keep him at bay, but Damon liked to come out whenever possible, especially when Jason found himself alone with me. We were all in for a hell of a wild ride.

Potions had been entertaining to say the least. The professor was kind of scary at first, but once I got used to her popping up in any given place, her antics actually became amusing. She was a ghost—or a poltergeist, as she asked to be called. Nearly translucent, she wore what looked like a long sweeping dress in a patchwork of fabrics with lace around the cuffs and collar. Her hair was up in a neat bun, but there was a distinct gaping hole right in the center of her forehead. I hadn’t asked about it, and didn’t think I’d have the guts to any time soon.

I still wasn’t sure how invested I should get into academics. We’d only been here for a week, and everything still seemed so surreal. The aunties had said there was no chance of us going back to the mortal world any time soon, at least not until next Halloween. I had a sneaking suspicion that wasn't entirely true. They were keeping something from us, and I needed to figure out what it was.

But did any of this really mean we needed to immerse ourselves in the life here? I supposed it was better than the alternative. I didn’t really feel like sitting around the aunties’ manor, twiddling my thumbs for a year. Still, it was hard to concentrate when I was feeling so completely outside my element since I’d raised the dead. It didn’t mean I wanted to go back, I didn’t, but I had a feeling I’d have to make a choice someday.

We’d been learning some of the basics, and I was pretty sure the professor only covered it because she knew Maddie and I were in the class. Most of the students probably all knew this stuff already, but she was being kind for our sake. We learned some basic concoctions, such as a potion to make food instantly taste better, and a potion to make your hair grow. We even watched her mix a potion to turn any organic being into stone temporarily without killing it. That one kind of freaked me out. I had no idea just how in depth magic really went, but so far, I knew it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Actually, I was pretty sure neither