Chapter70


    ShejustwantedtopunishLucasalittle!


    “You’vebeentooreckless!”Hank’sexpressiondarkened ashepointedatJudyangrily.“You’restayinghomefromnowon.You’renotallowedtogoanywhere!!!


    Withthat,heturnedand hurriedtohisstudy.


    Backatthehotel.


    Avelinestartedpackingherthings.Shedidn’thavemuch, asshehadboughtmostofherstuffafterarriving.


    Shepackedeverythingintoasmallbagandwasabouttoleavewhenthedooropened,andamiddle–agedmanwalkedin.Brianfollowedbehind,givingheracoldlook.


    Avelineinstinctivelytookastepback.Whywashealwaysringather?


    Lucassaw thatshehadfinishedpackingandwalkedover.“Waitamoment,we’llleavetogether.”


    Avelineblinked.“Oncewegetback,let’sfinalizethedivo-”


    Lucassuddenlycoveredhermouth.“Waitforme.”


    Hethenturnedandenteredthestudywiththemiddle–agedman.


    Avelinefrowned.Whydidn’theletherfinish?


    Brianstoodbythestudydoor,givingheranothercoldlook.


    Avelinekeptquiet andredback,thinkingthatifhekeptstaringather,shewouldgooverandgougehiseyesout.


    Backinherroom,Aveline’sexpressiongraduallychangedtooneof


    +15BONUS


    deepthought.


    Themiddle–agedmanwhohadenteredthestudywasHank<b>,</b>theheadoftheThompsonfamilyandpresidentoftheLarborCityChamberofCommerce.Didhispresencemeanhewasinvolvedinthissituation?


    Avelineponderedthiswhenherphonerang.Shelookedatthescreenandsawitwasanunfamiliarnumber.


    Shedidn’tntoanswer,butthenthoughtitmightbesomeonefromworkneedingher,asshe’dbeenonleaveforseveraldays…


    “Hello?”


    Sheansweredthecall,buttherewasnoimmediateresponse.


    Avelinelookedatherphoneinconfusion;itshowedthecallwasconnected.“Hello,whoisthis?”


    “Hellothere…”Aharsh,raspyvoicecamethroughthephone,sendingachilldownAveline’sspine.


    Herfaceturnedpale.


    Shequicklyhungup,herheartracing.Thevoicewasterrifying,unlikeanythinganormalpersoncouldproduce,leavingher feelingdeeplyunsettled.Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Wassomeoneyingaprankonher?


    Howchildishcouldsomeonebe?


    Shelookedatthenumberandblockeditimmediately.Clearly,answeringunknowncallswasn’tagoodidea.


    Nightfell.


    AknockonherdoorjoltedAvelineawake.Shelookedtowardsthe<b>door</b>,stillshaken.


    “Whoisit?”


    “It’sme.”


    Lucas‘deep,maicvoicecamethrough,andheopenedthedoor,turningonthelighttoseeherpaleface.


    Aflickerofconcern,unnoticedevenbyhimself,passedthroughhiseyes:Hewalkedoverquicklyandasked,“Whathappened?Areyoufeelingunwell?”


    “No.”Avelineshookherhead,thenadded,“Ihadanightmare.”


    Shehaddozedoffandeveninherdream,sheheardthathorrifying,eerievoice.


    “Areweleaving?”sheasked.


    “Yes,”Lucasreplied.“Areyouhungry?Doyouwanttoeatbeforewego?”


    “No,let’sjustgo,”Avelinesaid,eagertoleave.


    “Alright.”


    Theyleftthehoteltogether,andBrianwasnowheretobeseen.


    Bythetimetheirnnded,itwasalreadypastmidnight.


    AvelurnedtoLucas,“Lucas,canyougivemearide?”


    Lucasrespondedcoolly,“EitheestayattheTudorresidencewithmeorgetacabhomeyourself.


    Avelinewasspeechless.


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