Page 49 of Crow
“You’re looking for me.”
Goosebumps danced over her arms at the sinister tone of his voice. Cursing the maintenance guy for not replacing the burned-out lightbulb, she stumbled on the step in her haste to reach the next landing.I don’t know where this guy is. The footsteps are below me, but his voice seems to be coming from another direction. Shit! I should’ve had Crow come with me.It was her stupid pride that had put her in this situation.
Shining the light ahead of her, she saw that there were only six or seven more stairs before she could dash to the door on the second floor.I can do this.
Suddenly, a door slamming reverberated from above.
Shit! He’s on the third floor.
The sound of hurried footfalls echoed through the stairwell.
“No!” Her high-pitched scream bounced off the cinderblock walls.
She held on to the banister for dear life as she scrambled down the steps. The footsteps behind came closer.
Oh God! No!
Then her heel caught on the edge of the stair and she pitched forward, then cried out in pain as her knees hit the concrete.
“Angie!” a familiar voice yelled.
A wave of relief swept over her as she placed her hand against the wall to help herself stand up.
Crow was at her side in a flash, helping her to her feet. Angie collapsed with her face buried against his chest and his strong arms wrapped tightly around her.
“Are you all right? You’re trembling like a leaf. What the fuck happened?”
“I got spooked,” she breathed out.
“By what?”
Angie looked up at him. “Someone was in the stairwell. It just freaked me out.”
“Did he try anything with you?”
“I didn’t see him. I just heard his footsteps and his voice. He said that he knew I was looking for him. With all that talk about the shadow man, I just let my imagination get the best of me.”
Crow’s arms dropped and he stepped back. She saw his jaw tighten and the lethal coldness in his dark eyes.
“Was he above or below you?”
“I’m pretty certain he was a floor or two below me, but I’m sure he’s long gone.”
Crow bent down and picked up her cell phone and the scattered contents of her purse, then handed them to her. He opened the door on the second-floor landing.
“Go in and call your friend and tell him to get his ass inside. And don’t take the elevator alone.”
“Joey’s already on the second floor.”
“Then find him and stick by him.”
“Don’t go. You don’t know what this guy may be capable of.”
He reached out and ran a hand through her hair. “Don’t worry about me. The fucker doesn’t know whatI’mcapable of. Get inside now.”
Angie nodded and limped into the building, her heart beating a mile a minute when she heard the door slam shut behind her.What if he gets hurt? Should I call the police?And what would she say? A man with a creepy voice scared the crap out of her in the stairwell?
“Hey you.”
