Page 14 of Hell's Fear

“Here’s a shirt covered in roses,” Mina exclaimed and started searching it. “Found a key!”

“Okay, so we need to find clothing with candy canes, gold bars, and fishes?” Hunter asked.

“Yeah,” I agreed as I began looking.

“I have the candy cane. Who the hell would wear that?” Chey demanded, holding up an ugly blouse.

“Can’t disagree,” I muttered. It was bloody awful.

Chey waved a key in the air.

After ten minutes of hunting the last two items, we were scratching our heads. There wasn’t a fish or gold bar-covered item of clothing.

Kele yanked out a fishing jacket and inquired, “What about this?”

He searched the pockets and groaned as he pulled a key out.

“Note to everyone, it’s not just images,” Mouse said.

“I found a gold skirt,” Ben called as he checked it over. “Nothing.”

“Got a gold pair of pants,” Chatter announced and discovered a key in the waistband.

A few minutes later, we were back to scratching our heads again. None of the keys fit the cash register.

“Is there a keyhole in the pictures?” Kele asked.

“Yeah,” Ben replied, examining them.

Two turned up empty while one held a fuse and the second a photograph of a box.

“The boxes under the till,” I said. “Is there a number on that photo?”

“Six,” Ben called.

There was a load of sixes, and the boxes weren’t easy to open. Finally, the second from last wielded a padlock key, and we got the cash register open. The lights flashed as the door opened, and we entered the next room.

“Dolls!” Chatter howled and hid behind Hunter, who threw him an incredulous look.

“Oh, no!” I groaned.

Chatter began climbing Hunter’s back, who no longer looked amused.

“Those are not dolls!” Celt snapped, exasperated.

“Big dolls, big fuckin’ dolls!” Chatter screamed.

Hunter winced and tried to shrug Chatter off.

Mouse, the tallest man here, reached up and dragged Chatter from Hunter’s back as Chatter nearly throttled Hunter.

“Fuck!” Kele whimpered as he plastered himself against the wall.

“Kele?” I asked, turning to the big Samoan.

“Some of my people believe dolls trap evil spirits. My grandma was one, and her belief was passed down to me,” Kele whispered.

“Oh shit!” I murmured.

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