Page 7 of Kat Bethel

One thing was for sure.

Whatever was responsible for this was in there.

And it already knew I’d arrived.

Chapter 4:

Thewalkwayhadbeenstamped down recently, and I followed their path into Dudleytown. It was probably close to noon, but without the flashlight I couldn’t see shit. I scanned the area for any wildlife or threats.

Not a soul in sight.

Not that I believed that for a minute.

Those eyes that locked on me when I came up hadn’t left me yet. I could feel them, like a stare from across the room. Lurking and watching me with an intensity that made me uncomfortably warm, despite the icy air.

My phone rang, but the sound was disjointed, like it was struggling to connect the call. I pulled it out of my pocket.

Williamflashed before the light of the screen went off and came back on again.

“The balls on this fucking coward are astounding.” Surely there was one bereft spirit here that understood. “He swings them around like his cock isn’t trash. I haven’t come in years. Am I right, ladies?”

No one answered, but I could swear those eyes were narrowed on me. I could almost see the nasty smirk in my mind’s eye. A strangled laugh left my lips, as a strange feeling I wasn’t sure I didn’t like washed over me. “Oh, no. Going through a tunnel.”

Great. William broke me so badly, I was letting a ghost’s arrogance flatter me. Talk about desperate for approval.

Tears pricked my eyes, despite my attempts to joke about the situation, but I held them in with pure will. He didn’t deserve any more of my tears.

Focus on the hunt, Sasha.I took a deep breath to gather myself as I tucked my cell into my back pocket again.

Icy breath fanned across my neck, too close and too intimate. I whirled around half expecting my philandering husband to be standing there. Only to find empty space that felt too occupied.

Of course, that breath was too cold to come from anything alive.

I realized my mistake too late. Whatever this thing was, it was a mistake to give it any attention.

The sensation that I was staring someone dead in their eyes made my pulse quicken and my breathing stutter. The social awkwardness that I was being rude hit harder than it ever had with a person standing in front of me.

It was strangely intimate as if whatever was before me was staring at me just as intently. My face grew warm, and I found myself averting my eyes.

I took another steadying breath, only to hold it when the energy stepped closer and a distinct heat rolled over me from head-to-toe. I could feel the way their gaze lazily rolled over me, like they wanted to consume me. That made my face even hotter. Especially since that could very well be the case.

I put my hands up as if to create space between us and felt energy buzzing under my hands. As if I was a hair’s width away from touching them.

I pulled my hands to my chest and turned back the other way.Space, Sasha.

No matter how long or fast my stride was, the distance between me and that energy never grew. Sweat gathered on my temples.

It reminded me of a mountain lion creeping behind an elk. Just waiting for a chance to pounce.

I’d given it too much acknowledgement and emboldened the creature to stay closer. The heated gaze on my back locked onto my ass. An uncomfortable joke about checking me out sat on my tongue, but I held it back.

Don’t acknowledge it further.

I followed the compacted grass throughout the entire place, all while this thing hovered too close to be considered polite. If it was a guy in a mall, I’d have shoved him away from me. But I followed the rules, and dutifully ignored the breath tickling the tiny hairs at the nape of my neck.

In the middle of the town, high above everything else, was a rotting gallows that sent unease rolling through me.The rope was long gone, but I could swear I could feel the noose hanging high like a spirit.

It made my throat tight. It was amazing that it was still standing. The thing looked ready to topple any second.