Page 18 of Norah

The evil voice responds grimly.It’s too late.

I scream in frustration and horror, hitting the door until my hands bleed. As I hear the man’s lungs gasping lazily for breath, I move back to his side and take his limp hand so he’s not alone when he passes. My body shakes with frustration and anguish.

I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.

ETHAN

Norah!

What’s wrong with Norah?

I’m ripped out of sleep by the sound of Norah screaming. She’s thrown her covers off and is trembling all over. Her face is wet with tears, creased with pain, and little moans have replaced the screams that awoke me. She said she had nightmares, but this looks like she’s being tortured.

My heart’s racing with residual fear, and it squeezes at the thought of Norah going through this, even in her sleep. I’m desperate to pull her out of the nightmare, so I grasp her arms and give her the tiniest of shakes.

“Norah. Norah, honey, wake up.” I try to pitch my voice so it’s soothing, not revealing my initial panic when I thought she was being hurt. I give her another little shake. “Honey, wake up. It’s just a nightmare.” She moans again and I speak louder. “Norah. Time towake up.”

She awakens with a gasp, and her eyes flash open, still filled with panic. She gasps, and her mouth opens enough for me to see two incisors poking out in front of the rest of her teeth. Twolargeincisors,muchlonger than normal.

“What the hell?” I pull back in surprise. Those teeth-fangs?- weren’t there before.

Norah clamps her hand over her mouth with a yelp, and leaps out of bed. Somehow, she ends up on the other side of the room; the movement faster than my eyes can track.What the hell?

As my brain tries to make sense of things, it takes a moment to register the expression on Norah’s face. Then I see it, a mixture of agonized horror and regret. She fumbles for the doorknob and backs out of the room, wide eyes fixed on mine. “I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “So, so sorry.”

I leap up from the bed where I had been motionless with shock, and move towards her. “Norah.”

“I’m leaving. Don’t worry, I won’t come back.” Her lips are trembling and her shoulders hunch over as if to protect herself.

“Wait.” I follow her across the living room. “You can’t leave. We need to talk about this.” She’s already at the front door, and I’m desperate to keep her inside. “Norah, it’s still dark. You’re not dressed to go outside. Just stay here and we’ll figure things out.”

“I can’t!” Her words come out in a cry. “I’m so sorry, Ethan.” And she shoves open the door and runs into the hallway. I rush after her, pausing only to shove on some shoes near the door. Somehow, I know that if she gets away from me, no matter how much I search, she won’t let me find her.

No! I won’t lose Norah this way.Running down the hallway, heart pounding, I can dimly hear her ahead of me. Deciding to conserve my oxygen for the run, I keep silent while forcing a burst of speed.

Exiting the building seconds behind, I send a mental prayer that no one sees this and calls the police, thinking I’m trying to attack her. Though a forced pause in her frantic escape wouldn’t be a bad thing right now..

She nears an intersection, and panic surges through me. What if she gets hit by a car in this mad race to escape? Why is she running from me? How can I get her to listen?

“Norah! Please stop!” The streets are still busy despite the predawn hour. Heart in my throat, I watch her dart across the street, thankfully making it to the other side without incident. She pauses across the four lanes, appearing to contemplate which way to go next.No! Please come back!Focused only on Norah’s slim figure, I rush out into the street in pursuit.

Horns blare. I hear the squealing of brakes and a rush of heat approach me. My body freezes as I turn to see the car bearing down, headlights blinding.Shit. So stupid.

“Ethan!”

Time seems to speed up and slow down at once. The oncoming car, only inches away. The sounds of the city suddenly lessened beneath the growling of the engine. All my muscles locked up in anticipation of the impact.And then.

Hands touching, lifting, setting me down with a thunk hard enough to rattle my teeth. Chestnut hair brushing my face. The scent of orange and vanilla. And as my scattered observations coalesce, Norah crouched in front of me. Norah, touching my face, arms, chest, “Ethan!”

Before I can even think about it, I grasp her arm firmly.No running again.Not now. Her eyes are fearful as she brings a trembling hand to my face. “Oh God, Ethan. Please,pleasetell me you’re OK.”

Am I OK?I do a quick assessment and determine that somehow I’m completely unharmed. But my brain? Random thoughts keep darting around as I try to make sense of everything.

How is this possible? How am I not flattened by the car that has screeched to a halt, its driver cursing? IsawNorah across the street, but then she washere, pushing me-lifting me- out of the way.Not possible.But yet…

“What the fuck, man?” The driver is out of his car, glaring at me in shock and anger. “I could have killed you! Are you blind?”

Another voice says, “How the heck did that little girl move you out of the way? You’re twice the size of her.”

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