Page 13 of The Penitentiary
“Thanks, Harry,” I said and eyed Madi.
“Did you know Charles Leeward—The Cricket?” Madi inquired.
A sharp hiss echoed, and a cold draught swept around us. A door banged, and we all jumped.
“Callie, be careful,” Sunny warned.
“Innocent. Didn’t… murder… frame job.”
Goosebumps appeared on my arms as something cold passed by.
“Something pinched my butt!” Madi squealed as she moved away.
Sunny reached out and dragged both of us back against his body. “Out of line, dude. You don’t pinch ladies’ asses.”
My two-way radio let out a high-pitched squeal, and Phil’s did the same. We covered our ears and looked around.
“Sunny, I think you pissed him off,” I gasped.
“Move, I don’t like this,” Sunny declared. He was right. The atmosphere had become dark; there was a sense of impending dread, and I could swear a shape moved in the shadows.
“Phil, over there,” I said, pointing. Phil turned the camera as I peered into the gloom, trying to figure out what I’d seen. I shook my head and hoped Phil would capture the elusive thing.
“Get out!”a voice hissed in Sunny’s ear.
“Yeah, I’m getting right on that,” Sunny agreed, and I giggled. He hated stuff like this.
Madi sent him a scornful look.
“Leave… run… awakened him,”Dutch’s voice echoed forlornly.“Sorry, dame.”
“If a ghost is telling us to get the fuck out, we’re getting the fuck out,” Sunny stated and started tugging Madi and me away.
“Woke who?” I demanded.
“Me!”someone boomed, and Madi and I screamed.
Sunny swung me up into his embrace, grabbed hold of Madi, and started running with us.
“Sunny! Put me down!” I yelled. “This is why we’re here! To investigate!”
“Fuck that! Something scratched me,” Sunny retorted as he slowly took the stairs so that he wouldn’t trip with me in his arms. Phil was pulling Madi as she kept sending backward glances over her shoulder.
As we headed to the exit of the cellblock, the gates crashed shut, and Sunny skidded to a halt. “Shit.”
“That’s poltergeist activity,” I stated as I wriggled to get down.
“Really?” Madi asked, her eyes wide. There was a ping near us, and we jumped and glanced around.
“There!” Phil exclaimed, and we looked down. A coin was on the floor.
“Did that get thrown at us?” I demanded in confusion.
“We need to leave. I don’t like this,” Sunny said.
“No, something seems to be coming,” Phill muttered.
I couldn’t disagree. The air became heavy, and an oppressiveness slowly appeared that hadn’t been present before. Dread trickled down my back as even Madi crowded in, wide-eyed.
