The hound had literally dropped out of the sky. It didn’t make any sense. Her hands shook and chills ran through her blood. Cranking the heat, she waited a few moments trying to warm up.
Just when she thought she had the nerve to start driving again, a growl erupted outside the car, and a shiver racked over her body. That didn’t sound like a very friendly growl to say the least. Hitting the lock button on the car, she jumped out of her seat as four enormous paws pounced on the hood. Her scream tore from her throat, echoing over the small interior of her car. Those blood red eyes stared at her through the windshield, barring its snarling jaws.
Snapping razor fangs dripped with goo, she was paralyzed with fear. This wasn’t like any dog she had ever seen. There was evil in its eyes. Pure evil.
Finally she realized she needed to get the hell out of dodge, Emma threw the car into drive and stomped on the gas. The Eclipse lurched forward, hurling her into the seat. Trying to keep control, she watched as the hound rolled over the car landing on its feet and sprinted off into the night.
She didn’t slow down, she didn’t look to see where he’d gone, and she didn’t stop the car until she was safely parked in her driveway. Emma bolted from the car like her butt was on fire and ran all the way up the brick path, slamming the front door behind her. Flicking the deadbolt, she ran a hand through her messy hair. After a deep breath, she twisted around and all but smacked into her mom who was watching her with a strange glint in her eyes.
“Are you okay honey? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?” her mom asked at the sight of her pale and shaken face.
No shit. Not a ghost, unless dogs come back from the grave. Now that she had a moment to think about it, there had been a zombie look to it.
“Yeah, fine.” She let a nervous laugh. “The roads are just spooky with this weather.” She plastered on a smile, teeth and all. It probably looked as fake as it felt.
Her mom had a dishtowel thrown over her shoulder as she studied her. Being under her mothers scrutiny was making her antsy.
Emma continued to ramble. “What’s for dinner? It smells great and I am starved.” A total lie. Her stomach felt like it would vomit at the first sight of food. Forget trying to shovel it down her throat.
Her mom pursed her lips. “Chili. I thought we needed something to warm us up.”
Dinner was uneventful thank God, but Emma was unusually quiet. She didn’t think she tricked anyone with her forced cheer. Excusing herself early, she was unable to keep the pretense of being okay. In truth, she was utterly spazzing inside.
God she was acting like a freak-a-zoid.
Behind the security of her bedroom door, she looked around the room. There wasn’t much of her in it. She was almost afraid to make this room hers, you never knew when her dad might just up and move the family. Again.
Flopping on the bed, she turned on the little bedside lamp needing the soft glow to chase the shadows from the room. Every time she closed her eyes, two burning lava eyes haunted her thoughts. The image was stuck behind her lids. More than anything she wanted to hear Travis’s voice. She didn’t know how, but she knew he would be able to chase away the daunting images etched in her head.
Looking at the bright lights of her clock, she wondered if it was too late to call. She reached for her phone letting her fingers dance over the keys as she debated with herself.
Emma bit her lip. Maybe he had his phone off and it would go to voicemail? No harm done, except she would still be freaked out. She didn’t want to disturb his sleep, though she was sure he wouldn’t be angry. The internal struggled continued even as her fingers dialed his number, and before she could second guess the decision, the phone was ringing in her ear.
Holding her breath, she waited and almost hung-up. Twice. Then she heard his voice and was washed in warmth and relief.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” he asked, sounding like he was ready to run to her rescue.
Now that she had him on the phone, she didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called so late,” she rambled.
“I wasn’t sleeping, and I’m glad you called. Tell me what happened.”
“I needed to hear your voice,” she admitted.
“I like the sound of that,” he murmured, causing her cheeks to flush.
“And I couldn’t sleep.” She wasn’t sure what she should tell him, but she wanted to spill her guts. For reasons she didn’t understand she had been unwilling to tell her mom. Maybe because she barely believed herself. Why would anyone else? It was like a horrible nightmare. “The strangest thing happened to me tonight. You’ll probably think I’m crazy.”
He seriously doubted it. “Nothing you can say could ever make me think that, nothing,” he vowed.
Seriously. He was the one with all the deep dark secrets here. Her problems were apples compared to his. He heard her take a breath and snuggle into the covers.