Winston checked on Savannah, making sure her legs are functional once again before allowing her to stand on her own. “Are you okay?” he asked, genuine concern in his voice.

“I’m great,” she breathed. “Better than great, in fact.”

“You were almost killed, you realize that, right?” asked Luke.

Savannah shrugged. “It was still a great shag. Besides,” she held up the clump of hair between her fingers. “I managed to grab this before things got…”

“Hairy?” suggested Winston, already rolling his eyes.

“A world of bad puns and sex fiends. This place is really starting to grow on me,” said Luke.

“You can stay if you want,” said Alice, “but I say we find the next riddle as quickly as possible so we can be on our merry way.”

“Fuck, I forgot about the riddle,” said Edward. “We were in such a hurry to get out of there. What if we left it at the cafeteria?”

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” answered Savannah.

“What makes you think that?” asked Luke.

Savannah pointed to the nearest window. “Because I think I’ve already found it.”

Her friends turned, studying the glass for any sign of writing. Savannah wasn’t pointing to the window itself, however, but to a patch of earth just outside. They watched silently as another green vine snaked out of the dirt, an orange orb growing at an alarming rate as it dangled from the end, coming to rest on the grass next to the other as it reached maximum size. A third pumpkin began to sprout before their eyes, and by the time the fourth and final pumpkin started to take its shape, glowing light began to pour from the first as a series of words were carved upon its surface by an invisible hand.

“Can you read it from here?” asked Luke. They all shook their heads.

“Let’s get out there and read it before we become werewolf chow.”

They hurried back through the door, quietly rounding the corner just as the last of the glowing words were etched into the jack-o-lanterns.

Above the dorm as moonlight wanes

You’ll find her on her broom

A Witch’s Blood runs through her veins

While plotting out your doom

“Hold up,” said Luke. “Are we seriously about to go after another witch? I don’t exactly have fond memories of the last one we ran in to.”

“She was angry,” said Edward.

“You’re not seriously defending her?” asked Alice.

“Of course not. Rejection is a pretty lame excuse for stranding us here in this fucked up world. I’m just saying she had motive, even if it was childish. Maybe the next one we meet will be more reasonable.”

“The sirens weren’t very reasonable,” Savannah reminded him.

“No, but the vampire was. And you didn’t seem too worried about Victor the werewolf until that little incident with the roof.”

Unable to argue with his logic, Savannah shrugged and said nothing more.

“Well at least we have a pretty good idea of where to find her,” said Winston. “It literally tells us to look for a dorm in the riddle. No guesswork this time.”

“Except there are a lot of dorms on this campus, Blackbeard,” said Luke. “Where would we even begin?”

“There’s got to be something else in the riddle,” suggested Kate. She studied the pumpkins once more, reading every line aloud two more times. Suddenly she had an idea. “It says ‘beneath the waning moon.’ Maybe…” She turned to scan the night sky, quickly finding the glowing orb above.

Three high-rise buildings stretched into the sky ahead, the moon hovering above the middle tower like a beacon in the night. Kate pointed, hoping her intuition wasn’t leading them all astray.

“It’s the moon,” said Savannah. “It could be above anything, depending on the perspective of where you’re standing.”

“I know that,” said Kate. “But this is where the riddle appeared, and this is where we’re standing. If anyone else has a better idea, I’m all ears.”

“What if we split up again and head to different ones?” asked Winston. That idea was immediately rejected.

“With a werewolf after us, we’ll be much safer as a group,” said Edward. “Besides, if we find the right one we have no way of contacting one another. No phones.”

Kate lifted her ax and began walking down the path, the others watching as she made her exit. “I’m headed to the high-rise. It’s ten floors up to the roof and something tells me the elevators won’t be working.”

“Ugh,” breathed Savannah, moving to follow. “Next time we get trapped in a spooky alternate dimension, remind me to pick a costume that doesn’t come with high heels.” The others fell in line behind her, hoping her theory would pay off.

“Thanks for carrying me out of there,” said Savannah, slowing down to fall in step with Winston.

“No problem,” he replied. “Thanks for doing what you had to do. You know, to get the hair.”

Savannah giggled. “Apart from that last bit, it was actually pretty fun. Which, I guess you would know. You were there.”

Winston blushed as images of Savannah’s writhing body flashed through his mind. “Yeah.”

She paused. “You know, funny thing is, now that I’ve — you know — I feel much better.”

“What do you mean?”

She shrugged. “Like we were talking about earlier, how everyone has been getting weird urges since we got here? I don’t really feel it as much now.”

“Lucky you,” he replied, immediately blushing again.

She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Don’t worry. I’m sensing a pattern here, and the way things have been going, odds are you’ll get yours soon enough.” She paused. “And if not, Alice called dibs.”

“I can hear you, you know,” came Alice’s reply.

Before Savannah could retort, Kate stopped in her tracks, causing the line to halt. “Look, up there!” she said, pointing above the high-rise, just a hundred yards away. A shadowy silhouette was hovering several feet above the building, her features too far away to identify but almost certainly the witch they’d been searching for.

“See?” said Kate, grinning at her own brilliance. “I told you!”

“Think she can see us?” asked Winston.

“Too far away to tell,” Edward replied. “Let’s get closer.”

They moved quickly, covering the remaining distance as carefully and quietly as possible. Staring up at the shadowy figure, Kate still had trouble making out any features. “Maybe we should call out to her? Beats walking all the way up those stairs.”

“What if we attract the werewolf?” asked Luke.

“I’m pretty sure if Victor wants to find us, his nose will lead him right to me,” answered Savannah. When all their eyes turned to her, she continued. “He whispered something to me, about being able to smell my arousal. And something about pheromones, though he was kinda vague about that.”

“Vague how?” asked Edward.

Savannah shrugged again. “He said they were rampant tonight, whatever that means.”

Winston had that look in his eye, the only one not covered with a patch. Kate could tell he was thinking of something, but keeping it to himself. Before she could ask, shouting cuts through the silence, startling them all.

“Hey, you up there!” Alice shouted, using her hands as a megaphone. She drew the stares of her friends but ignored them. Her nose was quite keen in its own right, and she knew a werewolf would find them no matter what, once it resumed the hunt. She didn’t smell anything wolfy nearby, apart from Savannah’s dress.

The silhouette continued to hover, making no indication she’d heard the call.

“Hello! Can you come down here?!” Alice shouted, but again there was no change.

“Fuck,” muttered Kate. “Stairs it is. Let’s hope there’s roof access in this dimension.”

“Why wouldn’t there be?” asked Savannah, following Edward and Kate through the door and into the dark lobby.

“Lot’s of schools don’t. You know, in case a student decides the only solution to their failing grade is to jump off the roof.”

