First Love – Part 62

The teens are worried about Gabe, but have been ordered to stay inside while the police look for him. They are talking quietly when the lights go out.

“There are some candles in the kitchen. I saw them in a cupboard,” Maddie said. “Maybe there’s a flashlight too. Can you see well enough to find them?”

“I’m not going alone,” Richard said. “I’ve seen enough horror movies. It never ends well for the guy who goes looking for candles.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! I’ll go,” Maddie said.

“And me,” Clayton added. “Not letting you out of my sight.”

“Someone should stay with Bev,” Patti said.

“Brad’s there. What about Denise?” Clayton asked.

“You stay with her, Richard. We’ll borrow the lighter and go get candles,” Maddie decided.

“We’ll come with you,” Patti said. “I’m not staying up here in the dark. If I’m gonna get hacked to pieces, I want a running start.”

“I’ll protect you,” Daniel said, putting his arm around her.

“Be glad it’s not me,” Richard said. “I’d trip your ass so they got you first.”

“And yet you wonder why you have no girlfriend,” Patti countered.

Richard chuckled. He handed Clayton his lighter and walked into the room with Denise. There was a little light from the outside.

“We’ll find candles or something,” Clayton promised. “Just stay put.”

“I assure you, I’m not going anywhere,” Denise said.

“I’m here for the duration,” Richard replied. “So, you still wanna make out?” he asked Denise as the others left.

“Are you serious?” They heard her say as they closed the door.

With some difficulty, they arrived at the kitchen. Emergency lights illuminated the door, which aided them in their search. One cupboard produced a flashlight, another a camping lantern. Finally, they came across six glass restaurant style candles and a box of wooden matches.

Daniel tried the flashlight. “Dead.”

“There’s a spare battery in the fridge,” Maddie told him.

“Crazy place for a battery.”

“Supposed to keep them fresher.”

A quick search of the refrigerator revealed a new battery. This one worked. Daniel and Patti took the candles and matches upstairs, finding Denise and Richard in with Brad and Beverly. Fortunately, Leslie was asleep.

Downstairs, Clayton and Maddie did a search of all the spooky cupboards and closets they could find. There wasn’t a fuse box anywhere. Daniel and Patti came back, joining in the search.

“At home, our fuse box is in the basement,” Patti said with a shudder.

Daniel moved a few steps toward the basement door. She grabbed his sleeve.

“We all go together. I don’t want to die a virgin, so I’m protecting my asset.”

Daniel grinned, pulling her close. “We can take care of that right now, if you like. Then if the big, scary man grabs one of us, it’s a done deal.”

“You wish, rock star.”

“I offered,” Daniel said with a shrug.

 

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