Page 44 of Into the Fire

But what made the shadow? There’s nothing there.

The realization scared him, and he sped up. He didn’t dare look away from the road for long, but that was enough to realize a dark wave followed him, dimming the glow from buildings and streetlights.

The darkness didn’t overtake him, not yet, but it slid behind and around his bike, colder than the night air. Vic didn’t want to find out what would happen if he couldn’t outrun it.

He sped up again, risking a traffic ticket rather than facing his pursuer.

Are those the dark ghosts Simon was talking about?

The dark wave never faltered, still hot on his heels.

After years with Simon, Vic had grown used to the feeling of being around ghosts. He lacked a medium’s sensitivity, but he was much more aware than most people of the energies. That familiar sensation was missing, he realized. The dark wave was something other, certainly supernatural, but it didn’t feel like regular ghosts.

Maybe it’s not. Ghosts were people. They had souls. Are the dark ghosts soulless?

He would have to wait for an answer after he had outrun his pursuer.

Vic realized he had gradually gained speed as the darkness encroached. This road was less familiar than his usual route, and too late he realized there was a sharp curve ahead and he was going much too fast.

“Shit!” He did his best to slow down and steer, knowing it would be too little, too late.

The bike skidded, slewing sideways. Vic fought to keep control. He headed for a yard, hoping the grass would be more forgiving than pavement. At the last moment, he let go of the bike, trying to fall out of its path. He tucked in his arms and legs, did his best not to go stiff, and said a prayer.

Vic hit the ground hard enough to see stars. He rolled to reduce the impact, but it still took his breath away and sent pain through his body.

His Hayabusa went over on its side and tore a path through the yard before coming to a stop, motor still running.

Will the dark ghosts finish the job? He braced for an attack, but his spectral pursuer vanished as lights snapped on at houses all around his crash site and people came outside to see what happened.

“Are you okay? There’s an ambulance on the way,” a man in a bathrobe told him.

Vic figured he must have blacked out for a few moments. “I’m here,” he managed, groggy and hurting.

“Don’t move,” Bathrobe Man warned. “That was one hell of a fall you took.”

“Something was chasing me,” Vic said. “Had to get away.”

“Whatever it was, it’s gone now,” Bathrobe Man replied. “We’ve had other people wipe out on that curve, but not as spectacularly as you did. You’re lucky to be alive.”

Vic had enough of his wits about him to figure that magical protections, and not luck, had saved him. The Hayabusa’s motor strained and went silent. He didn’t know if it was too damaged to keep going or if someone managed to turn it off.

At least it didn’t blow up. Guess I’m lucky it wasn’t the fire spirit.

Sirens screamed, making Vic’s already pounding head worse. He was grateful for the helmet, but even it couldn’t completely buffer the hit. Blood ran into his eyes, and he could taste it in his mouth.

“Can you move your fingers and toes?” An anxious EMT bent over Vic. “Don’t try to move anything else just yet.”

Vic wiggled his fingers and turned his boots from side to side. He grimaced at the pain. Every movement hurt. Still, that boded well for his spine—he hoped.

“We’re going to get you on a backboard and take you to the hospital,” the EMT told him. In the background, Vic heard the low buzz of conversation and figured the police were interviewing witnesses.

“Bike—”

“The police will take care of it,” the EMT assured him. “Let’s just get you to the emergency room.”

Several men slid him onto the backboard and secured him so he couldn’t move. Vic counted himself lucky that he had managed to avoid being pinned or dragged by his bike, knowing it could have been worse.

He drifted in and out of consciousness on the ride to the hospital but managed to be lucid enough to give his name and tell them he was a cop as well as provide Simon’s phone number. After that, it was a blur of doctors and nurses asking questions and examining him from head to toe.