“How morbid,” Savannah replied, dreading the stairs that now lay before her.

Edward did his best to hurry them along, but even he felt winded by the time they reached the top floor. The staircase continued up, ending at a single door in a narrow brick enclosure. He tried the lock and the handle turned with ease, creaking open like so many other doors they’d passed through tonight.

He stepped out onto the gravel roof, his flashlight less useful in the bathing light of the moon. The figure stayed directly above, her profile much clearer from this distance. She faced away from them, sitting on her broom just as the riddle described. Her black dress flowed gently in the breeze as her pale legs dangled lazily from the side, her feet bare. She wore a pointed hat, with long blonde hair flowing from underneath the brim.

“Hey!” Luke shouted, close enough it should have been impossible not to hear. Still, she didn’t turn. The only movement was the slight motion of her arm, disappearing beneath the front of her skirt.

“Is she…” Winston began, trailing off in his uncertainty.

“Masturbating?” Savannah finished. “That’s what it looks like.”

“Awesome,” said Luke. “If we keep collecting horny monsters like this we’ll have to find a home for them. Maybe my friend Annabelle has room at her place? She’d let me visit whenever I want.”

Alice rolled her eyes before shouting at the figure once more. “Are you deaf?! Or just…” She paused mid sentence, her nose twitching as a familiar scent carried her way in the breeze.

The others turned as Alice pivoted on her feet, expecting to find some new monstrosity waiting for them at the ledge. Instead they saw only a black cat, staring back at them with contempt, as if they’d interrupted a long nap. He meowed once, the annoyance evident in his tone.

Above them, the witch turned, seeing them for the first time. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassed shades of red as she hastily pulled her fingers free of her skirt. Then she brought a hand to her ear, plucking free an expensive earbud while the other continued to blast music at full volume. She dipped lower, her feet hovering just a few inches from the gravel as she studied them one by one.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, raising a brow. She made no mention of being caught in the act of self pleasure, though her face was clearly embarrassed.

“Here as in, this building?” asked Luke. “I’m pretty sure we have the right one, the riddle said–”

“Here as in, this world,” she interrupted. “Wait, what riddle?”

“It’s really a long story,” said Kate. The witch’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, noticing the way she held her ax at the ready. Kate wasn’t taking any chances. Nor was Luke, who kept his makeshift spear pointed in her direction. Edward held his pistol, but kept it aimed at the ground. For now.

“Try me.”

“We don’t have time for this,” said Edward. “We still have one more item to find after we’re finished here, and midnight is less than two hours away.”

The witch cocked her head to the side, her face perplexed. “And what sort of item is it I’m supposed to give you?”

“Your blood,” answered Winston, drawing her attention as he stepped forward.

“My blood? What could you possibly want with my blood?” she asked, rising just a few feet higher as if feeling the need to retreat.

“I don’t know,” said Savannah. “Ask your friend, the witch who trapped us here. She’s the one who keeps leaving riddles for us to follow. I had to fuck a werewolf to collect his hair just a few minutes ago.”

“And I nearly had all my blood drained out during a blowjob with a vampire, just to get a fang out of the deal,” added Luke.

“Wait, slow down,” the witch said. “Why would a witch make you do these things?”

“Because Officer Dickhead over here turned down her sexual advances back in our world,” said Luke, earning an eye roll from the others. “That’s probably why every time we find one of these challenges it always involves something sexual.”

There was a long silence between them. Finally, a grin spread across the witch’s lips, followed by the sounds of hysterical laughter. Kate lowered her ax, unsure of what to make of this. Edward, however, grew nervous and raised his weapon, only to lower it once more when the witch spoke again.

“So let me get this straight. A witch, like me, gets pissed off because you won’t fuck her. She forces you into an alternate reality and makes you perform a sexy scavenger hunt for monster bits?”

“Well when you put it like that…” said Winston.

“Are you going to help us or not?” asked Luke.

The cat meowed at his master, but it was Alice who snapped her head in his direction. “We’re not crazy! Everything we’ve said is true!” she said, ignoring the confused looks of her friends before turning to the witch. “Look, we’ve made it this far, so whatever weird sexual act you want us to perform, just ask. It can’t be any worse than nearly getting drowned by horny sirens.”

The witch remained silent for several seconds, as if thinking over her options. She glanced to her cat, but it said nothing. Finally, with a shrug, she lowered on her broom once more, this time letting her feet come to rest on the gravel before pushing the broom aside to hover in place.

“Fuck it, have it your way,” she said, stepping closer. “I’ll give you a vial of my blood, in exchange for a virgin sacrifice.”

A sea of horrified and confused faces stared back at her.

“Come again?” said Savannah.

“I was trying to, before you so rudely interrupted,” replied the witch, raising her hand to calm them before finishing. “Relax, I’m being metaphorical. If you want my blood, one of you will have to give me his virginity. I’d say that’s not a bad trade.”

“What if none of us are virgins?” Winston asked.

The witch narrowed her eyes at him, a grin splaying across her lips once more. “Oh honey, we both know that cutlass at your hip is the only thing in your pants that’s been inside a woman. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We witches have a sense for these things.”

Laughter drew their eyes to the right where Luke could barely keep his head on straight. Literally. “I fucking knew it! Ow!” He rubbed his arm where Edward’s punch left a stinging bruise.

“Don’t worry about him,” the witch continued, approaching Winston on her long and slender legs. “When I’m done with you, he’ll be the one wishing he’d saved his v-card for tonight. So,” she said, twirling her blonde hair on her finger, black nail polish peeking through the golden strands. “What do you say?”

Winston gulped before looking around to his friends. They offered no advice, apart from a brief thumbs-up from Luke, currently checking out her ass. “Fine,” Winston agreed. “But we do it in private, in one of the rooms down below, assuming the beds are still in one piece.”

The witch giggled, sexy and adorable at the same time. “Well I wasn’t planning on laying my bare ass in the gravel, so I’d say that’s acceptable.”

“Hey, no fair,” said Luke, pouting. “Everyone else had to have an audience!”

The witch flicked her wrist, speaking no words but casting her spell nonetheless. The headless horseman fell silent, a row of black stitches forming X’s along his lips. He mumbled something incoherent, but the witch ignored him.

“That’s for staring at my ass,” she said, giving Winston a wink before beckoning him to follow her to the door. “The rest of you wait here. I’ll bring him back in one piece.”

“Try to make it quick, please,” Edward urged. “Like I said, we’re on a time crunch.”

The witch rolled her eyes. “I’ll have your swashbuckling friend back to you soon enough.”

She was through the door before Edward could issue any threats, Winston giving another glance at his friends.

