Page 1 of For Blood

PROLOGUE

Rachel Martinez's eyelids felt like lead as she pushed open the heavy door leading to the hospital's parking garage.The blast of cold night air that hit her face did little to revive her exhausted senses after another grueling twelve-hour shift in the ICU.She pulled her thin jacket tighter around her scrubs, wishing she'd remembered to bring a warmer coat.

The garage loomed before her, a cavernous concrete structure devoid of life at this late hour.Flickering fluorescent lights cast an eerie glow, creating elongated shadows that danced across the walls with each step she took.Rachel fumbled in her pocket for her car keys, the cheerful tinkling sound they made seeming out of place in the oppressive silence.

As she made her way down the first level of the garage, Rachel's mind drifted to the warmth of her bed waiting at home.Just a short drive and she could finally rest.Her sensible nursing shoes echoed loudly with each step, the sound bouncing off the walls and pillars.

A faint prickling sensation crept up the back of Rachel's neck.She paused, glancing around the empty garage.Nothing but rows of silent vehicles greeted her gaze.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched as she continued walking.Her steps quickened slightly, the clip-clop of her heels growing more urgent against the cold cement floor.

Rachel's thoughts raced as she tried to rationalize away her unease.It was just fatigue and an overactive imagination, she told herself.How many times had she walked through this garage alone at night without incident?There was nothing to fear.

And yet...the prickling sensation remained.Rachel's heart began to beat faster as adrenaline coursed through her veins despite her attempts to stay calm.She gripped her keys tighter, positioning them between her knuckles as a makeshift weapon.Just in case.

The vast emptiness of the garage suddenly felt suffocating.Rachel longed to break into a run, to reach the safety of her car as quickly as possible.But she forced herself to maintain a steady pace, not wanting to give in to irrational panic.

"You're a grown woman," she scolded herself silently."Stop jumping at shadows like a frightened child."

But try as she might, Rachel couldn't fully banish the creeping dread that had taken hold.Every distant sound - the hum of the flickering lights, the faint whisper of wind - seemed magnified in the oppressive silence.She found herself holding her breath, straining to hear any sign of another presence in the garage.

There was nothing.And yet the feeling persisted, growing stronger with each step she took deeper into the concrete labyrinth.Rachel's palms grew clammy as she clutched her keys.Just a little further to her car, she told herself.Almost there.

Rachel's sensible heels clicked against the concrete, each step echoing ominously through the deserted parking garage.Row after row of silent vehicles loomed in the dim light, their shapes casting long shadows that seemed to stretch towards her.Her breath came out in small, visible puffs in the chilly air, a reminder of how alone she was in this vast, empty space.

The prickling sensation at the back of her neck intensified, causing the fine hairs on her arms to stand on end beneath her scrubs.Rachel paused, her heart thundering in her chest.She turned, scanning the area behind her, but saw only vacant parking spaces and concrete pillars.

Rachel picked up her pace, clutching her car keys like a talisman.The metal bit into her palm, its familiar shape offering a small comfort.She tried to focus on thoughts of home – a warm shower, a cup of chamomile tea, the soft embrace of her bed.Anything to distract from the growing unease that threatened to overwhelm her.

But despite her attempts at self-reassurance, Rachel couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.Her mind raced, recalling snippets from the true crime podcasts she often listened to during her commute.How many stories had begun just like this – a lone woman in a parking garage, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows?

Relief flooded through her as she finally spotted her car, its familiar outline a beacon of safety in the oppressive darkness.Rachel's fingers stretched towards the door handle, already imagining the solid thunk of the locks engaging, when a voice sliced through the silence.

"Rachel."

She froze, her hand hovering inches from the car door.The single word, her name, spoken in a low, deliberate tone, sent ice water coursing through her veins.It wasn't just the sudden intrusion that chilled her to the core – it was the unsettling familiarity in the voice.As if the speaker knew her intimately and had been waiting for this very moment.

Rachel's heart hammered against her ribcage as she whirled around, her eyes darting frantically across the dimly lit parking garage.The vast expanse of concrete suddenly felt suffocating, each shadowy corner and distant vehicle a potential hiding place for her unseen stalker.The flickering fluorescent lights cast an eerie, sickly glow that did little to penetrate the darkness.

"Hello?"she called out, her voice wavering despite her attempt to sound confident."Who's there?"

Silence answered her, a heavy, oppressive quiet that seemed to swallow her words.Rachel strained her ears, desperate for any sound that might betray the presence of another person.But there was nothing – no footsteps, no rustling of clothing, not even the faint sound of breathing.The silence pressed against her, as tangible as a physical weight on her chest.

Her mind raced, years of nursing experience kicking in as she assessed her options.Run?Fight?She glanced at her car, then back at the shadows surrounding her.Rachel's fingers tightened around her keys, the jagged metal digging into her palm.

I should get in the car and drive away,she thought, her instincts screaming at her to flee.But something held her in place, a bizarre mix of fear and...curiosity?No, that wasn't quite right.It was more like a compulsion, an inexplicable need to confront whatever – or whoever – was out there.

Just as she steeled herself to make a dash for her car, a sound broke through the oppressive silence.Footsteps, slow and deliberate, echoed off the concrete walls.The measured pace sent a chill down Rachel's spine – this was no hurried attacker, but someone taking their time, savoring the moment.

The voice came again, closer now, its tone dripping with malice."I've been waiting for you, Rachel."

CHAPTER ONE

The early morning sun spilled gold across the endless Texas countryside, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.Morgan Cross's fingers tightened around the steering wheel, her knuckles white with tension.The steady hum of the engine and occasional chirp of birds greeting the day were the only sounds breaking the heavy silence inside the car.

Morgan's dark eyes scanned the road ahead, searching for answers in the winding asphalt.Her mind raced with possibilities, hope and fear warring within her.The weight of the letter in her pocket seemed to burn against her skin, a tangible reminder of why they were out here in the middle of nowhere.

Beside her, Derik sat rigid in the passenger seat, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.His brow furrowed deeply, worry etched into every line of his face.Morgan could feel the tension radiating off him in waves, matching her own internal turmoil.

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