Page 49 of Dead End

“What are my parents doing in this?” I traced my finger over their familiar features under the glass, seeing their smiling faces as they stared at the camera—Dad hugging Mom under his arm as she peaked underneath it with a small smile.

Holy shit, they look so happy here...

“I thought you looked familiar the first time I met you, and this is why. You look just like your mother,” he whispered, probably picking up on my conflicting emotions.

Everything was a secret with my parents, and I thought I never really knew who they were to begin with. How was I supposed to connect with them when everything was a lie my whole life?

“October, why are you asking about this Society?” Maddie questioned me with a sharp glance as she paced along the display case, reading each article.

I slipped my Necromancy 101 book out of the waistband of my skirt and pulled out the letter I’d stuffed between the pages.

“A message for me, apparently... I’m not sure what to do with it.” I shrugged and couldn’t stop staring at the picture of my parents, then I scanned the other members until one caught my eye. “Hey, Baen, is that the mayor?”

He peered closer with his eyes squinting and nodded slowly before pulling away to allow Maddie to squeeze in beside him to take a look. It was definitely the mayor because he still dressed the same as he does now. But in the photo, he wasn’t even looking at the camera—he was staring at my mom.

“Yes, Mayor Ichabod Addams is a legacy because his great-grandfather was one of the founders that started it all.” He began, pointing at other members, but stopped as Maddie let out a gasp and grabbed his arm, pointing at the far right corner of the photo.

“Is that Payton?” she asked and leaned closer before shaking her head. “No, it can’t be. She’d have to be in her early fifties by now. It looks like her, down to the nasty scowl and clown markings. Toby, look how she’s staring at the mayor! She has a thing for him; I recognize that look! It’s the same one you give the guys all the time.” I elbowed her in the stomach, ignoring her grunt, and started pacing.

“That’s not Payton, but her mother. The resemblance is admittedly uncanny. You have to understand that these people weren’t just in a club. They were a family too,” Baen said, his eyes unfocused as he started stroking Maddie’s hip almost absentmindedly before glancing at me. “As the story goes, Ichabod and your parents grew up together as childhood friends.”

“That makes no sense. I had already met the mayor, and he acted like he didn’t know me. As you said yourself, I look just like my mother.” At that point, I felt like pulling out my hair in frustration and decided I was definitely going to the society meeting to find out more.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen those eyes.” The mayor’s words from the night we met came back to me in an instant.

No more secrets.

“Are you okay?” Maddie asked. She shifted her gaze over to Baen and nodded her head in the other direction, basically telling him to scram. He took off without a word, hands in his pockets. That guy was a keeper, for sure.

“Not really… I’m a mess. First this place...” I looked around helplessly. “It’s my fault we’re stuck here, and I’m being followed by something invisible, attacked by scarecrows, and I can’t even protect myself because I’m fucking useless. Don’t even get me started on the guys,” I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest. I felt like my feelings were going to swallow me whole soon.

Okay, first of all, this Halloween town isn’t so bad. You have more power inside than you know, and take it from the girl who suppresses her power constantly when I say I can feel yours blossoming like a flower. The guys won’t let anything happen to you, and neither will I.” She smiled cheekily, adding, “And if they also make you see stars while still frustrating you at the same time, that probably only means one thing—you need to open your eyes.”

My cheeks warmed as she went on, “And don’t you dare deny you’ve had sex with at least one of them because I heard you last night. Which was wild, by the way. Was it any good? Wait, don’t answer that. By the sounds you were making, it had to be good.”

Maddie grinned and jumped up and down at my burning face as she shook my shoulders in her excitement.

“I’m so not answering that,” I said through a laugh, but then sobered again. “I’m scared shitless... What if they break my heart? I don’t think I can do this a second time. And this stuff about being a legacy is freaking me out too, because I don’t know jack shit about that either. Everything has been a lie. My whole life, Mads.” I wanted to cry, but the tears were all dried up.

She stopped bouncing around and looked me dead in the eyes as she leaned in closer to make her point. “Being scared is part of life, Toby. If you aren’t scared sometimes, are you really living to begin with? Your life wasn’t a lie, not by far. I think your parents wanted you to have a normal childhood before this place became unavoidable. You wouldn’t have met me, my fabulous self, or the guys if you grew up here. Stop hiding and embrace what you have right in front of you.”

She hugged me hard and didn’t let go, even when I placed my head on her shoulder, my body shaking from suppressed tears and the emotions that were threatening to let go.

“Why are you always right?” I mumbled as I pulled away and watched her wipe her eyes as she laughed.

“It’s a gift and a curse.” She shrugged. “It seems we both have some work to do on ourselves. Go to the Society meeting and find out why your parents looked so happy in that photo. It was obviously meant to be.” She gestured to the framed photo of Mom and Dad as they embraced each other, smiling.

“You’re right. I’ll go. I’m going to get out of here. I think I’ll try raising the dead at least once. Maybe it will come to me eventually.” I pulled away, adding, “Oh, and the aunties want you at the house in a little bit for poisons and hexes lessons. And don’t think I didn’t see you using magic on those floating books.”

She could hardly look me in the eye as she fumbled with the strings on the black hoodie she was wearing. “Yeah, about that... Apparently, my magic is going haywire and is only activated when I’m, um, turned on or emotional. It’s hard getting used to this, Toby, but I’m trying.”

She bit her lips as she glanced away, and I knew it couldn’t be easy for her. She was a powerful witch who knew how to use magic deep down but was terrified of it.

“You’ll get the hang of it; I know it. Maybe Baen can help you.” I hid my smile behind my hand. I knew we were both going to be okay as she shoved me lightly, but she couldn't stop smiling either.

“Okay, get out of here because I’m sure by the time I find that sexy man, all the books will be floating in no time.” She giggled and hugged me quickly before skipping away like a love-struck fool.

“Oh, Mads! Have you seen Jessica?” I called out to her, who was retreating.

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