Free Curiosity Killed the Cat by Sierra Harimann Page B

The rain outside had slowed, but she could still hear the
tap-tap-tap
of raindrops dancing on the roof. Then Hannah heard something else. It was the sound of running water.
    Madison must be in the bathroom washing her hands
, she thought. But after a few minutes, the running water hadn’t stopped.
No one washes their hands for
that
long
, Hannah thought. Curious, she got out of bed and walked toward the bathroom. She pressed her ear up against the door and listened carefully.
    The running water was much louder and sounded heavier than the sink. In fact, it sounded as though someone was filling the bathtub.
    “Leave it to Madison to decide to take a bubble bath at midnight,” Hannah muttered to herself as she shook her head and climbed back into bed. Within a few minutes, she drifted back into a dreamless sleep.
    Scratch, scratch, scratch.
    Hannah woke a second time. The scratching sound was back! She looked at the illuminated clock on her bedside table. More than ten minutes had passed and the water in the bathroom was still running. Fear washed over her. Something wasn’t right.
    Hannah got out of bed again and knocked loudly on the bathroom door. No answer. She jiggled the doorknob with trembling fingers, but it was locked.
    “Madison?” Hannah called. “Are you in there?”
    There was still no answer.
    Hannah went out into the hallway and pounded on Madison’s door.
    “Madison!” she called. “Open up!”
    Hannah heard footsteps, and the door flew open to reveal a very groggy — and dry — Madison.
    “What do you want?” she snapped angrily. “This better be good. You woke me up!”
    Hannah cocked her head toward the bathroom door. She could still hear the water running.
    “Do you hear that?” Hannah asked, panic rising in her chest. “The water’s been running for, like, ten minutes. I thought you were in there taking a bath, but …”
    She trailed off.
    Madison’s eyes widened in terror as she ran over to the bathroom door and turned the doorknob. It didn’t open.
    Madison looked at Hannah. “It’s locked,” she said.
    Hannah grabbed the doorknob and tried it herself, but Madison was right — the doorknob didn’t budge.
    “Mine’s locked, too,” Hannah whispered.
    “What do you mean?” Madison asked, anger flashing in her eyes. “Is this some kind of sick joke?”
    Hannah shook her head mutely, unable to speak. Just like with the ceiling fan, it was clear that Madison didn’t have a clue what was going on. Plus, there was no way she could have locked the bathroom door from the outside.
    Madison stormed out of her bedroom and crossed the hallway to Hannah’s room.
    “What are you doing?” Hannah whispered as she followed Madison.
    “Proving that you’re a liar who’s trying to play a trick on me,” Madison said over her shoulder.
    “But I swear I didn’t —”
    Madison whirled around. Hannah had never seen her look so ferocious. “Save it,” she snapped. “I knowyou’re just trying to get back at me because I forgot to unlock your bathroom door a few times
by accident
.”
    Madison stomped through Hannah’s bedroom and stopped in front of the bathroom door.
    Hannah couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Come on, Madison,” she implored. “I know those weren’t acci —”
    Hannah went mute as she watched Madison reach out and turn the bathroom doorknob.
    It clicked open and gave way easily.

Chapter Thirteen
    Hannah gasped. “It was locked, Madison!” she insisted. “I swear!”
    Madison rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Hannah. “Nice try,” she said. “I knew you were a liar. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going back to bed. I know
you
might not care about your looks, but
I
need my beauty rest.”
    And with that, Madison turned on her heel and stomped back to her room, slamming the door behind her.
    Hannah held her breath as she stepped into the bathroom, her heart pounding. She was sure she was going to find a dead cat —