All Down But Nine by Kat Ross

Author:Kat Ross [Ross, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734618419
Publisher: Kat Ross

16

I shouted, arms and legs flailing. The pool rushed up to meet me. It felt like forever, though the drop was only a couple of seconds. I smacked into the water and hit bottom with the same shoulder that was already a mass of bruises. Bubbles swirled. I couldn’t tell which way was up. I inhaled water and figured I was going to drown.

Then I felt myself dragged up to the surface. Hands hauled me out. I rolled over and coughed. Faces stared down at me as I flopped to my back, hacking and dribbling. I looked up at the terrace but didn’t see Roger.

That did not reassure me. He was probably on his way down here.

“Are you okay, miss?”

“My God, I’ve never seen someone fall from so far.”

A babble of voices surrounded me, some loud, some whispers.

“Poor girl, look how young she is.”

“Someone get security.”

“Was she pushed?”

“No, I saw her jump.”

“Such a shame.”

“Where’s her family? Someone ought to find them.”

“Maybe she’s drunk.”

I pushed the hands away and staggered to my feet. My knees shook and I was still coughing, but I had to get out of there before Roger showed up.

“Now, just hold on, miss,” the lifeguard said in a stern voice, reaching for me.

I shook his hand off and ran toward the hotel.

“Don’t let her go!” someone yelled.

Ahead was a stand of palm trees and a path. I sprinted for it, weaving between the lounge chairs. The path ended at glass doors leading to the lobby but I ran past them, hugging the side of the building until I saw a smaller door with a sign that read Private/Staff. I yanked it open and ran inside. Cold air hit my wet clothes. I stood in a long hallway. The carpet was shabby, the walls painted a dingy white. I wasn’t sure if they’d seen me go through the door so I started running again and didn’t slow until I’d turned several corners.

I heard a distant bang followed by voices. I darted down the hall. It ended at a metal door with a red-lettered sign that said Authorized Entry Only. I expected the door to be locked, but it swung silently open when I tried the knob. The room beyond was dark and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust. Big boxes, tall as a man, marched in a row along the far wall. They made a steady whirring sound like they had fans inside. It had to be the air-conditioning system.

But that’s not what made my mouth run dry.

The place was thick with phantoms. It reminded me of the clockwork towers in Carnarvon City. The grims I could see hovered motionless, but I knew there were twice as many I couldn’t see, making the fans go. I froze, trying to catch my breath. Black jewel eyes caught little glimmers of light. Some of them swayed like they heard music. Others were stock still, though I knew how fast they could move if they wanted to.

I’d never felt exactly easy around haints, but since Roger, I had a powerful fear of them.

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