“Are you sure about this?” Edward asked, giving him one last chance to back out.

Winston shook his head. “Not really. But compared to the witch who put us here, she seems nice. And what other choice do we have?”

“We could take it by force,” suggested Alice, her head quickly turning to the cat as it issued a low retort.

“What did he say?” asked Luke.

“He said, ‘Not likely.'”

Winston turned back to the stairs, taking a deep breath before descending. The witch was already around the corner, but he caught up just in time for her to lead him through the door to the suites below.

“My name’s Ivy by the way. Figured you should know that before…you know.” She giggled at the thought, perhaps nervously.

“Winston,” he replied, blushing in embarrassment.

“Pleasure to meet you, Winston.” Ivy came to a stop in front of the first door, turning the latch and peering within. “This will do.”

He followed her inside, surprised to find the room was more or less intact and nearly untouched, at least as far as he could tell. The two twin beds were neatly made and the floor was tidy and clean. Apart from the lack of power, this was about as normal as he could imagine.

“We’ll need some light,” said Ivy, flicking her wrist once again. A row of flickering candles appeared along the windowsill, immediately filling the room with the scent of warm vanilla. Another flick and the beds slid together in the center of the room, the comforters melting into one solid quilt on a queen-sized mattress. “That’ll do,” she said, removing her hat and placing it on the bedpost for safe keeping.

She turned to Winston, finding him frozen and speechless. She took his hand, but noticed the hook forming the other. “Hmm, let’s fix that before it becomes an issue.” Ivy snapped her fingers, and Winston gasped as the hook fell away, his normal hand emerging from the stump and flexing his fingers as though nothing had ever been missing. She looked to his eye patch next. “That too. You’ll want to see this in stereo.” Another flick, and the eye patch disappeared, his eye already blinking as it adjusted to the light.

“Thanks,” he said, truly grateful for the assistance.

“No problem.” With nothing further, Ivy took a seat on the bed, giving the mattress beside her a little pat, urging him to sit as well. Winston obeyed, nerves overtaking his body. Ivy giggled reassuringly. “It’s okay to be nervous. I promise I won’t bite.” She placed her hand on his leg, rubbing gently along the fabric.

“I’m not nervous,” he lied. She didn’t call his bluff.

Ivy slowly leaned over, Winston turning to face her as their lips connected. He was gentle at first, still unsure himself, but Ivy was perfectly willing to guide him down the path to manhood. She kissed him harder, urging him to part her lips with his tongue. His hand quickly found her waist, traveling up and down her hourglass curves in slow movements while the other rose to caress her cheek.

She coaxed him against her, laying on her back and pulling him on top of her body, holding his lips and relishing the burning passion behind each kiss. For someone inexperienced, Winston knew exactly how to show affection. Despite Edward’s warning, he took his time with her, hands appreciating every inch of skin as they travel over bare legs, daring to venture higher and higher until the curve of her ass became his playground. He never felt any lace or cotton, just bare, soft skin where he’d been expecting to find panties.

“Slow down, cowboy,” Ivy whispered, releasing his lips long enough to let him nibble nibble down her neckline, moaning with every bite.

“I’m actually a pirate,” he whispered back, replacing her giggle with more moans as he nibbled at her skin once more, then silenced those moans with another kiss.

Seconds ticked by, then minutes, until finally her hands could no longer resit the urge to do some exploration of their own. Ivy’s fingers tugged at the zipper on his pants, Winston’s body twisting on the mattress to give her room to work. The warmth of her touch was overwhelmingly pleasant, taking his cock in her gentle fingers and pulling him free. She smiled, pleased with her discovery.

This was more than enough encouragement for Winston to do the same. He continued to stroke along her leg, her thighs parting instinctively to beckon him closer. His fingers were slippery from her arousal long before they found her pussy.

Ivy freed him from their kiss once more, her moans growing louder as Winston slid a finger inside her body. She pulled at his shirt with her free hand while the other continued to slowly stroke his shaft, burying her face in his chest as she let him explore her depths.

Winston shut his eyes and focused on the sound of the little witch’s breathing, the way she moaned and writhed as he teased her g-spot, palm grinding soft circles against her clit below a neatly groomed triangle of hair.

“If you’re a virgin,” Ivy moaned, her voice muffled in his shoulder, “how are you so good at this?”

Winston smirked. “I may be a virgin, but that doesn’t mean I’m completely inexperienced.”

More giggles escaped her throat, mixed with the many sighs and moans and gasps. She opened her eyes, a mischievous look burning in her stare. Without warning, Ivy pushed hard on his muscular shoulder, coaxing Winston to roll onto his back as she climbed on top. His cock jumped with excitement as she took the hem of her skirt in her tiny fingers, pulling the dress up and over her head before tossing it to the side. Her breasts were perky and round, the nipples pierced with opal jewelry.

“Tell me, have you ever experienced this?” she asked. Ivy slid her body lower down his legs, pulling his pants with her. Winston watched as she took his cock in her hand once more, guiding it to her mouth and wrapping her lips around his shaft.

While Winston had certainly experienced blowjobs in the past, to compare them to Ivy’s talented lips would be an insult to her skill. The groans that filled the room were all the encouragement she needed, keeping her slippery tongue pressed firmly against his shaft as she bobbed up and down the entire length.

Winston’s fingers naturally found their way in to her gorgeous hair, holding it out of the way but letting her work her magic without any guidance. His newly resurrected eye had finally adjusted to the light, and he was eager to take in the entire view, from the way she hungrily sucked his cock to the subtle movement of her fingers as they disappeared between her legs. It wasn’t long before his shaft began to swell with cum, his balls ready to fire a pearly load into her greedy mouth. But that wasn’t part of the agreement.

“Get over here,” he ordered, pulling her up by the chin and guiding her gently toward him. Ivy crawled just low enough for her nipples to graze the muscles of his chest.

“Yes, sir,” she teased, gasping loudly as he flipped her on her back and squealing with delight as he pulled her back to him by her thighs, his lips aimed directly between them. Ivy tried to tease him further, but his tongue made certain the words never formed, just a handful of expletives beyond her control.

Truthfully, this was something Winston had very little experience with, but he was certainly eager to learn. Judging from Ivy’s moans, his first lesson was going quite well, and more importantly it gave him time to calm his libido before he blew his load too early. He’d already suffered enough embarrassment for one evening.

His tongue darted eagerly over the tiny nub of her clit, flicking rapidly in short bursts before teasing slow circles, her gasps and breathing growing faster with his movements. Whenever those magical sounds began to fade, he switched his technique, keeping her toes curled and back arching. He wrapped his lips around her clit, sucking gently while his hands wandered up her body to take her breast into his palm.

