Page 51 of When You're Close

Then another smash of glass, and a loud clatter.

“We're being drawn out of here,” Finn said grimly. He turned to Nathaniel. “Nathaniel, it's going to be okay. Inspector Winters and I are going to go and investigate that sound. We'll lock the door behind us, and I want you to listen to me very carefully. Barricade your door and don't open it unless one of us comes to get you.”

Nathaniel shook his head, breathing heavily.

Amelia patted him on the hand. “We'll be right back, don't worry.”

But Nathaniel said nothing, he slid back beneath the covers.

Finn and Amelia left the room, locking the door behind them. Standing for a moment, Finn waited until he heard Nathaniel doing as he said and barricading his door. Turning, Finn saw the still hanging body of Lady Ferguson. It was a sin to leave her like that, but he knew that her killer was close and trying to entice them down into the darkness of Huldra House.

Now, Finn was finished with hiding in the shadows of the place. He turned to Amelia and whispered:

“He's here. He knows this place, so he has an advantage,” Finn said.

“What the hell is going on, Finn?” Amelia said, frustration clear in her voice. “Do you know who the killer is?”

“I do,” Finn said. “And that's what I'll use against him. Come on!”

They descended down the attic stairs, past Huldra House's dead host, and towards a head-on collision with a violent killer capable of anything.

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

Finn moved cautiously through the dimly lit corridors of Huldra House, Amelia shoulder to shoulder with him at each and every turn. The storm roared outside, causing the old building to groan in protest as though it were alive and trying to speak to them. The eerie whistle of the wind penetrated the walls, filling what should have been silence with a melancholy wail.

The occasional creak of the floorboards beneath their feet seemed thunderous in contrast. Amelia's eyes darted nervously around, taking in the dark corners and closed doors. The house felt different, menacing even, in the absence of Lady Ferguson.

"Over there," Amelia whispered, pointing towards a wet trail of footprints on the plush carpet. They were fresh, each print crisply outlined. The path they marked meandered unpredictably, as if the person making them was attempting to throw off any pursuers.

"Someone's definitely been here," she added, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Finn bent down, inspecting the footprint closely. He grimaced. "Not just someone. It's him. The killer."

Amelia's gaze shot up to meet Finn's, searching his eyes for clarity. "How can you be so sure? Explain."

Finn straightened up, looking around cautiously. "It'll take too long now, Amelia. Just trust me. We need to be careful, every step we take."

Amelia nodded, though she more unsettled than Finn had ever seen before. The two of them continued, following the trail, aware of the danger lurking in the shadows. The violent storm outside seemed to batter the house like a heavyweight boxer. With each passing moment, the storm was getting more intense, and Finn felt as if even Huldra House would not survive it.

Following the wet footprints, Amelia and Finn moved stealthily through the corridors of Huldra House. Every so often, the illumination from the occasional lightning flash painted fleeting, silvery images on the walls, like ghostly fingers crawling along the surface. The thunderous clap that followed each burst of light made even Finn jump at times.

Walking side by side, they made their way down a long, grand hallway adorned with portraits of the island's forebears. Suddenly, an unsettling noise reached their ears—a rumbling sound of stone grinding against stone, followed by a loud crash, as if a part of the old mansion was collapsing.

Amelia's eyes widened in alarm. "Did you hear that? Sounds like Huldra House is coming apart at the seams!"

Finn nodded gravely. "Maybe it should."

As they pressed on, they were caught off guard by the sound of shattering glass from a nearby room. Rushing towards the source, they found themselves in a large drawing room where a grand window had succumbed to the tempest outside. The relentless wind and rain swirled inside, soaking the carpet and sending curtains flying like phantom figures.

Finn pulled Amelia back, trying to shield her from the piercing wind and flying debris. "With this storm," he shouted above the roar, "it's near impossible to tell if a noise is nature's doing or the killer's."

Before Amelia could respond, a chilling laugh echoed through the hallway, a sound so dark and sinister that it sent shivers down Finn's spine. It wasn’t a spontaneous laughter, but calculated and maniacal, intending to instill terror.

Without exchanging words, both Finn and Amelia, driven by their duty, darted towards the eerie cackle. The dark corridor seemed to stretch endlessly in front of them, but they pressed on, racing against time and the elements, knowing that if they didn't stop the killer now, he would killer again, starting with poor Nathaniel.

Amelia's eyes widened when she seemed to spot a fleeting shadow moving past a doorway just behind Finn. Without hesitation, she lunged forward, chasing the elusive specter "Finn! There!" she cried out, pointing.

Startled, Finn quickly spun around to follow her. The atmospheric gloom of Huldra House seemed to thicken as they continued their pursuit, a murky mixture of murder and malice seething out of every blind corner and flapping curtain.

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