A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

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Standing in the driveway, he unleashed his senses. It was easy to pluck her scent from the air, to follow the near invisible tracks of her car's tires.

"You will not escape me so easily," he murmured. And dissolving into a fine gray mist, he followed her trail.
To the freeway.

To the motel where she had spent the night.
To the cafe where she had eaten breakfast.

To the grocery store, the gas station, and back to the freeway. And, at last, to the motel where she slept, unaware that he watched her.

Tracywoke slowly. Eyes closed, she stretched her arms and legs;then , with a yawn, she sat up.Time to hit the road again. She had covered several hundred miles before she stopped for the night. At this rate, she'd soon be crossing the Canadian border.

She frowned as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Something wasn't right. The room wasn't right.

Rising, she padded across the floor and opened the drapes. And looked out over a huge yard surrounded by an enormous wall.

Was she dreaming again? It was a silly question, and she knew it, but she pinched herself anyway. Ouch! She was definitely awake.

Fear was a cold, hard knot in her belly as she slowly turned and glanced around the room. It was large and square. There were tall, narrow windows set in three of the walls; the bed she had slept in took up most of the fourth. Several thick rugs covered the hardwood floor. There was an armoire in one corner, a small cherrywood dressing table and matching chair stood between one pair of windows. Her suitcase sat on the floor near the door.

Where was she?

And how had she gotten here?

She didn't like the answer that quickly came to mind.

She put on a pair of jeans and a sweater over her nightgown, then went to the door and tried the latch, surprised when it opened. Stepping through the doorway, she found herself in a long, dark corridor. Her bare feet made no sound on the dark red runner as she tiptoed toward the head of the stairs and peered over the railing. She listened for a moment and then, convinced there was no one there, she tiptoed down the winding staircase and hurried toward the front door.