Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
I pointed to the chandelier, picked up the lighter near Troy’s feet, and lit the joint. “Maybe this was some sort of ballroom.”
“Naw,” Troy said. “You wouldn’t have a big ballroom on the second floor.”
“But those drapes wouldn’t go into a regular bedroom.”
Dirt-smudged, white, silky curtains dangled from rusted rods that had been carved into a vine of flowers and leaves. Little animal footprints decorated the bottoms of the material, mud and matted-fur covered the rest.
I took a hit and passed it back to Vivian. “How can the owners just let the whole place go?”
It was such an odd thing. Rotting things growing out of luxury. Most of the ceiling had fallen away. It looked like a person’s ripped open chest—the broken away ceiling representing the skin. Wooden bars stuck out of the torn flesh. Wires dangled like split veins. Everything above our heads spoke of neglect and damage, except for the sparkling chandelier. Even coated in a layer of dust, it shined.
“You didn’t show Jasmine the box of letters?” Vivian hit Troy on the arm. “We have to show her the letters.”
“What letters?” I asked.
“Some crazy person delivered mail to this address. They filled two boxes. Most of them were unopened. I checked the old ones that had been ripped open.” He tossed me a grin. “The writer was saying some ill shit, like, he was the soul of the house.”
Vivian waved her hands in front of her face. “No. No. You have to say it in a dark voice.”
“Fine.” Troy slipped into a deep base. “I am the soul of this house, and you are not worthy to live here. Leave now or I will come and spill blood to feed the body.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Excuse me?”
“That was it pretty much it. Some crazy man wrote a bunch of letters like that and the person just dropped them in a box. After a year or so, they stopped being opened.” Vivian chuckled. “All of the letters said that. Tons of them. I bet that’s the reason why the owner got out of here.”
“Benny says that’s just the nature of Bishop’s Avenue.” I twirled. “Lots of these mansions are supposedly abandoned.”
Troy mocked me, “Benny says that’s just the nature of Bishop’s Avenue.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very mature, Troy.”
“Why are you still listening to this man?”
I huffed. “Because I bet some of the things he says have some truth to it.”
“And the rest?” he asked.
“Probably lies.”
“Psycho.”
“Sociopath.”
“Stupid twins,” Vivian blurted out as she handed the joint back to me.
Dirt and cracked tiles decorated the floor. It all snapped and crumbled under my feet as I strolled around, doing a twirl or turn every few steps. Streams of weed smoke swirled around my body as I swayed.
“Jazz, are you going to smoke or dance with it?” Troy rubbed his eyes.
I leapt toward them, did a curtsy, leaned over, and handed him the joint. “There you go, kind sir.”
“Just give me the damn thing,” he snapped.
Vivian raised her eyebrows. “What’s your problem? You’ve been grumpy since we came back.”
“Leave it alone.” He gestured to the walls and ceiling. “Anybody could be listening.”
“Then let’s go somewhere else.” I pointed down.
Is it time to call Chase yet?
Troy sucked his teeth. “You’re just over there bursting with anticipation, aren’t you?”
“Ah ha! Is that why you’re dancing?” Vivian grabbed the joint from Troy.
“Really?” I asked. “You two are judging me?”
They both shut up. Troy looked the other way. Vivian blew out smoke.
I walked over to them and knelt. “How much longer do you think we have?”
“Before what?” Troy asked.
I whispered, “Before Papa Bear gets home.”
“Maybe he’ll be back tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”
“We may not get another chance. We should go down there and do the thing.”
Troy grumbled, “I don’t know, Jazz. I never tried calling twice in one day. I figured we could try tomorrow.”
Hell no. I just want to hear his voice one more time. I can’t wait until tomorrow.
“We can’t wait. If he returns tonight ... then there’s no way to do what we want to do.” I formed my mouth into a smile. “Now is the time.”
“Can you look a little bit more serious and less like you’re talking about climbing out of the window and sneaking away to go make out with your high school boyfriend?”
“I never did that.” I took the joint from Vivian.
“I bet you want to right now, don’t you?” Troy said.
“Duh.” I inhaled.
He leaned my way and whispered, “This isn’t a freak call, Jazz. Get as much information as you can, get Sherman on the phone, and then hang up.”
“I know it’s not a freak call.”
“This shit could get Chase killed.”
Darkness waved through me. The reality sprang back. It had never disappeared. I’d just pushed it away a little to relish in the fact that I would hear Chase’s voice again.