The Dead House

er the fluorescent dorm light, taunting him. He'd already flipped it over half a dozen times, running his thumb acr

without a sound. No knock, no delivery notice. Just this strange, weird-looki

x," he muttered, p

ended. What he didn't understand was this trepidation he felt; like it was a bomb that he must open. It was just a letter, right? Proba

tional anxiety and finally, wit

and, but there was something uneven about the strok

nder Jame

oad. This estate, known locally as Blackwood House, was previously owned by your

o finalize the necessary paperwork. We strongly advi

cer

es An

& Sons, S

e letter again to make s

is father had mentioned once, half-joking, half-bitter, about "old family

nd of money. And who was Tobias Reardon that would lea

ghts. The group chat was alive again, h

ight? I'm pick

icking the movie. The l

s an underrated classi

d, typing a

than a movie. Meet me at the caf

, the door banged open, and Chris

ing his bag onto the flo

t fa

en something insane

eyebrow. "You m

smirked, but his gaze landed on the let

it up and handed it to him. "Rea

owing deeper with every line. By the ti

An inheritance? An estate? Wh

I thought. But if it's a sc

hing more serious. "Blackwood House... That sounds fam

he shrugged it off. "Come on

didn't

That Nigh

air with conversation and the smell of burnt coffee. Alex and Chris sat in their u

back in his seat, "this is pretty sketchy.

ap for what? I'm not exactl

chbook tucked under one arm. She spotted them immediately and made her wa

the seat beside Chris. "What

r his shoulder. He dropped into the booth with a grin, st

ghost stories," Taylor said, his grin wide

furrowed. "G

ckwood House. Everyon

't," Emma sta

not haunted. It's

a tragic backstory,

curls bouncing as she glanced around the room. She caught Alex's eye and

shoulder brushing his. Alex felt his puls

she asked, her voic

aunted mansion," Ta

d an eyebrow

Alex watched her face, noting the way he

she said, handing it back

her voice laced with sarc

his hair. "It's just a house. A free ho

haunted?" T

rdan who answered. "If it's haunted

hands together. "

t smile at Jordan, her calm confidence somehow making