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

to hear you make those noises, goth girl.” His smile was devilish. Turning my back to him, I gestured for him to help me clasp it back on.

“I think it’s safe to say we’ve outrun the zombies,” Norman said.

“How long have we been in here?” Glancing at my watch, I found the answer for myself. “Holy shit, we’ve been here for over an hour. We’d better get—”

Knock, knock, knock.

“Oh crap,” I hissed. “C’mon, we have to get out of here, we’re totally trespassing right now.”

“Are you afraid we’re gonna get arrested?” Norman chuckled. “Do they even have cops here?” he mused aloud. “Or do they call them Dementors?”

“Shut up and help me find my clothes,” I said, but there was another rapid knock at the door. Shit. I didn’t have the time to search for each garment, so I did the next best thing—I stole.

There was a pretty black dress on the hanger closest to me. It was floor length and fashioned like an old princess gown. Made of lace and silks, it was soft, flowy, and I was able to throw it over my head easily. My heart was breaking for my favorite plaid skirt I knew I’d have to abandon, along with my boots that were around here somewhere. Perhaps I could find a way to get back in here later on and find them, but we had no time for that right now.

Norman swung the dressing room door open, and we filed out but pulled up short abruptly. My heart plummeted into my stomach as I met four pairs of wide, laughing eyes. Strangers in weird Shakespearean clothing stood before us, and one of the women on the right began a slow clap. The others joined in, and my cheeks flooded with color. They must’ve worked here in the theater, and we’d just put on one of the biggest shows of the millenia.

“Bravo! Encore! Magnifico!” one of the theater actors shouted in the back of the gathering crowd.

Without a single word, I made a break for it down the hall. I couldn’t even remember the way we came, but I was hoping I’d eventually reach a staircase. I was so embarrassed, I barely even registered the fact that I was barefoot and that the long black dress made my fast pace extremely treacherous. I kept going, needing to get away from those strangers, and I heard the guys following close behind.

Finally, I found the stairs and barreled my way down them. For a moment, with my dress flowing around me, I felt like a Disney princess running dramatically through the halls of an ancient castle, but I doubted any of those princesses had just been caught getting fucked in the ass by a werewolf in a closet.

Bursting out of the theater, I stopped when I reached the sidewalk, head on a swivel for lurking zombies. The street was quiet and nowhere near as busy as Main Street. The guys came out a moment later, and both of them were laughing. I glared at Freddy, and he forced his face to sober but his eyes were still gleaming.

Yeah, super funny. I can never show my face in the town’s theater again.

“I’m going back to the manor to change,” I said, holding the sides of my dress up. “And I need shoes…” Wiggling my toes, I felt a hysterical laugh about to crawl up my throat but stifled it.

“How do you plan on explaining the dress?” Norman asked, covering his mouth with his palm. He was actively trying not to laugh.

“I don’t.” Turning away with my nose in the air, I stalked towards the aunties’ house, prepared to take the smaller side streets. Luckily, we knew the layout of this town like the back of our hands, or else we’d be out of luck. “They don’t need to know everything about my life.”

The guys caught up to me, shaking their heads. We had about an hour until I needed to be in my first class. I recognized most of the buildings on this street. We passed a grouping of older style two story buildings that were mostly realtors and legal offices back in the mortal world. Up ahead was a massive brick building with columns out front, and a stone pathway lined with lanterns. The wrought iron archway overhead said City Hall.

There were a few people gathered outside, standing around in a small group, and a town car sat parked on the street with a driver standing next to an open door. The driver was about two feet tall, and his face was pudgy and bulbous, while his skin was bright green. The word gnome immediately came to mind, but I couldn’t be sure. I did wonder how the hell that little guy reached the pedals.

We were preparing to cross the street to avoid the group of people, but at the sound of my name, we stopped and looked around. A man in a dark blue velvet robe and a long cane topped with the head of a cobra made his way over. It took a minute for me to recognize him as he stepped into the light of a lantern. It was Mayor Ichabod Addams, Cal’s dad.

“Miss Hallowell!” he called out with a charming smile, teeth still way to white to be natural. “What brings you to this side of town?” His chestnut eyes twinkled. “Here for a dose of arts and culture?” He nodded at the theater we just left.

“I, uh, we were just on our way to the university,” I stammered, feeling incredibly uncomfortable. I could tell the guys were still grinning, even though I knew they didn’t like the mayor either.

“You’re missing out on some real treats in town by taking the scenic route. I hear the pumpkin cakes are particularly sweet this year. Will you be attending the festival this week?”

“I haven’t really thought about it,” I said honestly. I’d seen the signs up all over town and watched some of the booths going