Page 62 of Kill Switch (Devil's Night 3)
But my parents didn’t know Ari was having a party, and they would definitely hear about it if I called security up.
Walking into the kitchen, I plucked a bottle of water out of the fridge and uncapped the bottle, taking a drink. I could ask my sister to come up and take a sweep around the house. It would piss her off, but she would come if I threatened to tell Mom and Dad about the party. Heading over to the back door, I reached for the handle, but as soon as I grabbed it, the door moved, and I realized it was already open.
My heart skipped a beat, and I instantly reared back. Oh, shit.
I’d locked it.
“Arion?” I shouted, suddenly alert. “Are you here?”
I pawed for the handle on the outside, finding the key we hid under a loose brick outside still inserted. It had to be my sister. Only our family knew where that key was.
“Arion!” I growled, losing my patience. “Knock it off and answer me!”
She seemed to get off on pranking me this week after the locker room incident she was probably the mastermind of.
I patted my pockets, realizing I’d left my phone in the ballroom.
And then I heard it. A few feet away, but I heard it.
Another creak in the floor.
I was paralyzed, frozen in place as my head swam with not knowing what to do. I tried to swallow but my throat had closed.
My mouth tried to form the words, but nothing came out.
The floor didn’t move again, and I didn’t even breathe as I listened.
Someone was there.
I felt it. The presence was heavy, and it was there.
It wasn’t a sound I could describe, though. Their heartbeat? The slow, nearly silent intake of breath. A joint in their body shifting.
It’s Arion. It’s Arion. It’s…
Bile burned my throat.
I finally forced the words out. “Who…who is that?” I stammered. “The...um…” I tried to swallow. My mouth was so dry. “The…the party stays down at the pool. You’re not supposed to be in the house.”
I should’ve bolted out the door, but if someone actually broke in, I wouldn’t get anywhere. Not without being able to run the shortcut I was never able to take anymore without tripping over something in the yard.
I took a step left, inching back into the kitchen. Toward the cutlery.
Not that it gave me any better chance, but…
I took another step, feeling him—or her—watching me. Mere feet away.
They were there. Were they matching my steps, moving in as I moved backward? I tried to listen, but my pulse in my ears was too damn loud.
I took another step.
“This isn’t funny.” My voice shook. “You getting your kicks or something? Get out of my house.”
Another step.
Who was it? I felt lightheaded, my mind and heart racing.
And as I fumbled for the drawer at my side with one hand and shot out my other to protect myself, a breath hit my ear from behind.
