Page 14

Suddenly, something long and dark flew out of the water.

I staggered back and tripped, landing on my butt. Beside me, Sam cursed.

A huge, black tentacle slapped onto the dam wall beside me. It was oil-slick black and covered in bumps.

God. My pulse spiked, my heart hammering fast. I crawled backward. “Sam, get inside!”

“What about Travis?”

Something told me that Travis hadn’t made it. I locked down the churning emotions inside me. I had to get Sam to safety.

“Go!” I shouted.

Sam ran, pumping his arms. The door to the interior base was at the end of the dam wall. Inside the wall was the power station, dam equipment, and living areas for the dam workers.

More lightning flared overhead. The water churned angrily, and a second tentacle arrowed into the dark sky.

Jesus, how big was the damn monster?

The tentacle beside me withdrew, slithering back into the water. I pushed to my feet. The roiling water seemed to expand, moving down along the dam wall.

Oh, no. It was following Sam.

“Sam, stop! Stay still.”

The wind snatched my words away. He couldn’t hear me.

No.

I looked around and spotted a toolbox. I quickly fumbled to open it, wiping away the water in my eyes. I grabbed a wrench and a hammer.

Turning, I sprinted down the dam wall. I leaped onto some crates and jumped off.

“Sam!”

A tentacle speared up. In horror, I watched it snap out and hit Sam.

The young engineer fell, hitting the concrete hard. It was clear he was winded. He looked back over his shoulder and his gaze met mine.

Then, the tentacle wrapped around his leg. It dragged him toward the water.

“No.” I ran toward him. I brought a hammer down and hit the tentacle hard.

It jerked side to side, slamming Sam into a box.

“Let him go.” I threw the wrench toward the water.

The tentacle retracted fast. Sam screamed.

It lifted him into the air, then the man and tentacle dropped, and disappeared into the water.

My heart thudded in my ears and my lungs constricted like they were being squeezed by giant hands.

No. Sam.God,no.

“Greer?” I heard shouts and the thud of running footsteps. Two of my team appeared—Lisa and Kiaan.

“Everyone inside.” I swallowed. “No one is to come out on the wall.” My stomach clenched hard. “A monster in the water took Travis and Sam. We need help.”