Page 66 of Air Of Mystery
CHAPTER ELEVEN
It should have been ridiculous. My cousin and I, standing on the curb and her demonstrating the workings of a Super Soaker-type of kid’s water gun to me. But I wasn’t laughing and neither was she. The energy coming from the house across the street was terrifying, and a high-powered blaster filled with holy water seemed like an excellent idea.
“These have instant fill tanks so we can reload if needed,” Sunny explained.
“No kidding?” I brushed my hair from my eyes. The breeze seemed determined to get my attention today.
I know,I thought to my element.I know that you are trying to warn me of danger.
“Remember to keep pumping up the water gun,” she said, as I familiarized myself with it. “It’ll have more pressure that way and the stream will go farther.”
I did so immediately and took a practice shot. A stream of water blasted out, going several feet in front of me. After re-pumping the water gun, I accepted the holy water filled back-up cartridge.
Once I’d placed the cartridge in the top left pocket of my cargo pants, I added the water gun on top and left the pocket unfastened.
“Follow my lead,” I told her. And together Sunny and I crossed the street heading at an angle for the old Victorian.
“So...we’re just going to walk up and knock on the door?” Sunny whispered as we stepped onto the house’s new lawn.
“Yeah,” I said out of the corner of my mouth. “Trust me. The neighbor from across the street, Corrine Thompson, thinks thewoman living in this house is being abused. She told me that she had bruises all over and especially on her throat—”
“Like a vampire attack,” Sunny finished for me.
I nodded. “Exactly.”
Putting a pleasant expression on my face, I strolled right up to the front porch. As I stepped onto it with my cousin, I noticed that the flowers in the pots on the porch were all dying. A wind chime hung on the far end of the porch yet despite the breeze I’d felt earlier, it was silent.
Nothing was moving in this yard. The air was heavy and still...almost suffocating.
I knocked on the door, and to my surprise it swung open. I did not take that as a good omen. In fact, I moved back from the door and pulled Sunny with me.
“Uh-oh,” Sunny whispered. “That’s not good.”
“Hello?” I called out. “Is anyone home?” I waited a moment and pitched my voice to carry. “Is everything okay in there?”
Now that the door was open, I could see into the living room. The television was on, yet the sound was off. The house was disordered and messy, with plates, mail, and blankets tossed around the room. I couldn’t see all of the floor as a large sectional sofa was blocking the view, but what I could see was dirty with random shoes, clothes, and trash lying around.
“Hello?” I called out again, and then I heard it—a whimpering sound coming from the room.
Automatically, I moved forward, but Sunny hooked my arm and yanked me back.
“Skye!” she hissed under her breath. “You can’t just walk in their house.”
“Wanna bet?” I replied, speaking as quietly as she was.
“Help me...” The plea was soft but we both heard it. “Please.”
And that changed everything.
“I’m coming in,” I said, stepping over the threshold. “Where are you?”
I walked into the living room, got as far as the sofa, and discovered a young woman sprawled on the floor in front of it. I rushed to her side.
“Are you hurt?” I asked her.
The woman had long brown hair and she was pale and drawn looking. She was shockingly thin under her clothes, and my first thought was that she was on drugs. But when she lifted her head so she could look at me, her blue eyes were clear, and more importantly she was absolutelyterrified.
“Help me.” She whispered the words.
