I tried to handle on the bathroom door and opened it to an empty hallway.

Quickly scurrying out of there and into the living room, I scanned the area for the boys, "Where the hell are they?" I called out, panicking.

"Sofia?" I heard James calling out for me, "James?" I said, turning in every direction. I saw his mop of beachy brown hair come barreling down the stairs and tackle me into a hug, "Holy fuck we were so worried. We heard this huge crash of glass and thought the worst. Are you okay?" He asked, assessing my body. 

He kissed me quickly before turning to Evelyn, "Are you okay?" She nodded, but I could tell she was a little freaked out.

"Where's Mason?" I asked.

"Right here." He announced. 

I sat down on the couch, resting my eyes as my head fell to the side, "I'm so dizzy." I whined, rubbing my eyes so hard I saw stars.

"Woah Sofia are you bleeding?" Mason pointed out, "What? No, why?" I said, quickly standing up.

Mason pointed to the back of the couch where my head was resting as a splotch of dark red blood started to form, "What the hell?" I said, checking my body, "I'm fine, I mean, I feel fine." I said.

"She did fall in the garage. When that person locked the door on us, she fell off the ladder to the fusebox." Evelyn explained.

Her voice was getting louder and quieter as I tried to put together the pieces in my head, "Wait, the fusebox wire was smoking. Like someone had cut it, how come the powers on right now?" 

"Wait, what happened?" Mason said, "Slow down." 

James and Mason took a seat on the opposite couches to us, "When I opened the fusebox, it looked like someone had made a fresh cut because it was smoking and disconnected. And when Evelyn tried to get you guys for help, the door slammed shut and I fell off the ladder because I got scared." 

Evelyn moved my hair carefully to the side, wincing when she pulled her hand away.

Bright red liquid trailed down her fingers, "Okay maybe I am bleeding. But I'm fine." I said quickly. Mason jumped into action, somehow knowing where our first aid kit was. 

"Guys I'm fine I swear. It's just a cut."

"Lets get it cleaned up though, okay?" James took my hand and we stood up. 

I looked to the stairs when I heard a banging noise, like someone had dropped a metal water bottle. Although, I was even more concerned when a ball of something wrapped in white paper came rolling slowly down the stairs.

"They're still here." I said, "They're still here." 

All four of us ran up the stairs, without thinking and checked every single one of the rooms. "Nothing!" I screamed, pushing all the curtains, checking the closets and under the beds.

I heard two more 'nothings' but nothing from Mason.

"Mason!" James called, "You see anything." 

Mason was in my room and I pushed the door open, screaming in horror when there were four doll-like figures hanging from my light fixture.

"What is that?" I asked, breathing heavily. Mason yanked down all of the dolls, "Voodoo dolls. Of us." 

"How the hell did they know we were going to be here all at once? What the fuck!" I screamed, sitting down on my bed. "They know everything." Evelyn scoffed, throwing her doll on the floor.

I didn't flinch when all of our texts chimes went off at once.

555-345-987
Miss me? 

"Stupid, fucking, prick!" Evelyn yelled at her phone, taking a seat beside me. 

"This is getting out of hand." Mason said calmly, his chest rising and falling with every angry breath he took. 

"Lets go back downstairs. I don't like it up here." James said, "Gives me the creeps." 

We all trailed back downstairs, tails between our legs. 

The small canister wrapped in white was sitting on the floor at the end of the stairs. 

"I don't wanna touch it." I hissed, kicking it with my foot.

Mason picked it up and twisted the lid, peering inside. "There's nothing in here." He frowned. He looked inside the lid and did a double take, squinting like he was reading something.

"Back from vacation and I have some photos. Some of which, are ready to go. You have ten days to figure it out, before the clock starts ticking and your time... runs out." His voice faltered on the last words.

"Prom is in ten days." 

It finally sunk in that we had ten days to figure out who this monster is, or ten days we... go to prison or lose our lives.

"I'm not sticking around to find out what happens. Tomorrow, we're searching the school. Who is with me?" I stood my ground, "We have nothing else to lose." 

+ + + 

My ass was numb from sitting on the countertop for so long. However, my head was resting against James's chest while he looked after my head.

He cleaned up the blood and tried his best to make sure I wasn't going to die. I had a thumping headache but that's from stress and adrenaline.

"You alright?" He asked me once again. I let out a small 'yes' and let him do his thing.

"Okay, there's a makeshift bandaid on it for now so be careful." He laughed, holding my head in his hands. I cracked my neck satisfyingly, feeling the ache subside.

"Are you sure you're okay?" 

I shrugged my sore shoulders, closing my eyes, "I think so. We just keep having so many close calls. If they wanted us dead, they've had plenty of chances." 

"Don't think like that, okay? We're gonna figure it out. We just need to think." 

I shook my head, "They're always five steps ahead of us. Like how do they know everything?" 

James's eyes bored into mine and he said nothing. Just silence, "I don't know." 

And it's true, we know nothing. Jack shit. And I don't think we will. We have all of these clues with unsolved answers, "I say before we hit the school we try for those storage lockers again." 

"You think?" James asked, helping me off the countertop. I nod, "Yeah, it can't hurt." 

After closing the door, I made my way into the spare room, "Are you sure you guys are gonna be okay?" I questioned one more time. Evelyn laughed, "Positive. Thanks Sofi." She winked.

"Okay then, night." I smiled.

James was sitting on my bed when I got to my room. My whole body ached. I needed sleep. And to never wake up again. "I can get the couch set up if you want to stay here." I yawned, crossing my arms over themselves.

James frowned, "No. You're sleeping here, with me." 

I blinked, "I am?" 

He nodded once, "I don't feel safe anymore and I especially don't feel safe with you downstairs."

Okay, he has a point. I don't feel safe either.

"Are you sure? I don't mind-"

"Be quiet and get into bed." He interrupted me.

I threw out all of my negativity and shut myself up. I slipped off my leggings and into some pyjama shorts before lifting my shirt and putting on a hoodie. "Can you uh, turn around?" I asked.

James smirked before closing his eyes.

I unclipped my bra and threw it into my closet before switching off the light.

The bed sheets rustled as I climbed into them. It was weird having another presence next to me, this has never happened before. He was warm, really warm. 

I lay on my side, away from him, curling myself into a ball. I was so tired I was about ready to fall asleep. Although my heart started beating faster and faster when I felt James shift closer to me. 

His arm came around me and nestled on my stomach. I held my breath before letting it go, relaxing my tensed body.

"Goodnight." He mumbled.

"Night." I whispered back.

+ + + 

AWWW, my babies!!!

Their progress is to diiiiie for. 

How did you like this chapter? 

I'm done for tonight because I am tiiired but I hope ya'll enjoyed reading as much as I LOVED writing it. Love ya'll Xx