The Dead House

“Call an ambulance!” Brett yells before Naida has finished speaking. “Now!”


“Where’s Juliet?” Maggie cries, running over from the street. “Has anyone seen Jules?”

Brett runs inside when no one seems to be calling an ambulance.

“Where is Juliet?” Maggie screams.

“What’s happening to her?” Ari demands. “What’s going on?”

“Kaitie, wake up. Oh, God, please. Carly, please, come on…” Naida’s words are rushed as she taps Kaitlyn’s face and shakes her body.

Brett runs outside. “Where’s the phone?” he yells at Naida. “Has anyone got their phone?”

As he is yelling, Kaitlyn takes a sudden breath and opens her eyes wide, then they roll back in her head.

Naida gasps and then bursts into tears. “She’s okay! She’s good—it’s okay!”

One slurred word dribbles from Kaitlyn’s lips. “Carly…”

“It’s okay,” Naida whispers to Kaitlyn, stroking her hair. “It’s okay. I think I got there in time.”

Kaitlyn’s eyes roll, flutter, and close.

“Help me,” Naida says to Scott.

He starts to pick Kaitlyn up, but Ari is closer and faster, and soon she is cradled limply in his arms instead.

Naida nods. “Up to the guest room.”

Ari carries Kaitlyn inside.

“You sure she’s okay?” Brett asks.

She puts a hand on his arm. “I told you, sugar. She is the way she is.”





TAUNTON ADVERTISER


Tuesday, 2 November 2004





MISSING GIRL LAST SEEN AT HALLOWEEN PARTY


Elmbridge High School student Juliet McClarin, 16, has vanished after attending a Halloween party at a local friend’s house last night, two miles from the school. McClarin, last seen at approximately 9:00 PM, is 5 foot 3 and weighs approximately 120 pounds. She has sandy blond hair and was wearing a Red Riding Hood costume at the time of her disappearance. There is speculation that Juliet tried to walk back to her dorm room alone after leaving the party. Taunton police officials are requesting the public’s assistance in locating Juliet. Any information should be made available to the Taunton Police Department and will be kept confidential.





29


93 days until the incident




Diary of Kaitlyn Johnson


Monday, 1 November 2004, 2:00 am

Attic

Nothing from Carly in the Message Book. Don’t know how to take it.

I’ve decided that what happened at Naida’s party was probably because of the alcohol. Serves me right for drinking like that when I know Carly’s on meds. I wanted that release—that feeling of flight. It’s the nearest I can get to actually jumping off that roof, Dee. Scary thought.

Does it make me a joke? Because, honestly, I feel like one.

Later

I wish I could stay here, but I have to get Carly back to the dorm before sunup. It was so amazing to have Ari at the party with me. It was actually fun. Well, before the psycho Ouija board thing.

Just thinking about him makes me smile.

5:47 am

Dee… is it you?

If it’s you, please stop smiling at me.





30


93 days until the incident


Naida Camera Footage

Monday, 1 November 2004, 6:00 AM

Kaitlyn’s Dorm Room



A door, closed. A hand knocks.

“What?” comes a tight voice.

“Can I come in?”

Naida doesn’t wait for a response. She opens the door, steps inside, and closes it behind her.

“Get that thing out of my face,” Kaitlyn says right away, looking at the camera.

“What happened at my house? Why did you… pass out? I mean, like that. Was it even a transition? I’ve never seen it like that before.”

“Is that why you’re here? To interrogate me?”

Naida puts the camera on a shelf to her left, facing the room. “Kaitlyn—just stop. Stop it, okay? Do you know that I was scared out of my mind?”

Kaitlyn laughs derisively. “What is this?”

“I know you need this”—she gestures vaguely—“this bravado mask you insist on wearing. I get it. You have to protect yourself: fine. But I want to be your friend. And I’m asking you what went down with that board. What happened outside? I want to help you.”

Kaitlyn puts down the book she’s been writing in—her journal?—and gets to her feet. As she speaks, she steps closer and closer, until she is standing inches from Naida, her posture aggressive. “You want answers? How about you provide a solution? How about you tell Carly to stop taking those damn antipsychotic meds. How about you do that for me, huh? Then maybe I can have a drink without—” She stops herself.

“Kaitie—”

“Don’t call me that. You have no right.”

Naida exhales. “Kaitlyn. You’ve made me into an enemy. I have no idea why. But something did happen at my party. That pointer found you, and there was… something. You weren’t playing with a Ouija board, don’t you see?”