Chapter 393 Two Choices
When Mike woke up, it was pitch black. He shot up, feeling the crusty blood on his forehead. Touching it made him wince.
"Luann?" he called out, voice all shaky. The emptiness just echoed back.
A tombstone stood silently in front of him, Shirley's smiling face on it giving him the creeps.
Mike reached for his phone to call for help, but it was gone.
He stepped on something—a note from Luann. It read: [Wanna leave the cemetery? Let's play a game. I've hidden your phone and car keys somewhere here. Find 'em before dawn.]
"Damn you, Luann! Just like your mother!" Mike cursed, spitting in anger. After venting, he calmed down and started searching.
With no lights in the cemetery, he relied on the moonlight to see. He stumbled and fell a bunch of times but couldn't find his stuff. He had no clue which way to go.
Panting heavily, Mike sat on the ground, sweating despite the cool autumn air. Fear and anxiety gripped him.
He could've waited till morning, but the graves of Shirley, Kenneth, and Debra made him too scared to delay, even though he was an atheist.
Suddenly, music started playing. Mike shouted, "Who's there? Stop messing with me!"
No one answered. He realized it was his phone's ringtone, which rang a few times and then stopped.
He followed the sound cautiously, scaring himself with every step. A dry branch snapping and a bird flying by made him jump and scream.
As dawn approached, Mike was exhausted. He collapsed, closing his eyes.
The ringtone sounded again, very close. He got up and found it behind Shirley's tombstone.
"Damn it; are you kidding me?" Mike realized Luann had hidden the keys and phone right in front of him, knowing he wouldn't touch anything near Shirley.
He grabbed his things and, with the morning light, quickly found the exit.
Seeing the car parked outside, Mike hesitated.
He thought to himesef, 'Last night, Luann tried to kill me. Can I really trust this?'
He quickly called a driver to pick him up.
"Dad, aren't you getting in the car?" A voice startled him.
"Why are you still here? I've been atoning all night. Can you let me go now?"
Luann leaned against a tree, looking sleepy. She stretched and smiled faintly. "Unless Mom forgives you, I won't let you go."
Mike gritted his teeth. "How can she forgive me?"
"If she comes back to life, that's her forgiving you."
Mike stepped back, shouting, "You're talking nonsense! How can a dead person come back to life?"
Luann's eyes darkened. "So you know dead people can't come back. Then why think admitting your mistakes would make me forget everything?"
Mike realized something. "Luann, are you messing with me? You never planned to let me go."
Luann raised an eyebrow. "What else? You ruined the Wright family. Grandpa and the driver died in a car accident, Mom died of depression, and Grandma didn't live long. Did you think a few candies would fool me?"
Mike's teeth chattered. "What do you want? Killing is illegal!"
Luann laughed sharply. "But you're already a murderer."
Mike pointed at her, speechless. "You..."
"Dad, stop talking and get in the car." Luann walked to the car, opened the door, and smiled.
To Mike, it looked like a death trap. He was sure Luann had tampered with the car. If he got in, he'd be dead.
"Need help?" Luann asked gently, extending her hand.
Mike, like a scared bird, ran away. He didn't stop until he couldn't see Luann anymore. He sighed in relief.
The driver called. "I'm at the gate, but I don't see you."
"I'm at..." The phone died. Mike angrily smashed it to the ground.
'Great, now I have to go back,' he thought.
He trudged back and saw Luann still there, with the car that came to pick him up parked next to her.
"Let's go! Hurry up!" Mike ran towards the driver.
The driver looked guilty. "Sir, I need the restroom. I'll be right back."
"Don't go!" Mike called out anxiously. Luann patted her car. "Dad, are you really not getting in? The keys are in your hand."
Mike took the keys out of his pocket and threw them at her. "I know what you're up to! You want to kill me! I won't get in your car, you venomous woman!"
