Page 53 of Midnight Wedding

It’s locked. But no worries. I get out my picks and nearly fumble them in the dark. “Get it together, Lena,” I mutter to myself as I stick my tongue out in concentration.

I’m not good at this. But what I learned over the last few days is, I don’t have to be, so long as I’m patient. I keep at it for almost fifteen minutes before suddenly I feel the tumblers slip up into place and the whole lock turns. It thunks open and I nearly shriek as the door slowly opens toward me.

“Let’s see what you got in here,” I say, taking a flashlight from my bag.

The hallway is dirty. Not filthy like people have been squatting in here, but dusty like nobody’s come through here in a while. I stare at the offices and poke my head in a few. They’re mostly empty except for some random papers, an old fax machine, a mug that saysBetter Late Than Never, a pair of jeans folded in a corner, a pack of cigarettes with a few still left.

This is what I love the most about exploring. People used to work here. They spent their days in this building, and the whole place still holds onto them like it’s haunted by all their hopes and their dreams. Even a post office carries little echoes.

I find the sorting area. There are still big iron shelving units, most of them bolted into the floor. I find junk mail in big bundles shoved in a corner. I find the back side of the post office boxes, and a few of them still have letters. Those will never get picked up. They’ll never reach their intended destination.

I breathe the smell of old, decaying paper, and hold the flashlight between my teeth as I shuffle through some abandoned flyers.

I feel alive. So alive it’s hard to breathe. Although maybe that’s the flashlight in my mouth. Either way, this is good. I really needed to remind myself that I can still find new places and see new things, that I’m not trapped in my mom’s apartment anymore, and I won’t be trapped in Arsen’s mansion. I can get out and see spaces that haven’t been touched in years.

There’s a noise nearby. Something clatters nearby. I jump to my feet, an advertisement for a roofing company fluttering to the floor. I open my mouth to say something and the flashlight falls to my feet.

I scramble for it, cursing, and finally stand upright. I move the beam all around, but there’s nothing.

“Probably a squirrel,” I mutter and smile to myself. “Just being stupid.”

That’s enough living for one night. I’ve only been here for a little while, but I start making my way back toward the exit.

Except I hear another noise on the way.

This time, it’s a lot closer.

I whirl around. The beam flashes over shelves, painted cinderblock walls, an old clock. I think I see a face, but that can’t be right. I open my mouth to scream and step back, but stumble over an ancient unplugged landline phone.

“Shit,” I say, catching myself on the wall. I raise the flashlight again. “What the fuck was that?”

“Lena.” My name, barely a whisper, and from close.

“Who’s there?” I flail, on the edge of screaming and running.

But then he’s on me. A hand slams over my mouth and my body gets shoved hard against the wall. I gasp in shock and try to scream, but it’s muffled as his face comes into view.

“You shouldn’t have come here.”

Chapter 19

Lena

I’m dizzy with terror. My heart’s going to rip out of my chest. I try to shove him back, but he doesn’t move an inch.

Arsen’s face hovers in front of mine so close his breath is warm on my lips.

“This was a bad idea, baby,” he whispers. I’m trying to process how this is happening and having a really hard time. “You’re not safe out here.”

I bite his hand. Because fuck him. His eyes widen and he snarls in pain as he pulls himself away. I open my mouth and take a deep breath.

“You fuckingasshole,” I snap and shove him back. This time, he steps away, rubbing his palm. “You scared theshitout of me!”

“That was the plan.”

“Oh my god.” I press my hand against my chest and lean over, gasping for air. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack.”

He mutters something about needing a rabies shot. “Whoever told you about this place is going to lose their job.”

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