Page 55 of Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

“You stayed at a hospital abroad.”

“I never left.”

“But you said I will leave here in a body bag… You want revenge.”

“Revenge?” Nate seized my arm, pulling me close. His forehead came down on mine and he inhaled my scent, whispering, “I want you to wake up. Free us from your nightmare.”

“How? How do I do that?” I asked, my voice trembling with a mixture of desperation and terror.

“You die.”

“No…” I slid past him, making my escape. “This is sick. You’re sick, Nate!”

He followed after me, towering like an avenging angel that sought to feast on my soul. “Why are you fighting it?”

“Why?” I whirled around, my eyes frantic. “I’ll die if I don’t. Don’t you get it? I can’t face it. I can’t face him.”

“You’re already dead.” His gaze skated toward the gun on the table, and when he pinned me with his eyes, I saw every unspoken word. I tasted them on my tongue and spat them back out. “How do I know this isn’t some game on your part? Maybe you’re all in on it? You’ve already killed Alice and the others.”

A look of confusion crossed his face, and he frowned. “Who’s Alice?”

“Don’t!” I yelled, fisting my hands. Nate did this on purpose. They all did. “Get out of my head. You’re not fucking welcome.”

A sinister grin played on his lips as he stepped closer. “So cast me out. Throw me to the devil.”

He cocked his head, listening, and I held my breath as he pinned me with his gray eyes, tongue sliding over his bottom lip. “It’s time.”

“Time for what?” I asked, backing away from him out of instinct.

“The witching hour is close.”

“What the fuck does that mean?!” I shouted, stumbling over the corner of the rug where it had curled in on itself.

“It means”—he took a step closer, hunting me like prey—“it’s time to choose.”

“Choose what?”

A fire flared to life in the fireplace, causing me to yelp as my heart jumped to my throat. The flames flickered behind him, casting his face in shadow, but his eyes gleamed.

“Truth or Dare.”

“Truth or Dare?” I flicked my eyes between his, just as my back connected with the bookshelf, and I skirted the length of it.

“Truth or Dare,” he repeated. “If you say ‘truth’ and you lie, someone dies. If you choose ‘dare’ and fail, someone dies.”

I looked behind him at Lily by the couch and Evelyn on the floor. Harper had her head thrown back, arms swirling through the air as she danced to the tune of this nightmare.

“Truth. Or. Dare.” Nate’s calloused fingers trailed up my jaw.

Somewhere, a clock struck the hour and the sound reverberated through my soul. I held my breath, my terrified eyes landing on his. Nate stayed calm and collected as the sound of a door opening echoed hauntingly through the air.

On the floor, Evelyn let out a shriek, laughing. “The wolf is here.”

“Truth.”

“Are you sure?” Nate asked, inching closer, drugging me with his citrusy cologne. “Are you ready to face yourself?”

“Dare,” I breathed out, closing my eyes. “I choose Dare.”

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