Dead End: Midnight Hollow by Penn Cassidy (best e reader for epub txt) 📕

I spun around, feeling like someone was watching us, and only came up with an empty morgue.

“Michael, can we go now? He’s gone… I felt him leave. I just need to get the hell out of here.” I shivered violently, rubbing my arms to gather some warmth as I watched the body lie completely still. Then I quickly shoved him back inside the drawer with a relieved breath.

“Let’s get the fuck out of here, the guys will want to know about this. I have a bad feeling this is connected to your attack. Come, Albert.”

Michael wrapped me under his arm and walked out the swinging door with me tucked close to his warm skin, looking left and right. Albert followed along behind us on the ground, watching our backs. I was glad he decided to leave him out as we walked home. I just couldn’t shake off the suspicion we weren’t alone and knew the feeling I was having was the same one I had a year ago on Halloween night.

“Explain it one more time, pumpkin, but go slower,” Auntie Fe said, placing a steaming cup of tea in my hand and wrapping a blanket around my shoulders.

The aunties had known the second I got home that something was wrong. I couldn’t stop shivering, and apparently, it looked like all the blood was drained out of my face, leaving me pale as a ghost. Their words, not mine. Auntie Pip shooed us into the living room and pointed at me, commanding me to sit by the fireplace. Michael sat beside me with Jason on the other side of the plush, dark red loveseat. Norman was still as a statue, staring into space, but I knew that look, he was plotting revenge.

“Yeah, I’m really confused. What were you doing in the morgue with Michael?” Maddie asked from her spot on the coffee table, completely obvious to the wide eyed look I sent her way.

“He—I mean we were, um, studying. Yep, he was helping me try and connect with the dead, but it didn’t work out so well.” I looked towards Pip and Fe. “I didn’t raise any spirits, Aunties. This didn’t even feel… It was off, almost like the body was empty and someone was pulling its strings.”

When Fe and Pip both gasped, everyone turned to them and watched as they started pacing, passing each other every few seconds, sending each other worried, heavy looks.

“It could only be one thing. It’s—” Auntie Pip snapped her fingers and stopped to stare at her sister with an expression I couldn’t place. It was scared yet sad, and she was wringing her hands together as her eyes filled with tears.

“Unsanctioned magic,” Fe whispered, padding over to hold Auntie Pip in a tight grip.

“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” I was about to start pulling out my hair.

The aunties whispered quietly together before facing us. Jason grabbed my hand in a gentle grip, and he offered a tight smile as Michael pulled me closer into his side.

“There's a lot we can’t explain because we don’t have proof yet, but I will tell you this... The magic you felt tonight is forbidden, unsanctioned magic that goes against our sacred laws because it’s unnatural. We have darkness in all of us, and magic can be used for both dark and light, but raising an empty shell is simply letting evil in. What you encountered was a creature using necromancy magic the wrong way—for their own gain. Most likely, they weren’t even necromancers themselves.”

I couldn’t believe it. How was it even possible, and why leave the message for me? Who was this creature toying with me? That’s what kept running through my mind as I sat there, lost in my thoughts, until Norman stepped forward with his fists clenched at his sides.

“Does this have anything to do with October’s parents? The man on the road?” Norman asked in a gravelly voice, sounding like he was about to tear something to pieces. Grief was shining through his expression, and anger. So much anger.

For a moment, it made my gut twist, realizing how torn up the guys really were over my parents’ deaths. They really were like family.

I glanced at Jason with a lazy glare, wondering when he told the others details about the night that still gave me nightmares. I knew he would say something to the guys if I didn’t tell them, but I would have liked to be the one.

“I had to, and I’m glad I did. This is getting ridiculous, especially with a target on your back. I’m only trying to keep you safe,” Jason grumbled, stroking my knuckles as he stared back at me, trying to make me understand. Which I did, but that didn’t mean I had to like it.

“Have to keep…safe...My girl...” His inner voice sounded full of obvious love and fierce protection.

“We don’t know,” my aunties answered at the same time, but they kept glancing at one another as they both started wringing their hands. “But we think it might.”

I leaned forward with my head between my knees, taking deep breaths, on the verge of having a full blown panic attack.

“Okay, that’s enough for tonight. It’s been endless studying, wondering how to survive in this strange world, magic, and danger. We are very proud of you all for how far you’ve come, so we have a surprise for you out back. Save figuring it all out for another day, and for now, let’s have some fun!” Auntie Fe said in delight, her eyes shining and her inner child peeking through.

“She’s right, Toby. Nothing we can do right now. We can only take this one step at a time.” Maddie jumped up and grabbed my shoulders, looking me square in the eye. “We got this. These bitches ain’t going anywhere, so enjoy life because I’m telling you to. I’m here sis…” Then she muttered under her breath, “There better