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The weight of the guy above me vanished. Air spluttered from my lungs as I coughed and tried to breathe, but I wasn’t given a chance to recover. A large hand gripped my face and all I could see was sandy blonde hair and eyes that looked like the moon.

“You didn’t see anything.” His voice reverberated around my head, buzzing against my brain and making my skin hum. “We weren’t here, there was no gunshot, and no one was fighting. You will pick up your things, go home and then carry on with the rest of your day.”

Something vibrated under my skin, and my brain turned foggy. Why was it so hard to think?

“Hush now. Close your eyes and count to ten.”

My eyes fluttered shut. “One… two… three…”

Chapter Three

Benji

My apartment wasn’t much, but it was home. Two bedrooms, a spacious living area with an open-plan kitchen and a dining area made up the space. I’d lived in this place since I was nineteen. When my nan had died, I’d used my inheritance to buy this place. There was only me. I was an only child, and my parents died in a car accident when I was five. My nan had taken in me in and cared for me, but she’d passed away six years ago now. I’d put myself through medical school and six years later, here I was, stood in my apartment with a box of my shit from work and wondering what the hell I was going to do next.

I dumped the box on the kitchen island and took a deep breath, exhaling heavily. I let the events of the day wash over me, but I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that I wasn’t going to work tomorrow. That was going to be a problem for tomorrow. There wasn’t much I could do about it today and besides, I had a night out at theCryptto get ready for.

But first, I was going to treat myself to my favourite meal.

I grabbed my phone and wondered over to the sofa, disturbing my sleeping Birman as I dropped into the soft cushions. Maurice looked at me through narrow eyes and sent an irritated flick of his whiskers my way. He was such a moody puss.

“Golden Dragon, how can I help?” a soft voice drawled down the phone.

“Hey Maddie,” I said as I scratched Maurice’s ear.

“Ah, the lovely Benji. Want your usual?”

“Please, but can I have a double helping of prawn crackers?”

She laughed. “Bad day?”

“The worst.”

“I got you, babe. Double prawn crackers, coming up.”

“Thanks.” I ended the call and scooped Maurice up into my arms. He complained at being manhandled, but soon settled against my chest when I stroked through the long white fur on his back.

I told him all about my day, about how Dr Kingsly used the hospital like his own little playground and about my walk home that I don’t actually remember making.

Huh. That was weird. I remember leaving the hospital and making it to Jackson Avenue, but then nothing until I walked through my front door.

A sharp stab of pain lanced through the front of my brain, making me cry out in shock. Maurice fled my embrace as I pitched forward, images flashing before my eyes.

Ice-cold eyes.

Leather gloves.

Bloodstains.

Two orbs like the moon.

You didn’t see anything…

Then, as quick as it had started, the pain disappeared, and with it, the lingering images.

What the hell was that?

What didn’t I see?