Page 48 of Deliver us from Evil

4221Beep.

Damn it! I have to remember I’ve already tried that one.

Thump, thump, thump.

He’s right beside me. Which room is that? I’m trying to picture the layout of my own house, but I can’t.

4211.

Click.

Is it the dining room? The living room?

42—

Wait.

I focus on the light above the panel. It’s flashing green now. Was it doing that before? Why do I remember it being solid red?

I grab the handle, and open the door.

It swings inward and bathes me in gray light. As I step outside and turn into the hallway, I figure out what room he’s in.

Dad’s study.

The room right above the portion of the basement I was just in.

No wonder I never heard anything. Dad kept that door locked.

I’m a fucking idiot. I thought my Dad was a God-fearing man with a fully functioning moral compass.

How could I have been so wrong?

The thought makes me nauseous, so I hurriedly stop trying to figure anything out. Instead, I focus on creeping down the hall as quietly as possible.

Quietly…but quickly.

The hall takes a turn and reveals the front door. It’s only about two yards away. My heart kicks into overdrive again, and then I’m running.

It’s fucking idiotic, but I can’t help it. I can’t stop. It’s too close, and I’m too scared.

So I run.

And then I slam into the wood as I’m fumbling for the lock. It turns, the tumblers clicking loudly as they slide back into the door.

I twist the handle. Step back so the door can open.

Behind me, someone starts running.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, THUD!

The door is open.

But I can’t go through because someone’s standing there.

Cass is standing there.

What the hell is Cass doing here?

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