SSS 2 - Call

You tap the number and lift the phone to your ear.

The call is picked up on the first ring. You hear nothing, then something that might be a breath. You feel sick in the pit of your stomach.

“Is there something I can help you with?” you ask after a moment. Colby is sitting up and looking at you worriedly.

“I can help you,” the caller replies. It’s a young woman.

“Help me with what?”

There’s a long pause.

“Did you lose something?” she asks.

The call ends. Meri stares at the phone.

“What was that?” Colby asks, rubbing her eyes.

SSS

Twin Peaks plays on the TV in CCL House’s massive living room. The show is muted, but the light of the TV flickers over the glasses, wrappers, and blankets that create a modest mess in the room. It’s quiet. Quieter than usual, even this late at night.

On the loveseat, Bree and Eiza are tight together, curled under a fleece blanket with leopard print. The kiss they share isn’t deep or aggressive, but they are both fully occupied with it. Eiza can feel herself sliding down into the cushions. Not content to end up on the bottom, she pulls herself upright and wraps her arms around Bree.

A short pause in the kissing lets them look at each other in the light of the TV. Words aren’t needed. Bree makes her move, sliding one hand into Eiza’s cotton shorts and the panties within, finding a soft bush, a fleshy, protruding clitoral hood, and a surprising amount of moisture. Eiza shudders and hugs her tighter.

“Ah,” she gasps shortly.

A shape looms suddenly out of the dark.

Both girls shriek. Eiza panics so much that as she recoils away, she nearly kicks Bree off the loveseat.

SSS

You watch the two girls fall over each other, then scramble up to come face-to-face with you. You know that you are a little distracting in your underwear with your hair a mess and reeking of sex, but this isn’t the time to worry about that.

“Ladies,” you say. “You didn’t think to invite me?”

Eiza snorts loudly. “You were busy.”

You shrug. “Invite us both then.”

They laugh.

“Seriously, though. We have a problem. Bree, check every inch of this house. Find me Taytum, Lyna, and Bian. They should be back but they aren’t answering their phones and they aren’t in their rooms.” You turn to Eiza. “Wake everybody up. I want a headcount. You got five minutes.”

They stare at you, but you aren’t having it. You land a fierce swat on Eiza’s butt that makes her jump and squeak.

“OK, shit!”

They scurry off to obey.

Feeling a chill, you quickly make your way around the first floor, checking every window and every door. You snap the curtains apart in time for the wind to hammer the window, rattling it loudly. You flinch, then check the lock. You’re glad that you aren’t wearing your fitness tracker; your blood pressure would be off the charts.

You stare out at the storm for a moment, then shiver and finish your checks. Everything is locked.

In the foyer, Eiza is hurrying down the steps in her plaid jammies with a red face.

“Hey,” she calls out. “Yuki says she talked to them. They called from a motel or something. It’s the storm.”

You take that in. “How long ago?” you ask.

Eiza shrugs.

You turn to your right. CCL House has a landline. You’re surprised that Yuki bothered to answer it. You are carrying your phone. You look up the diner that was to be the spot tonight, and easily locate a nearby motel. That must be the place. You pull up that phone number and call it.

There’s a click and a long pause.

“We’re sorry, your call did not go through,” says an automated voice.

“Great,” you mutter. You look up the steps and point at Eiza. “Is everyone else here?”

“Yup. Not Nancy. She’s home.”

“Right. Get everyone to double up. Nobody sleeps alone tonight.”

Eiza stares at you. She cocks her head. “For real?”

“Not a drill. Go do it. Right now. Someone’s playing a prank on us.”

“OK, jeez.”

Back in your room, you find Colby sleeping peacefully. You turn on your desk lamp and get dressed, pulling on your windbreaker, then tugging on sneakers. You tie your hair back in a very frizzy ponytail and pause by your desk. You were about to turn the lamp off so Colby can sleep, but the light catches on the one piece of nerd memorabilia that you keep beside your laptop: an ornate, curved dagger on a little wooden stand. It’s the Riddick knife. It technically belongs to Colby, but you kind of share it.

Take the knife with you?

Or leave it?