Chapter Nine

The adrenaline still buzzed in my veins as I tried to catch my breath. Every muscle felt tight, like they hadn't realized the danger was over. The room was still, but inside, I couldn't stop shaking. We were all shaken. Katie slumped against the wall, her face ghostly pale, gasping for air in rapid, shallow breaths. Her hair stuck to her sweat-soaked forehead. Alex pressed into the corner, his wide eyes flicking between us and the door, as if expecting it to burst open at any moment. Brian was pacing the length of the room, muttering curses under his breath. His fists were clenched at his sides, eyes wild. Maya stood frozen, her arms wrapped so tightly around herself that it looked like she was holding her body together by sheer will. Her breath came in shallow bursts, her eyes wide with fear. "What the hell was that thing?" she whispered, her voice shaking and then looked at me. "Was that the thing you saw in the fields?"

I nodded, trying to steady my trembling body.

Her eyes widened even more with shock and she bit her lip. "Oh my god."

Alex stood frozen by the broken door, his face drained of color. "It's the Creeper," he whispered, barely loud enough to hear. His eyes darted between us, fear taking root. "I read about it once in class—it was supposed to be folklore, not real. But this…" He trailed off, staring into the void, as if struggling to grasp that any of this could actually be happening.

We all waited for him to speak again but then Brian blurted. "Spit it out, Alex. What is that creature?"

Alex ran a trembling hand through his hair. "They say the Creeper is something ancient. Born from the blackest darkness. He comes every Halloween, when the night is at its darkest. He doesn't just take bodies—he feeds on fear, on life itself. Draining everything from his victims, leaving nothing but empty shells."

Maya's face paled in horror. "Fed off them?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, the terror crawling through every syllable.

My heart pounded, the meaning of his words pressing down on me like a vice. I forced myself to speak, my voice trembling. "We have to get out of here."

The room felt like it was closing in, thick with dread. My voice was barely my own—small, fragile, like it could shatter under the strain. I swallowed hard, eyes darting to the window. "The window… try the window."

Katie nodded, her eyes darting to the window, the one escape we hadn't tried yet. We scrambled toward it, moving in a frantic, desperate rush. The window was coated in grime, years of dirt that had thickened into a dull film. Alex got to it first, his hands fumbling over the edges, yanking at the frame, pulling so hard his knuckles turned white.

"It's stuck!" His voice cracked with panic as he yanked harder. The window didn't budge. His frustration flared, wild panic filling his eyes. "It won't move!"

Brian shoved Alex aside, gripping the frame with all his strength. The frame creaked but held firm, refusing to give an inch. Then we saw why—thick wooden planks crisscrossed the window, bolted from the outside. Whoever had been here before us had sealed it shut—not to keep us out, but to keep something in.

Brian spun around, his face twisted in rage and terror. His breaths came in short, sharp bursts as he glared at Maya. "What the hell is this place?" His voice rose, raw with fear. "What did you bring us to?"

Maya stiffened under his gaze, her arms dropping, face turning pale. For a second, guilt flickered across her expression before she buried it. "I didn't know!" she protested, her voice shaky. "It was supposed to be a surprise! A break for Rose. I felt guilty and wanted to do something for her."

Anger surged through me, constricting my breath. "A pity party? You felt guilty for screwing my husband and gave me this?"My voice cracked with disbelief. "I didn't ask for your guilt. I didn't ask for any of this!"

Maya looked away, her lip quivering, but before she could respond, the sound came again. That awful, slow flap of wings, growing louder, closer. It lingered, intensifying the tension around us. The temperature in the room dropped, a biting cold that settled in my bones.

Katie let out a soft whimper beside me, her breath came out shaky while her hands trembled. I gripped her arm tightly, trying to steady her—or maybe myself. But Brian couldn't help himself, his fear turning into something ugly. "We can't just sit here waiting for that thing to come for us!" His eyes darted toward me. "It looked at her!" He gestured toward me as his voice rose in panic. "It wanted Rose. Maybe… if we give him what he wants…"

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Katie's head snapped up, her eyes blazing with fury. "Are you out of your mind?" she shouted, her voice trembling with anger. "You're just going to sacrifice her? Throw her to that thing to save your own pathetic ass?"

