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

mean, they could have rung the doorbell to hand it over. I wasn’t dressed to impress, since I’d just been laying in bed earlier with the guys in charcoal grey tight fitting sweats and a Van Helsing T-shirt that I may have stolen from Freddy, the only shirt from the mortal world he had with him. He didn’t seem to mind, if the gleam in his eye last night was anything to go by. Norman had taken one look at the shirt and rolled his eyes at the famous vampire slayer.

The cloak material was black and maroon with gold stitching of half moons and stars. It was pretty and completely matched my style. I slipped out the door, looking back one more time and wishing I didn’t have to go to this stupid Society thing. I didn’t tell the guys because they’d been up my ass for the past few weeks about not going anywhere alone. They weren’t invited to attend, and I knew each of them would’ve demanded to watch over me. I needed answers about my parents, and this was my way to figure out who they were once and for all.

“It’s about time. I thought you were having a orgy in there,” Maddie whispered at my back, making me jump a foot in the air as I spun around with wide eyes. “Oh my god, were you?!” She gripped my shoulders, looking me up and down before sighing in disappointment at my lack of guilt.

“Let’s just get there and get back before they wake up. I want this over with and behind me,” I muttered quietly as I shut the door and looped my arm through hers. We snuck down the stairs, avoiding all the creaking steps.

“This is kind of exciting. I feel like we're on a secret special mission and we’re about to discover something important! You look hot, by the way, in a comfy, steal your boyfriend’s clothes kind of way!” she whispered loudly, grimacing at the way her voice echoed in the dark, empty hallway at the bottom of the stairs.

“Thanks,” I said through a chuckle. “I know, boyfriend material looks good on me.”

Her face sobered. “Feels kinda sketchy, right?” she asked.

I met her eyes in the darkness and nodded reluctantly. “I have the same feeling, but it could just be the moons. Tomorrow is the blood moon, like the one when we first got here except it’s an eclipse. That’s got to mean some spooky shit’s about to go down.” I shivered, trying to put the bus crash that seemed like a million years ago in the back of my mind.

I looked up and down the entryway, seeing that the coast was clear as we made our way to the front door, only to stop when the walls vibrated with a loud knocking sound that had us both jumping.

“What is that? I swear I hear that noise at least twice a day!” Maddie cocked her head to the side, straining to hear anything at all, but we were only met with silence.

“Hell if I know. Probably the aunties bubbling up something vile in the cauldron again?” I grumbled dumbly, wanting to get out before another green bubble of slime exploded again. In the back of my mind though, I knew that wasn’t what it was.

I pulled Maddie along behind me and cracked the front door open with my breath held. I didn’t start breathing until the door was shut behind us and we were walking down the street under the half moons towards the university.

“You sure this is the right place?” Maddie stared in disbelief at the door that read Broom Closet.

The moment we entered the basement part of the west wing, we found a note sticking out between the cracks of the brick with a red candle wax stamp that said E.S. As if that wasn’t clue enough, it had my name on it. With an eye roll, I tore it open, and it said in simple words to head into the broom closet with a small star drawn over it and follow the you are here arrows leading the way through a short maze of passages. I didn’t understand why someone couldn’t meet me here, but whatever.

“Why are my palms sweating?” I asked with a nervous giggle and rubbed my hands down my cloak.

“Let’s see what’s on the other side, shall we? No worries, Tobs. I’m here, and I’ll stick to the shadows when they sacrifice you to the great pumpkin,” she said with a straight face until she broke out in a maniacal cackle as I punched her arm.

“Don’t say shit like that, it’s like my worst nightmare right now. I’m totes picturing myself laid out on an altar as some weirdo hums and chants mumbo jumbo around me.”

I hopped in place, preparing myself to open the door, when Maddie rolled her eyes and just swung the door open before I could stop her.

“Well, I was expecting something more epic…” Maddie trailed off, staring at the same thing I was in confusion.

“It’s a freaking broom closet,” I deadpanned. “Like a real one with brooms and shit.” I poked my head inside, flipping on the single light bulb and continued looking around as if it was a practical joke. I swore, if Payton was behind this…

Handcrafted brooms made of wicker and smooth carved wood lined the walls of the tiny closet, and I stepped inside with Maddie, watching her run her fingertips over the handles with a sly grin.

“I wonder if I could fly one of these bad boys?” She grabbed the wooden handle of a mahogany broom in the corner of the room. The moment she pulled the handle, the wall beside it shifted with a groan that made me wince at the sound. It opened with a creak and cloud of dust billowing out.

“Seems like it’s the right place.” I shifted closer to the opening, seeing it was dark, completely covered in shadows and cobwebs, and led