Haunting-Adeline

When I enter the room on the le , I sweep my eyes across the small
area, looking for the exit. In tandem, I feel a presence come up behind me
—one that doesn’t want to invite me to their tea party any me soon—
while mechanical mannequins burst from an armoire and a closet. My
heart stalls in my chest, but I stay calm as I turn towards the malicious
presence at my back.
The last thing I expect to see is the broken doll from earlier—the one
taun ng Mark.
Her brown hair is pulled up in pigtails, with pink bows wrapped around
them. Dull, brown eyes stare at me, intent shining brightly behind the
makeup on her face. Up close, she’s a lot creepier than I had expected.
Probably because the look in her eyes is murderous. I glance down,
taking quick inventory of her. She’s wearing a thin white nightgown, leaving
li le to the imagina on. I barely no ce her nipples poking through the thin
fabric. No, what my eyes lock in on is the outline of a knife strapped to her
thigh.
My blood chills. If this bitch tries to hurt my li le mouse…
“Where are they?” I ask, keeping calm. I’m wai ng to see confusion
bloom on her face, followed by a ques on on who I’m talking about. But
she doesn’t give me that sense of security.
She seems to know exactly who I’m talking about.
“Safe from you,” she snips. Then she turns her head to the side, staring
at the wall. “Let the others know two women are being followed and make
sure they get away safely. I have this handled.”
I can’t help the smirk that ps up the corners of my mouth. While part of
me is tripped up on who she’s talking to, I’m mostly amused that she thinks
she can handle me.
Her eyes track something that I can’t see, as if she’s watching them
leave.
“So, you’re crazy, huh?”
She rears back, offended by my assessment. Frankly, I couldn’t give a less
of a shit.
Anxiousness is curdling in my stomach like spoiled milk. Addie and Daya
s ll haven’t stumbled their way to the back of the hallway yet. And this
li le girl must think I’m like Mark and here to hurt them and well… she’s