Page 59 of Double Obsession

“LET HUNTER GO,”yelled Jesus right before his face smashed into a half-dozen pieces.

Over and over she stomped until sweat dripped down her forehead and the icon became a pile of dust. She exhaled and pulled in fresh demon-free air. Her room was so pretty. She lay down on the comfy bed, pulled the blanket over her, and closed her eyes.

****

“ARKANSAS, ARKANSAS. WAKE UP,”Grandmommy whispered in her ear.

Arkansas moaned and rolled toward the voice, but there was no one there. She closed her eyes until someone tapped on her shoulder.

She opened one eye and peeked. The stupid shadow grinned at her.

“What do you want?” she asked.

“It’s time to take care of the iss-sue in the bas-sement?”

She sat up. “What issue?”

“Your finance´ is-s messing around with Jenna Gibs-son.”

“What? No. He loves me. Jenna has been ignoring both of us. She isn’t writingor posting anything. I think she’s forgotten about William.”

“You read their messages-s. You know they are mess-sing around.”

“You are a big fat liar,” she said.

“Follow me.”The shadow formed into a flying snake that slithered towardthe door. Before exiting into the hallway, he shot out his serpent-like tongue and made a come-hither arrow.

Arkansas wanted to sleep more than anything in the world, so she closed her eyes.

“Wake up!” someone or something yelled.

She opened her eyes. An empty pill container sat on her nightstand and smashed plastic littered the floor. Boy, oh boy, she hoped she hadn’t taken any medicine.

“Come on,”demanded the shadow.

She sighed, then followed wind-like wisps down to the first-floor computer. She rubbed her eyes as the serpent reformed.

“Check yours-s, not Hunter’s-s,”it hissed.

Arkansas nodded, then logged out of Hunter’s accounts and into her own. Relief flooded through her when she found her InstaFriend feed. Why hadn’t she done this earlier? The haunted house, silly dogs, monstrous cat, and bloody boyfriend had her all discombobulated.

A finger tapped on her shoulder.“Jenna Gibs-son.”

She shook herself until the fog left her brain. Arkansas settled into her search, found Jenna, and did a double-take. The woman had finally responded. She read the message three times.

Hi @ABCannon. It’s Jenna Gibson. How are you? Can you tell me your real name? I like to know who my fans are. Where are you and Hunter right now? I couldn’t respond earlier because I’ve been busy writing the next Duke book. I promise you will love it. Write back rightaway.

“See, I told you,”said the shadowy serpent.“You must stab him one hundred times-s, then run away.”

“But Jenna finally wrote to me,” said Arkansas.

“Kill him. Kill him. Chop him into a hundred pieces-s,”sang the smoke as he swirled around her.

The truth hit Arkansas so hard it sent her tumbling to her knees, gasping for air—the devil now possessed the shadow. “Flumpked Grandmommy’s Jesus,” she cried.

The serpent’s loud chortles echoed off the walls.

She searched for a knife. One with a yellow handle stuck out of a wooden box. She jumped to her feet and sprinted to the counter. Within seconds she was left foot forward, weapon in hand.