*****
Soren wasn’t sure what would kill him first: the lack of air or a snapped neck.
The shade aggressively squeezed Soren’s throat, and despite his best efforts to punch the creature, nothing seemed to move him. Ken was trying to heave the shade off Soren, but to no avail. His blows didn’t seem to hurt the spirit at all.
It took a moment for Soren to realize why. The shade had turned corporeal but he was primarily a creature of psychic, not physical, force. Trying to punch and hit him didn’t have much impact. The only way to free himself was to use his mind.
Unfortunately, the second Soren tried it, he realized just how difficult it was going to be. The shade’s psychic energy was like a brick wall, and Soren wasn’t nearly skilled enough in that arena to break through it. If he tried to mentally battle this creature, he was going to lose.
Instead, he shifted gears, filling his mind with images of Alex. At first it was difficult, but Soren let the brief memories of Alex overlap with those of Sarah when she was a girl. He pictured Sara, John and Soren playing pirates in her backyard when they were kids.
If you don’t stop this, Alex and his mother will die, Soren thought at the shade.
Soren was starting to see tiny black dots in his vision. He was running out of oxygen.
You are the boy’s last hope, Soren thought. A creature has taken him.
I KNOW A MONSTER HAS TAKEN HIM, a voice came back in Soren’s mind, and it felt like someone was shouting directly in his ear. I TRIED TO WARN YOU.
Help us stop him, Soren thought, with the shade’s hands still around his throat.
He heard a gun go off and knew Ken was trying to shoot the shade, but it had no effect.
IT’S TOO LATE, the shade replied. IT HAS THEM BOTH.
There’s still time, Soren said. Guide us to him.
The shade’s grip seemed to slacken a little.
I don’t trust you, the shade thought at him, but it was no longer a shout.
I needed the blood of an honest man to summon you. You don’t have to trust me, but you know you can trust him. Please, Peter, we’re running out of time. You can still save Alex. Don’t let him become the next Alastair.
The shade abruptly let go of Soren’s throat, and Soren fell to the ground. He lay on the floor coughing and gasping for breath. Ken still had his gun trained on the shade, but Soren waved at him to put it away. Behind them both, Soren saw Muriel and the boy flee from the room, perhaps worried about what would happen next.
But Peter seemed to be appraising Ken for the first time.
“You’re a police officer,” the shade said out loud.
Ken nodded slowly, looking uncertainly between Soren and the spirit.
“He doesn’t trust me,” Soren said. “I told him he could rely on you.”
Ken seemed to pick up on what was required.
“I love Sara and Alex,” Ken said. “I’m trying to protect them.”
Soren didn’t know if the shade believed Ken, but he sure did. The words cut through him for reasons he couldn’t explain. For just a second, he wanted to rage at Ken and tell him how unworthy he was to be with Sara and serve as Alex’s dad. He couldn’t hope to fill the shoes of John Townes.
But John was dead, and even if Ken wasn’t up to his caliber, did that mean those shoes had to remain empty? And was that the only reason Ken’s words felt like a knife in his gut? He pushed that thought away. Right now, none of that mattered. Ken might be Soren’s only chance to save Sara and Alex.
The shade nodded at Ken.
“I believe you,” he said.
“Then take us to them,” Ken said. “We don’t have any time.”
Soren stood up, still holding his throat.
“We need you to guide us to where they’re being held.”
“I can only get so close,” the shade said. “His power prevents me from seeing him clearly and keeps me at bay. I’ve only been aware when he’s been physically close to the boy. That was why I was trying to lead him away. I didn’t know which adult around him was the dreamweaver.”
“Can you help us fight him?” Soren asked.
“Only if you weaken his power,” the shade replied. “Somehow he puts up a barrier I can’t get through. He would need to be significantly hurt for me to get past it.”
“Understood. Just take us as near as you can and then point us in the right direction,” Soren said. “We’ll do the rest.”
Soren wasn’t sure what he expected the shade to do. He assumed they would have to walk or drive behind him as he led them to the spot. Instead, the shade reached out and grabbed both Ken and Soren by the arm.
Soren abruptly found himself standing in a copse of trees. He looked at Ken, who was just as startled. The shade put a finger to his lips and gestured toward an opening some thirty feet in the distance. Soren could hear the faint sounds of people talking.
They needed to approach cautiously. Hopefully, Richard wouldn’t see them coming.
He heard Sara’s voice drift over to him and felt a surge of hope. She was still alive.
“You are not laying a hand on him,” Sara said.
Ken started running toward the voice before Soren could stop him.
“Sara!” he shouted. “Sara, are you out there?”
He may be honest, but he’s a fucking idiot, Soren thought.
That was when he heard the gun go off.
Closed at Dark Page 16
