Sweat dripped in Rayne’s eyes. Her skin burned. Not even the early morning air could calm the storm in her. It had swelled over the last year, and this morning it raged.

Rayne had abandoned Xelan’s old buddy system. Restless and even a little reckless, she worked out alone. Why bother? Danger pressed into these woods, and Rayne welcomed it. She invited anyone or anything to take her on.

Where did Xelan go? And her dreams… Why did they stop around the same time he disappeared?

In the last one, Rayne was sure she’d gotten through to Nox, but when he didn’t return the next night or the night after…

Hope couldn’t save her now.

So Rayne ran. She ran until every fiber in her quads and calves begged her to stop. Ran until her lungs shriveled and popped. Ran as if an imminence chased her. And she dared not slow down, never look back, because one day it just might catch up—

Rayne turned and screamed behind her, “Why?!”

Why did he go away? And which ‘he’ was she more upset about? Xelan or—

A gust in the darkness carried an ominous chill. A light whisper disguised in the breeze. It was a message. The words faint. A deep voice asked in hushed tones, “Is this enough for you?”

Great.

Now Rayne was hallucinating.

Alone and armed only with her anger, Rayne bolted down the familiar route once more. Eight hundred meters until home. The wind howled through the woods, and the underbrush swirled at her legs. She called on the last reserves of her strength and sprinted the final five hundred meters as fast as her fatigued legs would take her. Her heart rate skyrocketed well over 200BPM. She spared a glance behind her. Nothing, but…

Rayne couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt completely alone.

With a grunt, absolutely not a whimper, Rayne vaulted the seven-foot privacy fence into her backyard. She lost maybe three seconds of her advantage.

Rushing to her front door, Rayne checked the knob. It was locked. When did she lock it? In her scramble for the key, she fumbled it out of her hands. “Shit!” Leaves rustled behind her. She turned slowly, facing whatever waited.

The front door opened, and Rayne recalled some trials frightened her more than others.

“Rayne. Echo. Callahan. What are you doing out at this time of night?”

If Rayne’s heart pounded any harder in her chest, it might burst through her sternum.

“What’s the matter with you, girl?” Michelle Callahan demanded a response.

Rayne lied, “Nothing, momma.”

“How long have you been out of this house?”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Uncertain of the truth, Rayne lied, “About thirty minutes. I couldn’t sleep.”

“You don’t sleep, and you don’t eat. You don’t even do your homework anymore. Then you run up on the front porch, scrambling for your keys like you’re terrified of the dark. You make no sense.” As her mom listed off her keen observations, it occurred to Rayne that she sucked at appearing normal. “Why are you half naked? It’s freezing out there.”

Rayne stifled a groan. She dragged her dying legs into the house and across the living room. Every step felt heavy. She glanced at her feet to check for cinder blocks. Nope. She said, “Mom, I went for a run—”

“In Southwest Little Rock?! In the dark? I know I raised you to be smarter than that. Just last week, that Night cult abducted two girls from Wal-Mart. All their bodies turned up on Granite Mountain.” Her mom shook her head and pointed up the stairs. “Go to your room. I need to think about what I’ll have to do with you.”

Eighteen years old—almost nineteen—and her mom still treated Rayne like a child.

“And before you go thinking you’re grown, you better remember this is my house. As long as you live under my roof you will go to school, make good grades, get into college, and live to be eighty years old. And you’re gonna stop that running around Southwest Little Rock after dark or before dawn or however you want to word it.” At last, Michelle tossed her hands in the air. “I’ve half a mind to make you close the store every night for two weeks. With no breaks.”

Rayne trudged up the steps, tempted to crawl with her fatigued legs. Upstairs, she collected her clothes for her shower. Black and white. Her walls white. Her furniture black. The carpet black.

Although the hot shower had rinsed away the workout, Rayne still shivered. She needed to contact Xelan, but how? She needed his help to tell if she was hallucinating in her deteriorating mental state or if something had actually happened outside.

As Rayne prepared for the day, she passed her backpack on her desk. A short stack of homework mounted. Evidence of her apathy. Rayne brushed a history essay prompt with her fingertip. She loved history and writing. With a certain future ahead of her, what was the point? She closed her eyes, and the storm roared.

Rayne asked the empty room, “When?”

No answer.

Frustrated, she swept the stack off her desk. She considered throwing the lamp and busting the bookcase, but contained herself. Her mom might lock her in a padded room.

Downstairs, Michelle waited with breakfast. Rayne almost asked where Jack was, but then remembered he’d stayed the night with a less than reputable friend.

Her mom pulled out Rayne’s chair. “Eat.”

Homemade pancakes with real maple syrup, scrambled eggs, and sausage. Rayne waited for her mouth to water. Instead, her stomach turned while she fought not to groan.

Why didn’t Rayne want to eat?

Four years ago, she’d shovel this feast in her face faster than her mom could pile on seconds. Thirds. Where did her appetite go?

“You’re stressed, baby,” Michelle said, her tone softened.

The storm abated. Why couldn’t Rayne go back to being a kid? She pleaded in a tiny voice, “Momma?”

“C’mere.”

Rayne rushed from the table to her mother’s embrace. She ignored her initial urge to stop Michelle from smoothing her hair.

“Shh… It’s okay. Listen.” Her mom withdrew enough to meet Rayne’s gaze. Her soft brown eyes shone with tears. “This is normal. You’re in a tough place. Adult, but not enough to go out and live on your own. Your senior year. Going to college next year. It’s a very stressful time.” Michelle’s face grew contemplative before saying, “Although, not as bad as when you were thirteen.”

Rayne giggled. The thought of college made her frown again. Not for her.

“I’m worried about you. Will you promise me something?”

“Anything,” Rayne answered, meaning it.

“Let’s you and I have a chat tonight. Tell me everything. All of what’s bothering you. Even the stuff you think I won’t understand. We can get some milkshakes.” Michelle held up a hand before Rayne could grimace. “Or whatever it is you have an appetite for these days. I’ll even go on a run with you if it gets you talking to me. Deal?”

How would Michelle handle the truth? Would Xelan be mad at Rayne if she told? Well, he wasn’t exactly around to answer the question, now was he? She said, “Yeah. I’d like that.”

Michelle patted her daughter’s arm. “Good. Now sit down and eat half your breakfast, and then I’ll let you finish getting ready.”

Rayne looked down at the heaping plate of carbs and proteins, and this time, she groaned.