Page 63 of Haunted Spurs

I stare at her. My eyes widen. God, she's brilliant.

"I mean, yeah... it's a cliché, but... there'll be knives, right?" She adds, shrugging.

I'm already nodding. It makes perfect sense.

I open the door again. The hallway is still a silent graveyard. Before turning toward the stairs, my gaze lands on a dark object abandoned on the hardwood floor, not far from where the killer was standing.

My Stetson.

It must have slipped off my head while we were running, and I didn't even notice. I bend down, scoop it up, and pull it firmly onto my head, tugging the brim low over my eyes. Now I feel whole again.

We move toward the main staircase. The steps creak, but we don't have a choice.

We've almost made it to the first floor.

Suddenly, a rapid movement to our left. A figure lunges at us from the shadows beneath the stairs.

I jerk forward, planting myself in front of Selene to shield her with my body.

But the figure brakes hard, skidding on the floor, and dodges us at the last second.

"Fuck, guys!" A panting, familiar voice. "It's you."

Josh.

He drops his shoulders, exhaling all the breath he had in his lungs. A second later, from the alcove under the stairs, Lizzie pops out too, white as a sheet but with alert eyes.

"Is anyone else here?" I ask in a whisper.

He nods. I step forward, keeping an arm stretched out behind me to make sure Selene is tucked right up against my back. In the darkness under the stairs, huddled together but ready to spring, are Levi and Emma. He's holding her tight, shielding her with his own body.

"We were thinking of..." I start to say, but a metallic clang makes us jump.

We all flinch in unison.

Josh lifts his hand and passes me something cold, solid, and heavy. I catch it mid-air. An old, termite-eaten, solid wood baseball bat.

"Found some junk in the basement," Josh murmurs. He's now gripping what looks like a heavy iron fireplace poker.

"Perfect!" I hiss, weighing the bat in my hand, finding its balance.

I pull Selene completely behind me, putting myself firmly between her and whatever was waiting for us. She clings to the back of my shirt, keeping Ollie's leash short.

Another noise. A slamming drawer.

It's coming from the kitchen, at the end of the hall.

We exchange a knowing look. We move forward as a pack.

We reach the double swinging doors of the kitchen. I hold my breath, raise the bat over my shoulder, and... with a well-aimed kick, I violently shove the doors open, bursting into the room ready to slaughter everyone in sight.

Luckily, my brain processes the image a split second before I can swing the bat. I stop the wood mid-air, freezing in my tracks.

Behind the massive marble island are Carolina, Indya, and the twins, Cole and Cade. They are muttering frantically, rooting through the drawers.

Carolina gasps, jumping back and clapping a hand over her heart.

She stares at us, then her expression relaxes.