Brian held his hands up defensively, his expression desperate, panic etched into every line of his face. "Look, I'm just saying… We all saw it! He was… drooling over her. Maybe if we give him Rose, the rest of us—"

The room tilted, the words sinking into my chest like ice. Brian would feed me to that Creeper without a second thought. But what hit harder—Maya said nothing. She just stood there, arms falling limply to her sides.

Suddenly, Maya stepped forward, her face softening, tears welling up in her eyes. "No," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Brian's wrong. Rose… I've hurt you enough. I'm so sorry. For Phoenix, for everything."

She stepped closer, her arms wrapping around me. Her body shook, her tears falling onto my shoulder. "I never meant for it to go this far," she whispered. "I never wanted to hurt you like this."

Her body pressed into mine, warm and trembling with emotion. I felt my anger waver. Maybe she meant it. Maybe, under all the betrayal and lies, there was still something real. She was scared. We all were. I wanted to believe her, that this wasn't just manipulation.

Her arms tightened around me, pulling me closer, and for a moment, I let my guard down. "It's okay," I whispered, unsure if I even believed it. "We'll figure it out."

But then, her grip shifted.

What had been soft and comforting became firm, forceful. At first, I thought she was just steadying me, but her steps quickened, her hands guiding me toward the door. My heart stuttered. Something was wrong.

"Maya—" I tried to pull away, but her hands dug into my arms. In one quick, violent motion, she shoved me toward the door.

I stumbled, my feet slipping as I fell. The cold air hit me like a slap, and my knees slammed against the hard floor. Pain shot through my body, and I gasped, trying to catch my breath. Dazed, I pushed myself up, my hands shaking.

"Maya?" My voice was weak, confusion swirling in my head.

The door slammed shut behind me. Then, I heard it—the unmistakable click of the lock.

I blinked, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The realization crept in slowly, painfully. She had shoved me out. Locked out. A knot formed in my stomach, panic rising fast. I slammed my fists against the door.

"Maya! Let me back in!" My voice cracked, desperate, but on the other side, her voice was soft, almost tender.

"I'm sorry, Rose. I really am."

The coldness in her words pierced me deeper than I expected. She had used me, played on my exhaustion, my fear, my trust. Now I was out here—alone. Bait.

The sound of wings filled the hallway, louder now, each flap deliberate and powerful, like something was closing in. My heart slammed against my ribs, my breath coming in short, ragged bursts. I turned, my eyes widening in terror as I stared down the darkened corridor.

Then, he emerged from the shadows.

But he wasn't on the floor.

The Creeper moved with an unnatural grace, twisting as he clung to the ceiling. Pale, sickly skin stretched taut over black veins that pulsed with something vile, his long, jagged claws digging into the old wood above, scratching as he crawled closer. His black, soulless eyes locked onto me, unblinking, like a predator studying its prey. His wings were folded tightly to his body, brushing the walls, casting grotesque shadows that stretch and slither toward me.

He sniffed the air, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent. His eyes darkened with hunger, locking onto me like I was the only thing that mattered. A sick smile crept across his face, revealing jagged, yellowed teeth glistening under the dim light. My stomach churned, bile rising in my throat, but my body wouldn't respond. I couldn't move.

The Creeper inched closer, his claws tapping rhythmically against the ceiling. His eyes were locked on the spreading milk stains on my shirt. He sniffed again, deep and guttural, his eyes lighting up with a dark, primal hunger.

My heart raced, the pounding rhythm echoing in my ears. I tried to step back, but my legs felt like lead, rooted to the spot as the Creeper crept closer. His wings twitched, feathers brushing the walls with a soft, unsettling rustle, the sound blending with the scratches of his claws as he scuttled along the ceiling, faster now, the hallway closing in around me.

And then, with terrifying speed, he lunged—his body twisting as he dropped from the ceiling, claws outstretched, reaching for me.