I heard sadistic laughter behind me. Something sinister that belonged to the darkness. Something very, very familiar.
I scrambled up, spinning around so that I could see what was chasing me. Screams bubbled out of my throat as I heard footsteps thumping toward me. Instinct screamed at me to run, but I was too petrified to even turn my head away.
“Run, little girl,” the specter taunted. “I’m gonna get you.” Its voice hissed like a snake.
I forced myself to move, glancing back to see nothing but darkness.
I wanted to scream, but my throat refused to work. Something was choking me…and I realized it was fear.
“Do you think I won’t find you?”
No! No, please!
I ran faster, pumping my legs as fast as I could. I let out a scream when I crashed against a solid object.
“Red! What the hell?”
Caleb!
He gripped my arms, his eyes alarmed. My eyes were wide with panic as I tried to tell him what was going on. I opened my mouth, but I couldn’t speak.
I shook my head and reached for his hand, frantically pulling at him to run.
Please!
“Red, calm down. What’s wrong?”
He cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. “It’s okay. You’re having a panic attack. Breathe slowly. In through your nose now, come on. Out through your mouth. Focus!”
His authoritative command pulled me out of my panicked state. I took slow, deep breaths, in and out, in and out.
“What happened? Why were you running?” he asked. His gentle eyes and controlled voice calmed me.
Am I going crazy?
“The-there was something b-back in the kitchen,” I stuttered.
Without warning, Caleb fell to his knees, shock on his face. My mouth opened in a silent scream as he stared at me with fear and incredulity, his hands covering his stomach. I watched as blood seeped through his shirt.
“Go!” he begged.
I covered my mouth with both hands as I watched Caleb crumple to the floor. Unmoving. Lifeless.
No! No, no, no!
Before I could reach out to him, the evil thing stepped out from the shadows. The dark figure had a malicious smile, and its gaze bored into me.
“Hello, Daughter.”
I heard screaming, so loud and sharp it hurt my ears. I realized it was me, and the sound pulled me out of my nightmare. And then Caleb’s voice came through the fog.
“Red! Wake up! It’s okay, baby. I got you. Shh… I’m here now. It’s okay.”
I was shaking. My bones were cold and my lungs felt full, choking on too much air—or not enough. Caleb’s arms were around me, rubbing my back, comforting me. He was still murmuring soothing words in my ear, but I wasn’t hearing them.
All I could register was his voice.
Caleb was okay. He was here. He was alive.