Page 58 of Sweet Nightmare

I try to cover up my worry, but Mozart must see it, because she puts a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Clementine. If he says he’s got it, he’s got it.”

“I’m not worried.” But the lie is barely out of my mouth when a new round of thunder booms overhead, shaking the walls and causing the lone lightbulb in the hallway down below—Uncle Carter must have finally replaced it when he chased down the hydra wannabe earlier—to flicker.

Of course, the storm decides to resume right at this very moment.

As if my thoughts conjured it up, a giant screech sounds from down below. For a second, I think the giant snake monster has gotten loose again, but then I hear the clang of a lock followed by the slam of a door and realize it’s much, much worse.

Jude has actually gone into the cage with the snake monster.

Oh shit.

I speed up, taking the last of the stairs two at a time as I imagine what that thing’s snake fingers could do to him.

Strangle him.

Impale him.

Rip him limb from limb.

On the plus side, the attack from earlier has ensured the ghosts stay gone, but I’m so freaked out about Jude that I barely notice. Instead, I race down the hall, heart pounding and horror twisting inside of me. But by the time I reach the snake monster’s unchained pen, Jude is already sliding back out of it, slow and unconcerned. Like he just fed his favorite puppy instead of a wild, bloodthirsty monster.

“Told you he’d be fine,” Mozart whispers in my ear as she moves to catch up to me. “Jude’s got a way with monsters,” she adds as he walks toward the next pen.

“You couldn’t possibly have fed him that fast,” I tell him as I hustle over. “I didn’t even hear a sound from in there. And I know from personal experience it gets very, very loud when it’s upset.”

Jude gives me a sharp look, one I return with interest until he finally just shrugs. “I didn’t even see it when I went in. It must have been sleeping somewhere in the enclosure.”

“You want me to believe it was sleeping and you just walked in there, dumped a bunch of that damn sparkly kibble, and it didn’t so much as stir?” I know I sound skeptical, but come on. I’ve been stuck dealing with these damn creatures since sophomore year. They change out pretty regularly—my mom gets extra money from boarding monsters short term—and none of them is easy to deal with. None of them.

But Jude just waltzes in like it’s no big deal? Fills up a week’s worth of food and water dishes and waltzes back out? It makes no sense.

“I don’t know if he stirred or not, Satsuma. I didn’t see him. At all.”

I narrow my eyes at the nickname and pretend—even to myself—that I’m annoyed he’s back to calling me random, citrusy names.

“I guess not. But I don’t suggest you try just waltzing in there like that with some of the other monsters, Eleanor Rigby.”

“I’m not worried.” He nods toward the end of the hall. “Why don’t you leave those to me while the three of you deal with the chricklers?”

“You don’t really think I’m going to let you do all these pens alone, do you? We’ll split up—divide and conquer. And then we can all head into the chrickler enclosure together. It’s definitely a job for more than one person. The more the unmerrier.”

Jude doesn’t look impressed, and I realize it’s the first time he’s shown anything but his regular poker face in reference to this job. There’s something going on with him, and I’m bound and determined to figure it out. I don’t have an answer—yet—but if the last few years have taught me anything, it’s that whenever something is up with Jude, I end up getting hurt.

No way am I going to let that happen anymore.

“I have a better idea,” he suggests. “How about a compromise?”

I laugh, though there’s no humor in the sound. “That was my compromise.”

“Okay. Then how about a bet?”

“A bet?” I narrow my eyes. “What kind of bet?”

“I thought I was bad about always having to get my way,” Izzy comments lazily. “But you two have me beat.”

“Jude’s only this way with Clementine,” Mozart tells her.

I want to ask her what she means by that, but I’m too busy staring Jude down—who’s just as busy doing the same to me. Out of eyes that have suddenly gone a myriad of colors. Green and silver, gold and black, all swirled together in the most captivating mix I’ve ever seen.

---