Ivy could take no more teasing. She desperately longed for him to finish her, to kiss a trail of passion up her tummy and over her chest, climbing higher and bringing that juicy cock closer and closer to her eager body. She decided it was time to resume control, if only to get him inside her.

She flicked her fingers once more, filling the room with her sexy giggles as Winston squealed in surprise. His body floated away from her, hovering just inches from her naked curves. He watched as she rolled over beneath him, back arched give his eyes the perfect view as she wiggled her ass. Glistening folds were calling to him from that narrow gap.

Slowly, she lowered him down on top of her, thankful he needed no further instruction as she felt his cock slide in to her body. Her lips parted for him so easily, face buried in the pillow as he filled her with inch after glorious inch. When she was finally able to breath again, Ivy opened her eyes to find those muscular arms on either side of her, his weight no longer at her control as his balls came to rest against her body.

For a moment Winston was certain he’d overestimated his ability to control himself. Despite the break, the tight little hole he’d found himself in threatened to undo his mental preparation. He took a deep breath, savoring the way she felt around him.

“Congratulations,” Ivy moaned, clearly enjoying herself. “You’ve officially lost your v-card.”

“Let’s make it worth it,” he said, pulling his hips back slowly before she could reply.

When he pushed back inside, Winston knew he’d never be able to rely solely on masturbation again. He rocked her body forward, sinking deeper into her pussy and forcing moans from her lips. The rest came naturally, his hips rocking back and forth in a steady rhythm, slowly fucking the lovely witch until her legs began to tremble beneath him.

Her round, bouncing ass was far to tempting to resist. She squealed with delight as a hearty smack left a red impression on the cheek, the sting immediately overwhelmed by the constant pleasure of his cock sliding in and out of her body. Winston gripped the headboard tight with one hand, pulling him into her with every thrust. He kept his movements slow and deep, avoiding the jackhammer sex commonly found in porn. Ivy seemed to be loving it so far.

In fact, within just a few short minutes, Ivy found herself approaching orgasm once again, no longer annoyed at being interrupted during her broomstick masturbation session. The one building inside her now would be much more fulfilling, and she was so very close. It was time to take control once more.

Winston didn’t squeal this time, though the sudden weightlessness did catch him by surprise. Ivy gasped as he vacated her, pulling free of her clutches as he hovered above the bed once more. He watched the shiver run through her body, smiling as she rolled over to make room, flipping him before letting him fall to the mattress on his back.

His lungs were still replacing oxygen as she climbed on top of him. Her lips latched on to his own, leaving him short of breath but blissfully willing to suffocate as he returned her passion. Fingers wandered lazily down his abs, wrapping around his shaft as she raised her hips just high enough to guide him back inside. Moans tingled on his lips as she impaled herself, lowering her body until his balls could feel the slippery warmth of her dripping arousal.

There was no hesitation this time, her body immediately taking the long ascent back to the top, leaving just the tip inside before slamming back down to Winston’s hips. He groaned as Ivy stretched around his girth, letting her have her fun as he watched her breasts bounce before his eyes. He resisted the urge to grab hold, to grip her ass with both hands and meet her with his thrusting hips halfway, pounding her tiny body into ecstasy.

Instead, hoping that her orgasm was just seconds away, Winston pushed himself up with both arms, leaning forward to take one of her pierced nipples into his mouth. It had the desired effect.

Ivy’s bounce came to a steady halt as the first of many waves crashed over her, rippling furiously through her body. Her painted nails clutched tight to whatever they could find, be it the bed sheets on her left or Winston’s chest with her right. He felt her body flush with warmth as the orgasm took over, and his ability to resist his urges disappeared.

Winston held tight to her waist, lifting her slightly before bucking his hips, forcefully thrusting back in to her. Her arousal splashed against his balls as he fucked her, Ivy’s panting moans becoming squeals as the aftershocks of orgasm continued to surge through her body. Winston refused to relent, pounding hard and fast until the swelling in his shaft returned, bracing for the inevitable as he seated himself completely inside her.

The cum was thick and warm as it flowed into her body, filling her pussy with a throbbing intensity he’d yet to experience before. Ivy trembled in his hands, allowing him to hold her firmly in place as he made claim to her. His only regret was that he had no more to give, his balls finally empty after so much longing.

His natural instinct was to hold her in his arms, to savor the moment and pull her close as their bodies recovered. To play with her hair and take in her scent as she fell asleep against his chest. But time was not his ally, so Winston was regretfully forced to vacate her body once more, smiling at her tiny gasp before climbing to his feet. That’s when he noticed the crimson stains on the comforter.

“Are you okay?” he asked, nodding to the blood.

Ivy giggled, playfully biting her lip before rolling over to sit on the edge of the mattress. “I’m fine,” she said. “Perhaps I should have been clearer before. When I said I wanted a virgin sacrifice, I wasn’t just referring to you.”

It didn’t take long for him to understand. “You mean…”

More grinning. “You wanted my blood, so I made you earn it. And don’t worry, you very much succeeded.”

She climbed to her feet, wrapping her arms around his chest to pull him in for one final kiss. Then, while the taste of her still lingered on his lips, Winston observed as she conjured an ornate glass bottle from thin air.

“How are you going to…”

His question was answered before he could finish, watching as Ivy reached for his discarded saber and pulled it from the sheath. Before he could protest, she pushed the razor-sharp tip against her finger, puncturing just enough to fill the vial with a few drops of crimson blood. Satisfied she’d given enough, she corked the bottle and handed it over.

Winston took the item but kept his focus on Ivy, watching as she slid back into her dress and retrieved her hat from the bedpost.

“You’ll want to put your clothes back on,” she urged, noticing he hadn’t budged. “Your cop friend seemed pretty insistent on finishing quickly.” Winston nodded, quickly pulling his shirt and pants back into place while she waited. It occurred to him that this experience wasn’t anything like the previous ones he’d witnessed that evening.

“You know, you aren’t at all what I expected,” he said.

“Hopefully in all the right ways,” she teased.

He blushed. “Oh yeah, definitely. But what I mean is, the other witch left a pretty bad taste in our mouths. You’ve been nothing but nice to me.”

“An odd way to put it,” she replied. “You’ve been rather nice to me in return, of course.”

He watched as Ivy separated the beds once more with her magic, then realized just how powerful that magic might be. “I don’t suppose you could help us?” he asked. “I mean, we’ve been scrambling to finish this scavenger hunt before midnight, but if one witch brought us here, maybe another, nicer witch, could send us back?”

