Gridlocked Guesthouse (Locked House Hauntings Book 1) by Mixi J Applebottom Page B

back under control.
    I know what you are thinking.
    Two corpses.
    Were Rachel or Cletus dead?

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
     
    Ben died from complications to his beating. Seriously. I know I keep saying that, but I'm a little worried you've been sucked into this whole ghost nonsense. Just because a few people have unfortunately died doesn't mean that they are being haunted by the old residents in the house. It's not like we are sure what happened. Jenny does seem awful fucking calm, doesn't she? Tied up, goat butchered, and she just takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I wish I had that girl's moxie.
    They didn't find Rachel or Cletus upon further searching of the house.
    Mikaela was the first one to say she was going to walk. "What if we all went together to get help? We can make it down the road together, I'm sure. We can... carry Beezer and we'll have to leave..." She didn't want to say the dead. Leave the dead in the haunted house. "We can make it."
    Beezer said, "You know, I've been waiting all my life for you dopes to carry me to and fro like a fricking king." He sat up slowly and gingerly put his broken leg and totally fine leg flat footed on the ground. "If we made some crutches, I might even be able to walk a little."
    "All hail King Beezer," Tiffany said halfheartedly.
    "Beezer!" Mike and Zane said simultaneously. And everyone giggled. It was good; they needed a giggle. They were so fucking scared, and more than one of them had a sore throat from screaming so often, and so hard, and so real.
    It was seven at night, and darkness had already fallen. Walking down the road should have been started hours ago if they had any wits about them. But they were dumb-ass college kids and didn't have a single wit between them.
    They got on the road and started walking. Ten of them now, with Rachel inexplicably missing. Cletus was missing too, and so was the rest of Carson.
    They made a hammock for Beezer with a sheet from the master bedroom. They tied it to two long broom handles they found. Mike stood in front, and Ricky stood in back.
    "I don't want to leave Rachel," Ricky said, looking back slowly. Does it make your heart flutter a little? He really was the kind of man with a lot of love to give.
    "We can't help her if we can't find her," Mike said. "Besides, if we get some help..." He didn't finish his thought, but what he was trying to say was maybe everyone remaining would survive.
    Ben was dead. Rafael was dead, Rachel was missing.
    So they walked, Mikaela and Zane together. Jenny, Beth, and Tiffany leading the way, holding a few jugs of water. Mike and Ricky together with the makeshift carrying for Beezer device. Lucy and John, who had been very quiet up until now, suddenly stopped. "Guys, we are gonna wait here."
    "Are you sure?"
    "Beezer, do you want to stay with us?" Lucy said. She was pale.
    Tiffany said, "But, John! We have to go together." She looked frightened.
    "I don't want to leave Rafael," Lucy said. She stepped back to the house, sitting on the dark front steps.
    "She shouldn't stay alone," John said, as if that would satisfy Tiffany. Then he turned and walked back to the girl who was in her zombie state, staring at the world.
    "But we have to stay together!" Tiffany shouted.
    Jenny suddenly shouted, "Stay in the safe room!" You might have a chance in the safe room; safe was part of the title, after all.
    Beezer joined in, "Leave me behind; you'll go faster without me. Guys, just--put me back on the couch. Just leave me." He had terror in his voice, like he wanted anything but to be on that couch again.
    Mike and Ricky exchanged a glance. "Well, if Rachel shows up, at least someone can tell her where we went."
    Mike mouthed, "Leave him?" And Ricky nodded seriously. So they put Beezer back inside on the couch and they left. Now they were a bedraggled clan of seven. Would they make it out of there?
    It was dark as hell. And they didn't have any lights, so they