Page 73 of Echoes of Fear
“Do you smell anything, Knox?” Taylor asks. “Is there smoke?”
“No,” I answer. “And Titan isn’t coming to me. He always comes to me.”
“It’s okay, baby. Here’s what I want you to do. Go sit down somewhere, and don’t move until I get there. A breaker might have popped.”
“That’s not too bad,” I say, trying to calm my racing heart. Maybe it happened when I started the microwave. “I’m sitting on the couch.”
“Good boy. I’ll be there soon.”
“WAIT! Please, don’t hang up the phone. I’m scared.”
“I won’t, baby boy,” he promises. “Reynolds and I are already in his car and heading to you. Oasis is only five minutes away from our home.”
Suddenly, I hear footsteps above me.
“Uhm, Papa,” I whisper. “Please tell me you’ve already made it home and are walking around upstairs.”
Silence is my answer.
“Get out of the house now,” he says urgently. “Go, Knox. Now.”
I jump up and run outside. I even make it off the porch and into the driveway. But then my body freezes in place.
“I can’t go any further,” I cry. “I’m in the driveway, but my feet won’t work anymore. I can’t leave the property. I might die.”
“Baby, please,” Papa begs.
“Knoxy, remember how to get to my house?” Reynolds asks. “It’s the same property, Knoxy. Just go the way I told you.”
“Through the dark woods?” I ask, knowing I’m being manipulated, but I still feel better knowing I’ll be on the same property.
“It’s a path, baby,” Papa says. “You won’t get lost. The stars will give you light. Please, Pup, just go.”
I glance back at the house and see a small light moving around from room to room.
“Oh, man, I’m going to die,” I cry before running into the woods. “Need to escape.”
Chapter Sixteen
Taylor
“He’s regressed,” I tell Reynolds after I mute the phone. “He’s not going to be able to think rationally.”
I’m freaking the fuck out. Who in the hell thought it would be okay to break into my house and threaten my man?
Someone is fuckin’ dying tonight.
Why the hell didn’t we talk about him setting the alarms when he’s home alone?
“I have never seen someone who regresses so deeply,” Renolds says as his phone beeps.
“FUCK,” he shouts. “Tell him not to go to my house. The security alarms detected motion inside before the power was cut.”
“Baby,” I say after I unmute my end.
“Dark,” he pants. “So dark. Escape.”
“Pup, listen to me,” I put as much order into my voice as possible. “Do not go to Reynolds’ house. Someone is there. Hide, Pup. Do you hear me? Hide, and I will find you when it’s safe.”