Ivy seemed genuinely apologetic as she replied, frowning at the idea of crushing his hope. “I’m sorry Winston, but whatever spell she has you under, it’s not something I’m familiar with. Traveling across dimensions is hard enough when it’s just yourself. Moving groups of people, especially those without magic, that’s something else entirely. Not impossible, but whatever magic she used to bring you here, it’s very powerful, and you’re bound to it. My hands are tied, I’m afraid.”

Winston sighed with disappointment, but he understood. It was worth a shot. He glanced once more at the vial in his hand before pocketing it safely next to the siren scale. “Thanks for the blood, and the…” He was too embarrassed to finish saying it aloud, but her giggle let him know she understood.

“You’re welcome. Now, head back up to your friends, they’ll be in a hurry I’m sure.”

He gave her a nod, taking his cue to leave and shut the door behind him. His legs were tired as he climbed the stairs, his body as drained of energy as it was of semen, but he made it safely to the door and threw it open. The others rushed over as soon as he stumbled out.

“Winston, are you okay?” Luke asked, noticing the subtle limp. The stitches in his lips were gone, though the holes remained. Someone had cut him free, probably after much debate.

“I’m fine,” he answered. “Just tired.”

“I bet you are,” said Savannah. “Did you get what you came for?”

“How many puns are we up to?” asked Luke. He’s ignored as Winston fished the bottle from his pocket and showed it to the group.

“Excellent!” said Edward. “We’re almost done, just one item left.”

“Let’s get downstairs and find the final clue,” said Kate.

They rushed down the steps, bounding from floor to floor as quickly as possible and spilling out onto the lawn below. Nobody needed to be told what to do by this point, their six pairs of eyes already scanning for anything that might serve as the final clue. It didn’t take long.

Without warning the ground beneath them started to quake. A mound of grass began to rise at the center of their circle, spilling into dirt as a large, flat stone pushed through the roots and rose from the earth. The chiseled edges and granite finish were easily recognizable, but they waited until the gravestone had full emerged before moving closer to read the inscription on it’s weathered surface.

The Clock has made you misbehave

While counting down your fears

High upon this lofty grave

You’ll find these Ghostly Tears

“Misbehave indeed,” said Savannah when she’d finished reading. “Clock is capitalized, and we all know there’s only one clock on campus that could double as a ‘lofty grave.'”

They turned in unison to Tillman Hall, the clock tower just barely visible through the trees and buildings in between. They had just over an hour to complete their hunt, judging from the position of its metal hands.

“Let’s hope this ghost is the friendly kind,” said Winston, interpreting the last line.

“If not,” said Edward, “we’ll give them a reason to shed those tears.”

“Oh yeah? What are you gonna do, kill them again?” said Alice, rolling her eyes. “Come on, you see the time, so let’s move.

As the six of them made their way to the final challenge, a curvy silhouette watched them from above. Ivy stroked her cat as she observed from the tower’s ledge with curious eyes, listening closely to the exchange.

“There’s something weird about this,” she said aloud. The cat meowed it’s reply before she turned to it. “Follow them.”

The clock had shed another five minutes by the time they arrived at it’s base, but they’d already noticed something odd long before. Staring up at the tower above, they all noticed the same unusual glow simultaneously.

“What do you reckon that blue aura is all about?” asked Savannah, exaggerating her already prominent Southern accent.

“If I had to guess, I’d say it’s what we’re here for,” answered Luke.

“Can’t see any ghostly figures up there,” Winston observed, “But it’s pretty high up, and ghosts tend to be invisible, so who knows.”

“Well we aren’t going to find out by just standing here,” Savannah continued. She moved to open the door, then remembered Edward was the one carrying the flashlight, not to mention a gun. She let him take lead once more, the others following close behind as they made their way to the staircase.

“Have you ever been up to the top?” asked Alice, to anyone willing to answer.

“I had a class in here last year, but nothing past the second floor, and I never had to step foot in the tower,” replied Edward.

Luke turned unexpectedly to Winston. “So how was it?”

Winston looked perplexed. “How was what?”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Don’t play dumb. You know what.”

Catching on, Winston answered with a sigh, just to amuse his friend. “She was really nice. I can honestly say it was a good first experience.” Then, with a smirk, he added, “And I didn’t even have to worry about getting my dick bitten off.”

“Lucky bastard,” came the reply, but Luke returned the smile. “I’m happy for you, she was really hot.”

Winston shrugged. “She was, but she was also really sweet. Definitely prefer her to the other witch. I even asked if she could help get us home, instead of rushing to finish all these stupid challenges.”

Several pairs of eyes turned to him at that moment, letting him know there were plenty of eavesdroppers. But he had nothing but disappointing news for them. “She said this wasn’t a spell she was familiar with, and as much as she’d like to help, she couldn’t get us back on her own.”

“And you believed her?” asked Alice, somewhat skeptical.

“I didn’t have a reason not to,” he answered.

“Well, while you two were downstairs getting your freak on, I had a talk with that shady cat of hers,” Alice continued.

“You could actually speak with it?”

“With him, yes. He wasn’t very forthcoming. In fact, the only question he willingly answered was when I asked about all the sex stuff going on, and how everyone seems to be exceptionally horny for no reason.”

“And?”

Alice continued up the steps, urging them forward. “He said it was unusual. Not very helpful, but it confirms our suspicions. Whatever is going on here, the sexual aspects of this scavenger hunt are part of the spell, not the world itself.” With nothing left to add, they continued upward in silence.

In order to reach the tower, they first had to ascend the main building. They became lost for several minutes before finding what appeared to be the correct path, taking a dark hallway to a wooden staircase that wound slowly upward. Learning from her experience with the high-rise, Savannah shed her heels and climbed each step in only her stockings, but the journey was slow and took its toll on all of them.

Then they were in the clock room, with the four pale faces ticking away their limited amount of time on each wall. They were perfectly synchronized, and though the time was mirrored from the inside, they could tell they had less than an hour to make it back to the witch with all six items. Unfortunately, the clock faces were the only sight to be seen.

“I know this may sound obvious,” said Kate, “But I don’t see any ghosts.”

“Maybe we got the wrong clock?” suggested Luke.

“I think we have to go higher,” answered Winston. “We saw that odd glow in the arches, which are above us.” He turned to the stairs, still leading upward. Taking the hint, Edward took the first step and continued up, beckoning the rest to follow.

They climbed to the next floor, only to discover another, perhaps more unusual, room than expected. There were no arches here, but instead the wall was dominated by what appeared to be a large keyboard. Only instead of ivory keys, this one was made of wooden pegs and foot pedals.

“What is this?” asked Alice.

“It’s a carillon,” replied Kate.

“What’s that?”

“They use it to ring the bells, like an instrument. I think you can even take a class to learn how to play it.”

“Oh shit,” said Luke. “So all that chiming we hear during the day, that’s not computerized?”

