Page 66 of Death Raiser

A memory of having a gun pressed to my temple surged up without warning and froze me on the spot. As if a clamp tightened around my chest, it hurt to breathe. I couldn’t move. Another memory of having a gun pointed at me surfaced, one from six years ago that hadn’t bothered my thoughts or dreams for a long time. I wheezed in little drags of air.

My heart slammed into my breastbone, over and over again, making it hard to think.

“I’ll give you two hours, Lark, and then I’m coming for you.” He didn’t do any of that Hollywood shit like flick the safety or action the bolt, but looking into the end of the barrel had the same terrifying effect. “Lots of time for you to run and hide. Let’s make this a good hunt.”

Run and hide? I couldn’t even move.

Steve licked his lips. “The time starts now.”

Adrenaline kicked in. Fight or flight, and my body chose flight, snapping into motion. I turned and ran. Still bruised from the rough ride in the back of the truck, my legs protested. I wasn’t exactly a gym rat. Though I worked out, I wasn’t a marathon runner or professional fighter. I had a brain and raised dead people.

I ran and ran, thinking, “what the fuck” the entire time. My feet hit the uneven ground with loud thuds. My headache grew, my brain knocking against the inside of my skull with each stride.

The physical excursion heated my blood and limbs, but the knowledge that warmed my heart was knowing that regardless of my fate on this island, my brother would eventually find this piece of shit and make him pay.

I might be long gone by then, but Steve’s days were numbered, too.

Should I circle back, somehow avoid detection, hide and wait for Steve to set out? What if he spotted me? Would he actually wait two hours? That was a long fucking time, and his word was worth shit. But if I went back and he spotted me, I’d lose any potential lead I currently had.

If I just kept running, though, that wouldn’t work either. I had nowhere to run to, I’d fatigue faster, and he’d find me eventually.

I needed to make a trap. Somehow. Or get the truck and drive over Steve.

Oh, I liked that plan.

But first, I needed distance. Distance gave me time and time gave me breathing room to think. Right now, everything burned too much for plotting murder. My lungs burned, my muscles burned, my scraped palms burned, everything fucking burned. And rage spiraled up like a fiery ball of hell.

I had to make sure Steve paid for this with his life.

Or I’d literally die trying.

My feet kept slamming against the uneven path, jarring my body with each stride. The air continued to make my lungs scream in agony as I kept running. Branches snagged my clothes and hair, and the smell of pine, hemlock and cedar flooded my system. It really was just me and Steve on this rock of an island.

Murder Island.

Sweat dripped down my face as I pressed on. If I survived this bullshit, I’d have to thank Kang for telling me to dress casually for our date. I’d already be dead if I had to do this in heels.

No, that wasn’t true. I’d ditch the heels, but running barefoot through a forest would still place me at a disadvantage.

Bones. I needed bones.

I pushed my magic out again, scanning for the dead, again and again. And still, nothing. My magic failed to detect anything nearby.

I assessed my surroundings as I continued to run through the trees without any destination. My simple plan was to place as much distance between me and Steve and his nasty rifle that obviously compensated for something.

The land rose to my left and I veered off the path to cut through the brush. A branch slashed me across the face. Pain spread across my cheek. I clenched my teeth and continued. My lungs were on fire, my legs protested. This pace wasn’t sustainable. Hell, prolonged running wasn’t sustainable. I might work out to stay in shape, but this wasn’t a part of my regular routine.

Bones. Bones. Bones.

I needed bones.

Once again, I sent my magic out, scouring the forest.

Still nothing.

The remains of a few small animals answered my call, but that wasn’t enough for a trip to the veil.

I needed bones, blood and power, and right now, I only had two.

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