Page 30 of Sins of Autumn

Without another word, we quickened our pace, practically running along the narrow path. Every rustle of leaves and every creak of the woods seemed amplified like the entire forest was watching us. My heart was in my throat by the time the house came into view.

We stumbled inside, and I slammed the door shut, locking it with shaking hands. My chest heaved as I moved from the patio to the kitchen, trying to catch my breath.

“Autumn?” Daniella’s groggy voice drifted from the foyer as she came around the corner. Her hair was a wild mess and there were hickeys all down one side of her neck.

“What the hell are you guys—”

“Someone has my dog,” I cut her off, the words sharp and clipped.

Her eyes widened as the haze of sleep left her in an instant. “What?”

When I didn’t stop to explain, Ryan handed her his collar.

What was I supposed to do? Arm me and go traipsing through the woods? That seemed like afuck yes, but I wasn’t that stupid. A loud knock echoed through the house, the sound like a gunshot against the quiet. I turned toward the door, my body moving before I could think.

“Autumn!” Ryan’s voice called sharply as he lunged forward, catching me before I could reach it. His arms wrapped tightly around me, holding me back as I struggled against him. “I know you’re pissed, but you can’t just open that door, sweetheart. We have no idea what the fuck is going on.”

I stilled for a moment, glaring at him over my shoulder. “I’m not opening it,” I snapped. “I just want to see who it is.”

He hesitated, his grip loosening slightly, and I moved forward, stepping up to the peephole. My fingers curled into fists at my sides as I pressed my eye to the tiny glass. On the other side, staring directly was the girl from the gas station.

My blood ran cold.

Her face was pressed so close, it was like she could see me, her lips curved into a slow, unsettling smile. Her eyes seemed to bore into mine as if the door wasn’t even there. I froze, unable to move or breathe, my mind screaming at me to step back, but my body refused to listen. This creepy bitch had walked into a field. How the fuck did she get here? How did she know this was where we were going?

“Autumn?” Gabe’s voice was low. “Who’s out there?”

I didn’t answer, my gaze locked with hers through the peephole. Her lips moved, slowly, forming words I couldn’t hear but understood perfectly.

“Is Kristy home?”

I stepped back, bumping into Ryan’s chest. His hands steadied me as he looked toward the door, his jaw tightening. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak. “It’s her,” I whispered. “The girl from the gas station.”

Daniella, who had moved closer, paused mid-step. “How is that possible? That place was at least two hours away.”

Ryan glanced at Gabe, who was standing by the living room entrance, his face grim. “We’re not opening that door,” he stated firmly, his hand tightening on my arm.

Another knock came, louder this time, followed by a long, dragging scrape against the stone. I backed away, my eyes locked on the door as if it might burst open any second.

Gabe stepped in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking my view. “Get everyone in here.”

That was directed at Ryan.

“How many doors does this place have?” I asked, my voice tight.

“I don’t—I don’t know,” Daniella stammered, glancing toward the living room as if the answer might materialize there.

Ryan was already moving, heading toward the bedrooms to wake everyone else. Another knock echoed through the house, louder and more deliberate, and Daniella snapped, her nerves clearly fraying. “Go the fuck away!”

Her shout was met with silence.

One by one, the others began to shuffle toward the foyer, hungover and half-asleep. Naija was the first to speak, her locs swaying as she rubbed her eyes and glared at Gabe. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Where’s the phone box?” Gabe asked urgency in his tone. “We need our phones.”

Naija scowled, visibly trying to think past her pounding head. “It was in the kitchen, by the paper towels.”

I bolted, Daniella hot on my heels. My eyes scanned the counter as I rounded the corner, but there was nothing. “It’s not here,” I called out. My hands fumbled over the counters and pulled open cabinets as if I might have missed it, but it was nowhere to be found.

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