Read Face the Dark (Hunters of the Dark #3) Page 49

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Rachel was drenched with sweat. Her legs ached fiercely. The monster just kept coming and coming. Black Forest Island. The monster was chasing her through the forest, gaining on her.

  But I…beat it, she thought to herself, frowning. I lived through this. I know I did.

  She suddenly found herself in a clearing and saw her house up ahead. She was in her neighborhood. If she could just reach her house, she’d be safe. Or...how could she be home when she was just on an island? She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had to warn her parents and all of the servants. They all had to leave. The car would be able to outrun the blasted thing.

  She flung the door open and raced up the stairs to her parent’s room.

  No one there. Had they already left? She frowned, her eyes lingering on the edge of the bed, where a doll lay, one her father had given her. What was it doing in his room?

  Without letting her mind linger on this for long, she tore down the hallway to her own room and ran inside, completely out of breath.

  She stopped and coughed, a new fear gripping her heart, nearly choking her. She was alone. Completely and utterly alone here. Everyone had already left. No one would protect her from the monster. She had only herself to depend on.

  But that’s all I need, she decided, clenching her fists. That’s all I’ve ever needed.

  There was a scratching at the door, like fingernails on a chalkboard. Or like fingers scratching desperately at a stone entrance buried hopelessly beneath dirt.

  “You have interesting dreams,” Someone said from behind her.

  Rachel nearly jumped out of her skin as she looked back and saw Serene smiling at her. “Oh, shit!” she cried. “What the hell are you doing here?” She frowned. “You’re not…supposed to be here yet…are you?” She looked out the window, almost questioningly, to where the smiling dream demon could be seen watching.

  “Oh, settle down,” Serene purred, touching her shoulder. “I’m here to rescue you.”

  “Rescue...”

  “That’s right. Your friends sent me.”

  “My friends?” Rachel looked at her skeptically, but shrugged. “They must be pretty damn desperate to send you in here to get me.”

  “I can leave,” Serene offered, knowing all too well that she wouldn’t let that happen.

  Rachel looked over at the dream demon, then the door to the room that was slowly bending inward. She sighed. “Just get me the hell out of here.”