laughing, and talking. Rachel stood in the corner, attempting to blend i

ed onto the stage. His presence was magnetic-c

, and every word drew the crowd in. But as they looked at each other from

the world se

h her thoughts as he got closer.

n. "Yes, I've been busy," she said, h

eaving hers. "I believe it's time for

n't know if it was the power he had or something more per

e could answer. He moved nearer again, and

ence," he whispered in a low, slow voic

between them got stronger, sharper, and more real. A

n a standoff, and the

ot too much, a voice that

"Mika," his bo

d at her with the same frightening intensity as Luka's. Mika's face was

u could feel the tension

een Luka and Rachel, and the ai

?" Luka's voice was short, bu

red at Rachel, and a flicker of something-mayb

ce calm but with a hint of anger Rachel couldn't q

air. She felt stuck between the two of them, their differ

Mika moved closer to Rachel, making h

ika hissed, his voice a wa

tely an attraction, but it was more than that. Something else hung between them

stare was warm, she couldn't shake the feeling

She wanted to run or move, but

didn't know how to finish it. What was she supposed to

"What are you afraid of, Rachel?"

ime swallowing.

are you

ntle, but he was cl

rs. She didn't know how to feel-afraid, wanting, or confu

moment of doubt, t

. Scream

The past was coming up fast

d to g

" she said, he

und her got darker, and she felt like she was being watched. So

ne. Her footsteps echoed off the cold stone walls. The moonlight that c

, she w

. The cult had a lot of power, and s

e chaos she had just left behind. But when she saw something move out

gure stepped out

stopped

de

s were locked on hers, and the chilly smile that

't a st

mare she had t

?" His voice was soft-like velvet wrappe

. She could feel the walls closing in a

t had f

scovered he

g eye contact. He was calm-too cal

y. Someone is going to fin

hit her li

e real

did h

her like a second skin. Gideon's footsteps grew lou

sion. His voice echoed again in her mind, but she didn'

n the alley, forcing her

darkness

of what the cult had done to her

dn't kee

another bend, h

e stoo

s. Big. Cover

figure who had c

s blood

s surr

like a rising tide. How d

ard, and Rachel felt a shudder

figure said in a deep,

like she'd b

rose.

real

ue ide

orget it-but now it surged bac

d her vision blurred.

rose weighed down on

d it again, lo

e L

, it wasn't j

s a c