Page 22 of Halloween in Sleepy Hollow
Cole jerks his chin. “Okay. On my signal, we’ll move in. If I can get the door open without drawing attention, I’ll do a visual sweep of the room before entering.”
Then he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. His shoulders set.
My fingers tighten around the gun Rylan gave me. Though I haven’t gone to the shooting range in close to ayear, the feel of the weapon in my hand is familiar. Reassuring.
Cole moves forward, with the rest of us trailing a few feet behind him. Once he reaches the vault door, he stops. Places his hand on the door handle.
After a pause that seems to last an eternity, he starts to open the door.
At first, my heart is pounding so hard I can’t hear anything over it.
But as the door cracks open a few inches, an agitated male voice floats towards us.
“I need four women for the ritual,” he says with an edge to his tone. “Not seven. If I have seven here, I don’t think it’ll work. And all my effort will be for nothing. I’ll have to try again next year, and I can’t wait until then.”
“Why?” Ari asks. “Why four? And why now?”
From behind me, Cash’s breath releases in a soft gust.
Ari’s alive.
Hope flares bright.
If Ari’s alive, does that mean Thea…
It’s torture not rushing in there to find out.
Cole freezes in place, his gaze locked on something inside the room.
Meanwhile, the man inside continues speaking.
“Fine,” he huffs. “I’ll tell you. I guess it doesn’t matter if I keep a secret from you, since you’ll be dead soon anyway.”
My heart actually stops.
Cole lifts his hand, holding one finger up.
One man inside.
Then he closes his hand into a fist before raising three fingers, followed by a thumbs up.
My heart starts beating again.
Thea’s in there. She’s alive.
“I read about it in a book I found in the library,” the man continues. “An old one in the local history section. About the Headless Horseman. And—” He pauses. “How to summon him.”
“What?” Thea gasps. “Summon the Headless Horseman?”
“Yeah. According to the ritual, anyone who successfully summons him will be granted supernatural powers, just like the Horseman. Super strength and speed, enhanced healing, even invisibility.”
“But why?” Ari asks.
He barks out a sharp laugh. “Are you kidding me? Have you looked at me? The guys at the store make fun of me all the time.” His voice takes on a mocking tone. “Any kids beat you up lately, Randy? Maybe you should try going to the gym, Randy. Then women might actually look at you. It’s all the time. And they’re right. I’m nothing like this. But with the Horseman’s powers… I can show them all.”
“And the ritual?” Ari asks. “How does that work?”
I know what she’s doing. She’s trying to keep him talking until help arrives.
