Page 27 of Somebody's Watching Me
“I know about the pits.”
They were halfway down the trail when a sound shattered the bone-chilling silence—a yowling screech from deep in the forest. Stopping in the middle of the path, Michael spun around as Denise and Bruce caught up with them. “Something’s out there.”
Jamison rolled her eyes around, trying to see. Her vision was blurrier than before, but as far as she could tell there was nothing.
“It’s fast.” Michael spun again. “Running back and forth through the trees.”
“Probably an animal.” Denise continued walking. “We need to go.”
Movement darted around them, close enough that the shift in the air tickled Jamison’s skin, giving her goosebumps. Laying the flat of her palms on Michael’s back, she arched up, not wanting to be caught off guard.
Just as startled, Bruce yanked Denise back. “Is that it?”
Michael went to the side of the path and lowered her to stand near a large cypress, his eyes never leaving the forest. “That’s it.”
“Yeah, not an animal.” Bruce watched with him. “A person.”
Denise shrugged off Bruce’s grip to run ahead. “If it’s a person, we can outrun them.”
Neither man followed.
Pressing her back against the tree’s trunk, Michael caged Jamison between his arms. “Give Denise ten paces,” he said quietly over his shoulder to Bruce. “Let her be the one they nab.”
“That’s not a very family-friendly way of thinking,” Jamison taunted. Zanmi referred to one another as family, each member carrying the moniker of brother or sister. “What kind of “brother” gives up his “sister” like that?”
Michael’s attention returned, the evil glint in his mismatched eyes making her regret the question. “A smart one.”
It was then the storm descended, entering with a grand explosion that had the trees above bowing their heads. Michael raised his arm, shielding himself and her from the bits and pieces of the forest flying their way.
Through the bellowing wind, Denise’s screams carried through the woods. Risking a peek, Jamison craned her neck to look over Michael’s shoulders.
Feet.
All her mind could register were the feet dangling from a dimmed light source hovering directly in front of Denise. As it advanced down the trail, the toes pointed downward to scrape the ground.
“What the fuck?” Bruce yelled seconds before an enormous tree branch smashed into his side and sent him hurtling at least ten feet away.
Stay low to the ground.
Jamison froze when the small voice whispered in her ear. Sweet and childlike with a hint of laughter, it spoke again, sending shivers down her spine.
Yes, I mean you, silly.
Positive the drugs were at fault, Jamison dropped to the ground anyway and cowered at the base of the tree.
Michael fell with her. “Can you see that?” he shouted over the storm’s roar and Denise’s screams. “Jamison, can you see that?”
The ball of light had Denise by the throat, claws protruding from it to strike deep. The cries for help ceased instantly, dissolving into gurgles of pain.
“I knew it,” Michael exhaled while watching the gory scene play out. “I knew it.”
Staggering to rise, Bruce ran over to help Denise, but it was too late. The light had released its grip, dropping her to the ground before shooting to the treetops where it broke apart. The storm left in its departure, bringing the quiet back to the forest.
Smiling up at the canopy, Michael forced her to stand. “I knew I wasn’t crazy.”
He’s coming.
The child’s warning shout came as the unmistakable sound of a gunshot whizzed past. Jamison dropped again, covering her head.
