Page 66 of Collect the Pieces

“Here we go.” Hoot rubs his hands together like he’s excited we’re closer to the scary part.

I’m less enthusiastic about where this story’s heading.

“The doll was supposed to remain in this black velvet bag,” Margot says. “I placed it in the casket with her mother myself. April took care of the coins. And I sewed the bell into the satin lining.”

The bonfire pops and hisses, dragging out the tension. I squirm on the log, wishing Margot would finish the story.

Margot turns toward me. “I hadn’t finished my apartment upstairs yet. So, I was sleeping in my old bedroom on the second floor. April had her own apartment in Empire and was commuting.”

She turns toward the group again, the fire casting shadows over her face. “The only people in the house were my dad, my cousin, and me. Well, the only living people.”

Someone groans.

“I woke up to the sound of running water.” Margot shrugs. “It’s an old house. I’m used to odd noises all hours of the night. But never anything like this.”

I shift my gaze and catch Ravage hugging himself tighter.

“Scared something might be wrong—a busted pipe or a faucet someone left on, I got up to investigate.” Margot takes a deep breath, then continues. “As soon as I opened my bedroom door, the air felt so heavy. Like the pressure you feel in the air before a storm. I searched the second floor—short of busting into my dad and cousin’s rooms. Nothing. But the sound continued.”

“Did you wake your dad up?” I ask.

“No, I really thought it was something simple.” Margot tilts her head like she’s trying to get each detail right. “I ran downstairs, checked the kitchen, the prep room, I even ran to the basement and checked all over. I checked every water source I could think of.”

“Nothing?” Z asks.

“Nothing. But that heavy feeling in the air persisted.” Margot pauses and her lips tilt slightly. “Then something banged onthe first floor.” She claps her hands, the sharp slap ringing through the air. “I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was terrified something happened to the box holding the casket up. I ran to the viewing room and turned on the lights.”

“And?” someone shouts.

“The casket was as we’d left it, and I breathed the biggest sigh of relief.” Margot presses her hand to her chest. “But the room reeked. Damp and earthy. Then I noticed a dark stain on the carpet and my heart jumped right back to terror. I was scared we botched the embalming or something. In school you’re taught about all these nightmare scenarios, and I swear every one of them flipped through my brain.”

“Was the womanpissedabout her coffin?” Hustler slaps his hand over his mouth and giggles like he said something really clever.

“No. It was just water.” She pauses, a sinister smile curving her lips. “And the doll was sitting in the middle of the puddle,” she finishes in a low voice.

“Oh, hell no!” Ravage shouts. “Bullshit.”

Margot holds one hand up toward the sky. “I swear.” She nods at Hustler. “I almost peedmypants when I saw it.”

“Nope. That’s when I would’ve run screaming from the house,” Heidi announces. “No way.”

“I wanted to, believe me,” Margot says. “But I was more worried about the water, that a pipe might have burst or something. I placed the doll back in the casket and woke my dad up to help me find the source of the leak.”

Lilly’s eyes widen to saucer size. “Youtouchedthe doll after that?”

Margot sighs. “I didn’t want my dad to see it and think April and I screwed something up. So, I only told him about the puddle.”

“What was it?” I ask. “A burst pipe?”

“No,” Margot answers. “That spot on the carpet was the only place we found any water. The casket wasn’t wet, the ceiling wasn’t either. Nothing dripping anywhere. Just this puddle in front of the casket.”

“It had to come from somewhere,” Z says.

“We couldn’t figure it out.” Margot shrugs. “We cleaned it up and my father went to bed. I was on my way upstairs when I heard the tiny jingle of a bell.”

“Oh, fuck no,” I blurt out.

“Exactly.” Margot takes a deep breath. “My heart was in my throat. But I tiptoed into the room, convinced the woman was going to be sitting up in her coffin…”

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