Kate shrugged. “I suppose some of it may be automated. The rest are just college students who needed a music elective.” Throughout the day, all over campus, the ringing of various melodies could be heard from this very clock tower. The music ranged from the school’s alma mater to video game theme songs, every fifteen minutes without fail.

“Hey Edward, you know how to play piano,” said Luke. “Do you think you could play this thing?”

Edward laughed. “Two completely different instruments, buddy. But I guess I could probably figure it out if I really tried. But there’s no time for that now, we still have to find this ghost.” Edward was already moving to the last staircase, this one much narrower than the others.

They ascended the creaky steps, pushing through a trap door and climbing on to the catwalk above. The arches were here, three on each wall and encircling a narrow pathway with railing on the other side. Suspended at the center were the bells, their dusty hammers waiting for orders.

And there, sitting in the center arch on the far side, was the figure of a lone girl. Her hair was long and dark, flowing around a pale dress with knee-length skirt. She faced out into the night sky, but the sound of sobbing echoed throughout the chamber. Her precarious position on the edge of the brick, so many stories above the hard cement below, would be much more worrisome to the group were it not for the ghostly blue aura around her translucent body.

“I think we’re in the right place now,” whispered Luke, his voice echoing in the brass above.

“What do we do now?” Alice inquired.

“Hello? Are you alright?” Kate called, trying to get the spirit’s attention.

The ghost didn’t budge, not even a hint of acknowledgment as she continued to weep into the night. They approached cautiously, and once again Kate called to her, followed by Luke, who was less polite with his attempt. Again, the apparition refused to face them. They stepped closer and closer, until finally they were within an arms length.

“Can you hear us?” Edward asked, already expecting a lack of response. When the ghost didn’t answer, he turned back to the others. “Either she can’t hear us, or she’s ignoring us.”

“Fuck it,” said Luke. “She’s already crying, let’s just grab some tears and get out of here.”

Edward immediately recognized the problem. “Does anyone have a bottle or something we can use to collect them?”

“Look at me,” said Alice, waving her hands over her slender frame, the bodysuit barely concealing her most intimate parts as it hugged her curves. “Does it look like I have pockets for anything?”

Edward ignored the snappy remark and turned to the others. They all checked their pockets, but come up short one by one. Winston held the container with the mummy’s eye inside, as well as the glass bottle full of witch’s blood given to him by Ivy. He suddenly wished he’d asked for a spare.

“We’re not going to get very far without a vial, or something, to hold those tears. Let’s head downstairs and look around for anything we can use. Quickly.” Edward was already headed to the stairs, ignoring Savannah’s exhausted sigh as she imagined the many flights they’d have to traverse.

“Why don’t I stay here and watch the ghost?” she suggested, clearly pleading for mercy on her feet.

Edward sighed. “Fine, you and Luke stay here and watch over her, and shout for us if anything happens.”

Savannah performed her best salute. “Yes, sir!”

She and Luke remained in place while the other four began their descent back into the carillon room. They disappeared below the hatch, leaving the two alone with their ghostly companion. Luke immediately took advantage of the alone time.

“So,” he began. “If we make it out of here alive, can I buy you a drink?”

Savannah rolled her eyes, but with a smile. “Are you only flirting with me because you’ve seen me naked?”

Luke shook his head, or at least tried to. “No, of course not. But, you’re drop dead gorgeous, and out of the two of us, you definitely seem to have your head on your shoulders.” He demonstrated the accuracy of that statement by pulling his head free and tossing it high.

She giggled. “More puns? You really know the way to a girl’s heart.”

Luke shrugged. “I wouldn’t trust a girl who didn’t appreciate a good pun.”

“So you’re saying it’s my sense of humor that has you interested, and not this bomb ass pussy?” Savannah teased.

“To be fair, I didn’t really see much of that ‘bomb ass pussy’ since you were facing the other direction. In fact, I’d say you’ve seen much more of me at this point than I have of you.”

To Luke’s surprise, Savannah answered by quickly lifting the hem of her skirt above her waist. Her panties were still torn and discarded somewhere in the dining hall, leaving her bare for his viewing pleasure before the skirt fell back to her knees.

“Now we’re even.”

Luke wasn’t sure how to reply, staring open jawed until her giggles brought him back to the moment. As he was searching for the right words, and just as Savannah was about to accept his offer to buy her a drink, one of the bells chimed loudly next to them, causing them both to jump.

“Jinkies!” Savannah shrieked, holding her ears as they began to ring.

“See! Now you’re saying it too–”

Luke was silenced by Savannah’s hand, waving him to turn his head and look as she pointed to the arches behind him. He turned just in time to see the eyes of a ghostly girl shifting away from them, her body glowing brighter as her figure became translucent once more.

“You saw that, right?” Savannah asked. Luke nodded.

In the carillon room below, unseen to their two flirtatious friends above, the other four were frantically searching for something usable as a vial. Three sets of eyes turned on Alice as the sound of a ringing bell came from above, finding her embarrassingly staring at her tail.

“Sorry!” she said, blushing beneath her whiskers. “Sometimes it’s hard to control this thing!” She looked behind her to the carillon, keeping her tail close in an effort to prevent it from striking any more of the wooden pegs.

Edward shook his head, but before he could offer any reply, Kate shouted from the corner of the room. “Look what I found! This might actually work!”

They turned to find her holding the decaying remains of a single black rose in one hand, the curving glass of a tiny vase in the other. Kate discarded the dead flower and blew gently into the mouth of the vase, freeing a cloud of dust and dead leaves but leaving the glass relatively clean.

“It’s a bit larger than what we need, but it’ll have to–” Winston never finished his sentence, suddenly interrupted by shouts from above.

“Hey!” called Savannah’s voice. “Whatever you just did to make the bell ring, do it again!”

The four looked to each other in confusion. Alice was still closest to the carillon, so she carefully pushed down on the same peg as before, using her fingers this time. A bell chimed above, and they waited patiently for whatever might follow.

“You guys might want to come look at this!” shouted Luke.

Fearing that something bad had happened, Edward took the stairs two at a time, forcing open the door and stepping onto the narrow passage before Kate had even reached the bottom step.

When she emerged, the scene appeared relatively unchanged, only adding to her confusion. Luke and Savannah waited for all four to join them before explaining the commotion.

“What gives?” asked Kate, searching around for anything unusual.

“What gives,” began Luke, “is that little miss ghosty here likes it when you make the bells ring. Both times it chimed, she turned to look at us.”

Kate looked past them to the figure still crying at the arch. “She’s not looking at you now.”

“Yeah, no shit,” Luke continued.

