Page 14 of Dark Shadow of Guilt

Strolling forward, he paused to admire how her mind worked. It was well-shielded. Trauma, perhaps. But he was an expert Mind Rat. With a phantom hand, he touched a thin-membraned wall, planting a command that would activate later.

A trigger.

Several steps ahead, he plunged downward.Unusual. The pathway on which he strode had given way, tumbling him into an unexpected shaft. He must be more careful. She was a dangerous subject. He risked getting lost or injured while manipulating her will. Praevus created an imaginary ladder and climbed out of the pit to continue his journey.

Damn. Another mound of debris.

He needed food and rest. Never had he been so challenged. What a delight the human turned out to be. Such a great self-reward.

His boss, Serita, had become involved in something big. After he had worked for her at the restaurant in Angor a long time, she offered him a hush-hush job. On the side. When he consented to be her errand boy, she freed him from the Ordeals and gave him better accommodations. She had powerful friends in high places, but he had blown that deal when he attacked her and stole the Madeline.

Again he planted what he liked to think of as a bomb, or trigger, that would explode at a later date. If Madeline passed from his hands to another’s, this would be a pleasant surprise for her new owner. Praevus had no doubt that she’d eventually be taken from him. He chuckled with delight.

Mind Rats came in many varieties. At the low end of the spectrum were those who did nothing but destroy brain matter, leaving their victims catatonic.Sloppy. A middling ability allowed the Rat to twist the subject to their will. He possessed that skill. But at the upper end were those few who set triggers to activate later. This prowess made him special.

After planting the second trigger, Praevus released his hold on Madeline and wobbled to his feet.

Yes. Food and rest.

Her chin bobbled to her chest when she fell into unconsciousness. He had to be careful to keep her alive. Despite her strong mind, human flesh was weak. Nonetheless, Praevus had not had so much fun since his capture. Once again, he was somebody, a master of his art. How dare the OneCreator call his gift a malady. It was his genius. His greatness.

If Serita suffered for what he gained, so be it. He owed her nothing.

Chapter Five

Maddy woke curled facedown on cold concrete. She licked her lips. Thirsty again. Her cheek scraped the gritty floor. Rolling onto her back, she flung her arms to the side.

Something was different.

Realizing her wrists and ankles were unbound, she wobbled to a sitting position. Her eyes wide, Madeline checked out the warehouse, twisting left. Right. She listened. No sounds. She called out. No answer except an echo.

Maddy scooted until her spine flattened against the wall. With a tentative push, she rose from the floor, brushing off the dust that clung to her soiled skirt, torn white shirt, and face. Her gaze pinged around the room while she crept along, palms to the wall to steady herself.

She was alone.

Praevus was gone, and she wasn’t chained like a psycho’s prisoner. Why? No time to think about her good fortune. She continued her exploration of the dimly lit warehouse. Being barefoot, she made no noise. At a tall metal door, she paused. Drawing a deep breath, Madeline opened it to eyeball the street outside.

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