Chapter 18: Into the Darkness

I grabbed the gasoline can and poured it in. Whatever it was, burning it clean couldn’t be wrong. But before I could light it, Megan, who had been cowering in Lisa’s arms, suddenly rushed up. She knocked into me, and the lighter in my hand fell into the coffin.

The lighter tumbled end over end, landing with a soft thunk. For a split second, I froze—Megan’s face twisted in terror, her hair wild, mouth open in a silent scream.

“Megan!” Lisa rushed forward to grab her daughter, but Megan went wild, clawing and scratching at me.

She moved with a strength I didn’t expect, arms and legs thrashing. Lisa sobbed, trying to pull her back.

I caught her flailing hand and saw her eyes had rolled back in her head.

There was nothing human in her gaze, only an abyss of pain and something ancient.

“Hold her!” I shouted to Lisa, pushing the mother and daughter back. Then, without hesitation, I jumped down into the pit with the coffin.

The air was thick and hot as I dropped in, the smell of gasoline making my eyes water. I gripped the whip tight, ready for whatever waited in the dark. As the light vanished and the pit went cold, I realized—something down here was waiting for me.