Page 154 of Tricky Girls

‘Fair. Kinda jelly though.’

‘I bet, little witch.’

We continue along the tunnel, only pausing when we hear a dull thud up ahead.

‘We might be interrupting a ritual,’ I whisper.

‘They might wanna sacrifice us instead. Shame neither of us look like virgins.’

‘I’d take one for the team. Elly would be too sad if you died.’

‘Oh, and she wouldn’t if you did?’

‘I think she was jealous you didn’t invite her tonight.’

‘Tough.’ Haz tightens her hand around mine. ‘She needs to learn how to share.’

Her words send a thrill through me. Can’t say it’s not something I’ve been thinking about. The two of them and only little old me. I’d be entirely at their mercy. Would Elly temper Haz or would Elly come down to her level?

I used to think Elly was the safe bet but seeing how wild she gets when she’s turned on, I’m not so sure. I know she restrains herself. She doesn’t even let herself get off when she’s dicking me, refuses to use a vibe whilst she’s doing it. She’s so worried about scaring me off, it’s adorable as it is valid.

We’ve been fucking for a month now. I’m almost at the point where I need to touch her as much as she needs me to touch her.

I stroke Haz’s hand with my thumb. Maybe me and Elly have been too wrapped up in each other. I’m glad to be alone with Haz tonight.

It’s so quiet in the labyrinth I can hear her gentle breathing. It raises the hairs on my neck, so aware of her beside me. We could do anything down here and no one would know. The walls would keep our secrets.

It strange to think about how much I know about Elly compared to Haz. For all her frankness and irreverence, she’s a closed book when it comes to personal matters, the little I do know derived from the others. I know she’s an orphan, shehadn’t got on with her parents and she blames herself in some way for their deaths.

But that’s all. I don’t think I’ve even seen her leave this island. Maybe she’s as stuck here as our witch. Put her on the boat and she simply ceases to be.

‘Let’s try down here,’ she says.

It’s another chamber, larger and separated by multiple archways. There’s shit strewn all over in this one, like super old shit that immediately piques my excitement.

‘Do you think all this was used in the castle?’

‘Reckon it was.’ Haz is on the other side of the chamber, not really looking at anything. She seems preoccupied.

‘Dude, this is a legit spinning wheel!’

‘Don’t touch it, Sleeping Beauty.’ She walks off and I lose sight of her behind a column.

There are barrels down here too. I give one a kick but it sounds hollow. No aged spirits to be flogged tonight.

There’s a pile of wooden coffins against one wall. I drift towards them, drawn by one so small it could only be used for a baby. It’s so macabre, I can’t help but sift through the rest of them.

When I straighten back up, something falls over my eyes, totally blinding me.

I gasp, grasping at the opaque material now wrapped around my head. My heart pounds, dark memories racing to the surface. ‘That better not be you again, Blakely.’

‘You fucking what?Again?’

I relax at the sound of Haz’s voice.

Slightly.

‘What are you doing, Haz?’

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