I stumble again but manage to right myself easier this time. The dizziness is beginning to recede, though nausea lingers. I’m hoping to sweat the rest of the toxins out, walk back into that lighthouse later, look Enzo in the eye, and not feel like hurling.
I trek through the opening until I reach an uneven path. At the end, it drops down about ten feet into a cavern. That’s where it gets rocky. Literally and figuratively.
Nevertheless, once I reach the bottom, it’ll flatten out and lead into another tunnel. I’ve gotten as far down to the mouth of it but haven’t ventured past that. Before, I chalked it up to not having proper lighting, but this time I brought the pocket-sized flashlight Sylvester had let me use previously.
It won’t offer a substantial amount of visibility, but I think it’ll take me as far as my courage reaches, which won’t be very far. I’ll also need to build that up slowly and find a bigger flashlight. But I have over a week to accomplish that, and even longer if I decide to stay.
I sit on the edge of the hole and point my toe toward the nearest rock. Slowly, I make my way down, eventually sliding out the flashlight as I descend deeper into the cavern, the air growing icier.
My breath clouds around me as I reach the bottom with a satisfied grin. That wasn't so bad.
Kev and I grew up in the mountains in Nevada, so I've always loved hiking, but I was never stupid enough to do it hungover.
I frown, then shrug my shoulders. If I die, I die.
I clamber into the tunnel, wiping sweat from my brow as I dart the light around, feeling a little creeped out. This is where the intrusive thoughts come in.
What if they're flesh-eating vampires? What if we've been invaded by aliens, and this is their home base? What if there are mutated glowworms in here that grew ten feet tall and have a taste for blonde girls?
I shudder, pushing those thoughts away, delighted when the tunnel ends, and I come out to another open area. No creatures to speak of, but there are glowworms down here, too. I grin, craning my neck and walking aimlessly as I stare up at the tiny little things.
What I would give to be one.
The position causes my equilibrium to teeter, and I'm swaying heavily to one side. I snap my head down, attempting to right myself, but my foot catches on a divot in the rock, twisting my ankle and knocking me completely off-balance. My vision spins and I land flat on my back, my head smacking off the rock a moment later. Within seconds, everything goes dark.
Chapter 20
Enzo
For the millionth time this morning, Sylvester shifts, casting a nervous glance toward the front door. I have already asked what his problem is, but of course, he just waved a hand and insisted he was fine.
Not caring how rude it was, I walked up to the front door and swung it open, convinced something was happening. All I could see was dense fog, and after standing there for a few minutes, I sat back down. Ever since, I've been staring at the old, lying fuck, hoping I'm making him more uncomfortable.
“Sounded like someone was crying last night,” I say casually. He pauses, then turns to look at me. “Were there any women that died here, too?”
Sylvester stares down at his coffee, as if the black sludge he drinks is going to provide him with a suitable lie.
I haven’t forgotten about the woman standing in the ocean soon after we arrived. She disappeared without a trace, but she lingers in the back of my mind.
It doesn’t help that things have been going missing. Yesterday, I had been reading Wuthering Heights and left it on the end table. When I came down this morning, it was gone, and I haven’t been able to locate it since. Not under or between the cushions and not on the bookshelf. Sylvester seemed clueless as to where it went, deepening my suspicions.
Seems like he’s been hoarding more restless spirits than he lets on.
“My daughter did. Trinity.”
My brows shoot up my forehead.
Okay, I wasn't expecting that one.
“One of the reasons why my wife left me. The grief was too much for her, and she blamed me for Trinity's death.”
I nod slowly, studying him closely. It's not that I don't necessarily believe him, but there's just something about Sylvester that makes me question every single word out of his mouth.
“How did it happen?”
He sniffs, glancing at me. “S'pose it's only fair since ya'll shared so much with me last week,” he mutters.
I just manage to bite my tongue. That wasn't a sweet moment where we all had a heart-to-heart and made fucking friendship bracelets.
“Trinity wasn't happy here. Wanted to leave, but we was tryin' to make it work as a family. I knew it would happen eventually. She was a teenage girl and felt like she was missin’ out on life. My wife and I were worried, but I was still working at the time and couldn't just up and leave. Raven wanted to take her somewhere else, but Trin was only sixteen and couldn't stay anywhere by herself, so that meant they would all be leavin' me. Kacey was fourteen and didn't want to stay here with ’er old man, either.”