“She only did it while the bell was still ringing. The moment it went silent, she went back to doing whatever the fuck it is she’s doing now,” said Savannah, interrupting before Luke could invoke her friend’s wrath.

“Interesting,” said Winston. “But all we need are her tears. She’s already crying, and Kate found something we can probably use to catch them in.”

Kate held up the vase, moonlight shining on its glassy curves. She stepped forward, minding the narrow ledge as she inched closer to the weeping spirit. Moving slowly, she brought the vessel just under the ghost’s cheek, keeping her feet carefully planted just in case she decided to attack. Kate took a deep breath before pushing the vase under those phantom eyes.

It passed right through her non-existent skin. Kate checked the vase for tears, already suspecting the answer as she steadied herself on the narrow passage. It was completely dry, the tears just as intangible as the rest of that ghostly image.

“Fuck,” she whispered, turning to the others. “It didn’t work.

“Great,” said Alice. “Now what do we do?”

Savannah was already on top of it. “It has to be the bells.”

“What do you mean?” asked Winston. “You said she turned to look at you when they rang?”

“She also stopped glowing,” answered Luke. “At least, not as much as she is now. And I could be mistaken, but she didn’t seem as…see-through?”

“Translucent. That’s the word you’re looking for,” said Savannah. “And you’re right, she definitely seemed more solid.” She turned to Edward now. “I bet if you play a decent enough melody, and keep those bells ringing, she might just turn solid enough for us to get what we came for. Just make sure you use the smaller bells and not the big ones. We’d like to keep our eardrums intact if possible.”

Edward nodded, but with a sigh. “You can bet she’ll want something from us in return. That’s been a recurring theme with these challenges.”

“Then we quickly give her some good dick and carry on,” replied Luke. Savannah rolled her eyes behind him, but didn’t seem put off. She couldn’t be mad at him for sleeping with another girl so soon after flirting with her, at least not if it were in an effort to return her safely home where she belonged.

“What if she wants more than just some ‘good dick?’ Those sirens were willing to kill for it.”

“Then we give you a shout and you simply lay off the music,” said Savannah. “She can’t harm us if she can’t touch us.”

“So you think,” said Edward, still reluctant. But he also knew the clock beneath his feet was still ticking away their precious time, so he finally agreed. Heading to the stairs once more, he turned to Kate, his eyes imploring her to come down with him. Kate offered a warm smile, but stayed in place. She couldn’t leave her friends alone with the unknown while she escaped to safety.

Realizing he was on his own for now, Edward disappeared down the hatch. The others turned to the apparition and waited patiently for whatever might happen. A minute passed, and they began to wonder if perhaps Edward had lost his nerve, when suddenly a bell chimed, followed by another, and then a third. They flinched at the sound, the notes shrill and alarming as they met their ears. Edward may have spent that time figuring out which bells to use, but the smaller ones were still unpleasant when standing nearby.

It took several seconds to adjust to the noise, but eventually the song became much more bearable, almost pleasant. No one spoke it aloud, but there were plenty of smiles and nods of appreciation as the notes of Mary Had A Little Lamb filled the night sky. Edward decided to stick with the basics.

More importantly, the ghost had also taken notice of the melody, her eyes turning to face them once more. Just as Savannah explained, the ghostly glow faded ever so slightly as her form materialized into something more tangible. Tears still ran down her cheeks as she looked upon them, eyes filled with confusion, but Kate resisted the urge to run forward and shove the vessel to her face.

“I…” the figure began, struggling to find words. “I’m sorry, I was hoping you were someone else.” Her voice was soft and sweet, yet full of sorrow. She began to turn away once more, the glow already returning.

“Wait!” called Alice. The ghost turned back to them, still able to acknowledge their presence. “Who are you waiting for?”

The ghost was hesitant to reply, as if saying the thought aloud was too painful to bear. Kate was far ahead of Alice by now, seeing the ghostly form and the way she sat on the archway, putting the clues together in her head to form a ghastly image. She was simply waiting for the remaining details.

Finally, the ghost spoke again. “My name is Rose. I’ve been waiting here for a very long time. I was supposed to meet someone here, you see. Someone I love very much. I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll be waiting forever.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” said Kate, her voice genuinely sympathetic. “I’m sorry he never showed up.”

“One might say you were ghosted,” said Luke.

“Seriously dude?”

But Rose kept her focus on Kate, answering only to her. “She never did.”

“Ah, I understand,” Kate replied.

“Do you?” Rose seemed almost angry now, the tears no longer flowing. Kate made no mention, but she was already wondering if she’d made a mistake. “Do you know what it’s like for women like us? Women who prefer the company of other women?” She glanced into the night once more. “We were supposed to meet here, far away from prying eyes, because there are few other places on campus where we could keep our secret safe.”

“I’m sorry,” Kate repeated. “You must have died a long time ago.”

Rose turned in surprise. “Died?”

Kate nodded, once more wondering if she’d made an error. The music kept flowing. “I’m afraid so, yes. You didn’t realize?”

Rose looked horrified, glancing down to her hands and over her body. The glow, while fading, hadn’t completely disappeared, nor had the translucence of her skin, her body toeing the line between solid and supernatural. A minute passed, and Kate wished she could allow just a few more, but time was precious and slipping away far too quickly.

“Rose, I’m sorry you had to find out this way, but we need–”

“I remember it now.” Rose stared into the distance as she interrupted Kate’s request. “I was waiting. It was just before midnight. We were supposed to meet long before then.” Her eyes closed as she pictured the scene. “I was growing worried. It wasn’t like her to miss our meetings. She’d never been late before.”

Rose faced them once again, eyes open but looking not at the group before her, but the bells just behind them, their chimes still echoing in the darkness above. “I wasn’t paying attention to the clock. It struck midnight, and the bells began to ring.” She turned back to the arch. “I…I was sitting there, watching. Waiting. The bells were loud, and they scared me. They scared me so much, and I lost my balance, and I…”

They watched in silence as words failed her, their minds more than capable of filling in the rest. Rose had fallen to her death while waiting for her lover, a secret meeting that never should have taken place, were people more accepting of love and the many forms it takes. History had been cruel to Rose, and many others like her, but there was nothing they could do for her now.

“I can’t apologize enough for what happened to you,” Kate continued. “And you deserve so much more than that. But Rose,” Kate stepped forward, vase in hand. “I have to ask something of you.”

Rose didn’t reply, but looked at Kate with curious eyes. The tears were no longer flowing.

“We’ve been trapped here in a world we don’t belong in. We don’t have much time, and the only way we can get back is if you give us some of your tears.”

Rose tilted her head in confusion. “My tears?”

Kate nodded, holding the vase higher to show she was serious. “We need your help. We’ve faced challenge after challenge, and we’ve had to do things…” Kate searched for the right way to phrase their experience. “Let’s just say we know one another more intimately than we’d ever expected to.”

