Page 5 of Insatiable

The road twisted through old farmland, thick trees closing in around us. Their branches stretched out as if trying to pull us in..

When the mansion finally appeared, Katie’s face fell. The sign said “Welcome to Willowcrest!” but there was nothing welcoming about it. The stone walls were cracked and covered in vines, and the roof sagged as if it hadn’t been cared for in years. Wild, overgrown fields surrounded the place.

Crows circled above, some perched on the fence, their beady eyes following us as the car slowed to a stop. They weren’t just sitting there; They were watching us.

Katie’s hand gripped the door handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. She turned to me, blowing her bangs out of her face. “What the hell was she thinking? Is this some kind of joke?" Her eyes darted between the house and me.

I had no answer so I just shrugged.

She gave me an annoyed and pointed look. “Girl, you dragged me out here! I need a raise and fewer work hours. Seriously.”

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. “I didn’t think it would be this bad.”

"You didn’t think?" she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. “This place looks like the set of a horror movie. Maya better have some damn good booze inside!”

We stepped out of the car, the gravel crunching under our feet, loud in the silence. The wind stirred, the crows rustling, their eyes locked on us. My body tightened with unease.

Why were there so many of them?

Right then, the front door creaked open, and there stood Maya, grinning as if this crumbling mansion were some kind of luxury resort.

"Welcome to paradise!” she called out, her laugh echoing in a voice too bright and too fake for the eerie stillness around us. It didn’t match the place or the vibe at all.

Katie shot me a look, muttering under her breath, “A raise. And fewer hours.”

I sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

We grabbed our bags and stepped through the front door into the foyer. The stale air hit usimmediately,filled with the smell of damp wood and old dust. A flickering chandelier hung overhead, casting weak light that barely cut through the gloom. The walls were lined with faded portraits, their eyes seeming to follow us as we moved.

Katie glanced around and made a face. “So, why this place? Did you get it for free or something?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

I shot her a quick look and nudged her. Maya might have been a bitch, but she was the one who invited us. I had to play nice for now. I was waiting for the right moment to expose her secrets, but I had to pretend everything was fine.

Maya gave her fake laugh. “It’s Halloween, babe. This estate is supposed to be haunted. Adds to the vibe.” She waved it off and turned, motioning for us to follow. “Come on, everyone’s waiting.”

We followed her out of the foyer toward the living room. The deeper we went, the worse the air got—mold, damp wood, and years of neglect.

Maya led us into a large room with high ceilings and a stone fireplace. As soon as I stepped in, my stomach dropped. Sprawled on the couch, like he owned the place, was Brian—my ex. I dumped him when he got too controlling, a little too rough. Of all the people, Maya had to pick him.

He hadn’t changed. Still 6’5", lean, and wearing that smug grin I’d hoped never to see again. Back in college, he’d been the big shot football player, always walking around like he was untouchable. I shot Maya a look that screamed, “What the hell?" but she didn’t even glance my way, pretending everything was normal.

Brian spotted me and stood up, that same smirk plastered on his face. “Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up,” he said, his voice oozing with the cockiness I remembered too well. “So happy you’re here. Single and ready to mingle, right?”

I shot him a cold look. “Not even if you were the last man on earth.” I turned away, determined not to let him drag me back to feeling small and worthless. Shame crept up, like it always did around Brian. He knew exactly how to get under my skin, how to make the sting linger. Not this time. I wouldn’t let him see it.

Alex stood up. He had been sitting quietly on an old ottoman near the fireplace, watching the room with that familiar, calm presence. He met my eyes and gave me a soft, genuine smile amidst the tension. Back in college, it had always been me, Maya, and Alex—a trio, inseparable. I had always known Alex had a thing for Brian, though he never said it outright. He wouldn’t, not with Brian’s fake tough-guy act. Brian liked to pretend he was an alpha, but everyone knew it was for show.

“Rose.” Alex’s voice broke through the unease. He walked up to me and wrapped me in a tight hug that felt warm and safe, like always. “You look great. I’ve missed you.”

Katie grinned at Alex. She didn’t know anyone here, but she already admired him. “Well, at least someone around here’s got manners,” she teased, shooting a pointed look at Brian.

My eyes landed on Sophie next. She sat in an armchair, perfectly poised, her legs crossed, phone glued to her hand. Sophie didn’t even glance up, scrolling through her phone like we were invisible. She always acted like whatever was happening online mattered more.

“Ugh, this place is a dead zone,” she huffed, tapping her screen with frustration. “How am I supposed to post anything?” She sighed dramatically, still not bothering to look at any of us.

She and Maya worked at the same firm. Even though I had met her a couple of times, we never got along. She was all about filters and hashtags, like she lived in a different world.

She tossed the phone aside, finally lifting her eyes to Maya. “How’d you even find this, Maya?” she asked flatly, not even trying to hide her disgust.

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