Haunting-Adeline

“Mm,” he growls in delight. “Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to
allow you the opportunity to run and hide. If I find you, then I will deliver
your punishment. If I don’t, you go unpunished and I will leave.”
I pinch my eyes shut, a small single strand of hope threading throughout
the hysteria. I know this house like the back of my hand. I know where the
good hiding spots are.
There are two bedrooms down there in the hallway on the bo om floor.
The first bedroom has a ny li le nook in the back of the closet. Just barely
able to fit my body in, but I used to hide there all the me when Nana and I
would play hide-and-seek.
“Fine,” I whisper. “How long will you search for me before I win?”
He smiles. “I’ll give you five minutes before your ass is bent over my
knee.”
I huff, jerking my face away from his hand. He lets me go, but the smile
on his face grows.
“Your me starts now, Adeline. Be er run.”
I don’t hesitate any longer. Turning, I bolt out of the room, slamming the
door shut behind me. I don’t miss the amusement on his face when he
watches me do so, but I don’t give myself me to care.
I head straight for the stairs, keeping my steps light as my li le legs carry
me down the steps at an alarming speed. Halfway down, I nearly pitch
forward and face plant, barely catching myself on the railing and keeping
the loud squeak from escaping.
I feel like throwing up, the adrenaline and fear intense and bi ng at my
nerves.
Making a le turn, I aim for the hallway and slip into the first bedroom
just as I hear heavy footsteps from above.
My heart races impossibly faster, and my hands tremble fiercely as I slide
open the closet door. The metal ra les from my sloppiness. A slight,
insignificant sound that feels like thunder rolling throughout the bones of
the house.
Heaving in a deep breath, I force my body to slow as I glide the closet
door closed and hurry into the nook.
I’m panicking.
My chest is ght, and I have the strangest urge to cough. Could be
because my throat is dry and steadily closing. I want to claw at my neck,