Page 77 of Forever Dead

Her beam crossed the living room. An empty patch of floor showed where Eleanor's rocking chair had once stood. Selena moved past it.

The wailing came again.

Louder now.

It seemed to come from a room toward the back of the house.

She continued slowly, testing every step before committing weight to the injured leg. The flashlight shook slightly in her hand despite her effort to keep it steady.

Another footstep sounded behind her.

Selena turned.

The hallway was empty.

"Who's there?"

Nothing moved.

A gust hit the house.

The cry rose sharply from the rear room.

Selena followed it through the dining area. The place where Eleanor's body had been found was bare now. Her light passed over the baseboard, the wall, the floorboards.

She forced herself not to stop.

The sound came once more.

Selena entered the back room.

A shutter on the far window had partly broken free from its fastening. Wind forced through the gap, dragging air across the narrow space around the frame. Each stronger gust produced a high, wavering moan.

Selena exhaled.

"That's all it was."

The shutter moved.

Moonlight flashed through the gap.

Selena turned.

A shadow stood against the wall behind her. The shape of an old woman. Bent slightly at the shoulders.

Selena froze.

The outline seemed to shift.

"Selena!"

She jumped and spun around.

Connor stood in the doorway.

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"Jesus Christ, Connor."