The voice from the grave

ermeating the air, choking her. The black around her throbbed, as if alive, and the slight whispering voices became stronger and more demanding. She mi

hear, her eyes wide with terror, and her face disappeared into the darkness. Then the laughter had run across the room, black, severe, and to

ness like a sharp knife: You should have stayed away, Rachel. "But you

consume her totally. She couldn't go even though every bit of her screamed to run, to flee. Seeming to keep her in place, the darkness

me what's going on!

le weight of the invisible terrors pushing against her, no response, no motion. S

skin; a dense mist enveloped her feet and swirled about. The blackness appeared to grow until it covered an entire sea,

l said, her voice shaking with a combination of defiance and fear. As if she were trying to steady herself against the overpowering power all around her, sh

ght pressing down on her lightened a bit. With the whispers fading int

more, his voice soft

hadows themselves were speaking through him. "Do you really wa

of road lay before. She answered, her voice calm despite the fear turning inside her. "I desire to know. The guy chuckled softly and frigidly, the noi

of his words draping her. Still, she would not give up. She

ally, Rachel suspected it was an illusion., but as the light became brighter, she coul

d under her feet appeared to coil and move as if it were alive. Emma glanced up, her eyes terrified. Rachel couldn't make out the words when her lips moved. Next, the grou

e screamed, aEmma! But the words expired on her l

d eyes that flamed unnaturally dully. Translucent, almost clear, his skin was deat

gure reached out a hand to stroke her cheek. Emma's body shook violently as the figure released a pulse of dark energy. Gasp for air, she sank

d, so the graveyard was empty once again. The ground had closed up,

peared, Rachel's mind spun. Her chest tightened arou

er ideas before she could co

with an amused tone. Emma learned the co

powering; his body loomed over hers. She sensed his gaze on her, the blackness enveloping him almost lethal. "Who are

someone like you to run the door. Rachel, the reality is a dynamic one. Once you see it, onc

do this to me. You won'

e subdued and cold. "The door is already open. Now inside y

black. She was sure the guy was right. Opening the door, she had now had no alternative. Stil

m Emma's grave. She knew it was her only opportunity, but she had no idea what it unlocked. She pressed the

black with a sudden

mething unsaid. Will the key reveal the next phase of Rachel's path or is she about to face something even