If Rose understood, she made no mention. Kate waited in silence, however, refusing to go into any more detail than that. She didn’t want to give their ghostly friend any ideas. Her spectral eyes shifted slowly from person to person, seemingly unfazed by Alice’s unusual appearance as well as Luke’s, before coming to rest once more on Kate.

“Very well,” came her reply at last.

Kate sighed, prepared to step forward with the vase once more.

“However,” Rose continued.

“Here we go,” Luke breathed. “What perverse act are we going to have to do for you?”

Rose ignored him, much as the others had grown accustomed to, keeping her eyes on Kate. “If you want my tears, you’ll have to show me the intimacy I’ve been waiting for for so long. The most intimate act of all.”

“Anal?” Luke flinched as three separate fists smacked him in various parts of his body.

Kate kept her eyes on Rose. “What is it you want?”

With her eyes never leaving Kate, Rose beckoned her closer. “A kiss.”

“A kiss? That’s it?” Again, Luke felt the wrath of the other three. Despite his skepticism, Kate immediately began to shake her head.

“I can’t, I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“What?” This time it was Alice who spoke.

Kate turned to them, then shifted her eyes to the hatch where Edward waited just below, still playing his melody for their benefit. “I know it’s silly, but the way I feel about Edward –”

“That’s why it has to be you,” said Rose, drawing Kate’s attention back to the arch where she stood. “You’re the only one here who knows what it is to love someone.”

“I’m not sure if I should be offended or not,” said Savannah behind them.

Kate shook her head once again. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”

Rose immediately began to fade once more, the blue aura bright around her silhouette as she turned back to the arch.

“Wait!” Kate called, before it was too late. Rose turned but said nothing, waiting for Kate’s answer.

“Is there any other way?”

“What about me?” Savannah offered, stepping beside her firefighter friend. “I’m perfectly willing to give you what you want.”

Rose shook her head. “You’re not in love.”

“How do you know? I could be?”

Rose offered a weak smile. “Any fool could see you’re lying, even without ghostly powers. But nevertheless, when I see you now, I see more than just your physical self. I can see your soul.” She turned back to Kate. “And hers has the flare of passion that only happens when you feel something special for another soul.”

“You didn’t even know you were a ghost a few minutes ago,” Savannah countered, but Rose wasn’t budging now that her memory had come back to her.

Kate sighed, thinking of Edward. He was waiting down below, counting on them to retrieve this final item, a simple tear. The request must have seemed terribly simple to the others, men and women who’d given their bodies to keep them moving forward. But Rose was right, at least as far as Kate was concerned. She didn’t mind the idea of kissing another girl, especially one as lovely as Rose. But it was the intimacy of the act that made it feel like a betrayal of her principles.

But there was no other way, and Kate knew that. There was simply no time to argue, and there was no way to retrieve that tear without Rose’s help. It may not have seemed like much to the others, but to Kate, this was a heavy cost. Reluctantly, she nodded, silently agreeing to the deed.

Rose beckoned her forward, and as Kate took those few steps, the others watched as her ghostly glow ceased to exist, the light flowing from her heart unable to penetrate her milky skin as it solidified.

Kate approached with her ax by her side, ready to swing if necessary. They’d encountered plenty of unexpected surprises tonight, and she knew this would likely be no different. She was especially cautious of the archway, and the fall just below. It wouldn’t take much to stumble through the gap. Or be thrown.

But Rose made no move to toss her over. She kept her eyes on Kate’s, smiling as she finished her approach. She was quite lovely, and now that her skin was fully tangible, Kate could see freckles along her nose and the most gorgeous brown eyes she’d ever seen. Were it not for the guilt, she might have actually enjoyed what she was about to do.

There were no words exchanged, no countdown, and certainly no offers to back out. Rose brought her hand to Kate’s cheek, her fingers cold but soft as she guided their lips closer together. Kate shut her eyes, thinking of Edward as their lips made contact. Immediately, she knew it’s wouldn’t be enough.

Rose released her after just a few seconds, the disappointment clear in her eyes. “That’s not good enough,” she said. “I want you to really kiss me, the way you would kiss the one you love.”

“I’m sorry–” Kate began, but Alice interrupted.

“You can do this Kate! He’ll understand, I’m sure of it!”

Kate sighed, closing her eyes once more. She felt the fingers on her cheek and knew this was her final chance. Again she pictured Edward, the way he filled out a uniform he was never meant to wear. The way he held her when she fell asleep on his chest. The way he smelled every time he hugged her in those big arms.

She hadn’t even realized her lips were no longer alone. Rose held her in her grasp, a soft moan muffled in their embrace before her tongue parted Kate’s lips in search of a partner. She found Kate willing to accept, her arms wrapping around Rose’s waist and pulling her closer to kiss her harder.

The others watched quietly as the seconds ticked by, waiting for Rose to take her fill. They could all see the pale fingers begining to travel slowly down Kate’s back, inching closer and closer to the curve of her ass. This was quickly becoming more than just a kiss.

Kate kept her eyes shut as Rose continued, her lips now free to issue soft sighs and moans as her ghostly partner began to tease a pathway down her neck, nibbling gently at the tender flesh. Her mind was still on Edward, thinking of the way he would do the same, and of how badly she would want him to keep going, to taste her with his lips until her clothes were coming off and…

Her eyes opened with a start, realizing all too late that Rose had gone much further than planned. A hand was slowly slipping beneath her shirt, traveling slowly up her tummy and toward her waiting breast. While pleasant, it was far too much for Kate, and she was quick to push away.

“I think that’s a bit more than we agreed on,” she teased, keeping her voice firm but flirty in an effort to keep Rose happy. But Rose didn’t relent, her hand diving under once more and taking hold of Kate’s breast despite her complaint.

“Hey, she said that’s enough. Back off!” Luke said, stepping closer in case he had to intervene.

“You asked for a kiss and you got it,” said Savannah. “Now can we have the tear so we can–”

Rose jerked upward, still ignoring the others as she held Kate tight to her body, inhaling through her nose as if she smelled something delicious. She didn’t speak, but when Kate made another attempt to push away, Rose held tighter, refusing to let go.

“It’s been so long!” she moaned, her hands still exploring Kate’s body.

“I said that’s enough!” Kate screamed, her voice carrying above the sound of the bells as she pushed harder in an effort to free herself, determined to escape Rose’s grasp before she herself gave in to her own desires. Like the others, Kate was unbearably horny, and Rose’s touch was far more appealing than she cared to admit. Thoughts of Edward kept her resistance strong.

THE END OF CHAPTER THREE