Haunting-Adeline

I’m a tad psy from ge ng drinks at a bar a er the event, so Daya is
driving me back home in my car. We laugh and giggle over funny moments
and even gossip about the crazy drama that always circulates the book
community.
We’re riding a high from having such a good me, but our smiles bleed
dry as she pulls up to the house.
A lone light is on, shining through the bay window. I turned off all the
lights before we le .
I go to scramble out of the car, but Daya’s firm grip around my hand
stops me.
“He could s ll be in there,” she says urgently, her grip ghtening almost
painfully.
“He fucking be er be,” I growl, wrangling my arm from her grip. I slip out
of the car before Daya can try to stop me again and charge towards the
manor.
“Addie, stop! You’re being stupid.”
I am, but the alcohol has only made my anger more potent. Before Daya
can stop me, I’m unlocking the front door and barreling into the house.
A single light is on over my kitchen sink, too weak to illuminate the front
of the house properly.
No one is wai ng for me, so I start flipping on lights to diminish the
ominous tone in the air.
“Come out, you freak!” I yell, storming into the kitchen and grabbing the
largest knife I can find. When I turn, Daya is standing in the doorway,
looking around the room with an alarmed expression on her face.
I was so intent on killing the bastard, I didn’t even bother to look around.
The en re living room is covered in red roses. My mouth pops open, and
the words on my tongue stu er and evaporate.
I turn and spot an empty whiskey glass si ng on the counter, a dribble
of alcohol at the bo om of the glass, and a dis nct mark on the lip.
Lying next to the glass is a single red rose.
My widened gaze clashes with Daya's. All we can do is just stare at each
other in shock.
Heart in my throat, I finally choke out, “I need to check the rest of the
house.”