Page 45 of Deceiver

Shamelessly, I throw my arms around him and bury my face in the crook of his neck.

“It was awful.”

“What happened? Were you attacked again?”

I shake my head, clinging to his strong shoulders. “No, not exactly.”

“Are you hurt?”

“I don’t think so.”

Wilder pulls back, holding me by the shoulders as he looks me up and down. “You look okay.”

“I—It was so real. It was like I was there and it was really happening, and I, oh god, I killed him, and he was begging me, and I didn’t care. I did it anyway.”

“Whoa. Slow down. Who did you kill?”

“This man, he was telling me about the money, and I was chasing him, and this voice kept telling me to find out where the money is.”

“Find out where the money is,” Wilder repeats. “Any idea what money?”

“No. I asked the man where the money was, and he said he didn’t have it, but he would get it back. He was begging me, Wilder. Begging me not to kill him, but I did it anyway. I lifted the knife and I did it. I killed him. I stabbed him to death. Oh my god.”

“Breathe, breathe, breathe.” Wilder brushes my hair from my forehead. “Did you have a dream?”

“No, I wasn’t dreaming. I was standing right here. It was like…” I shrug. “Like I went somewhere else, and I could see everything. I could smell the air around me, and I was runningthrough a field chasing this man who apparently owes somebody money, but it felt like it wasmehe owed the money to. I felt the anger, and I felt this desire to make him beg me.” My voice trembles as I try to explain the situation. “I’m not a violent person, Wilder. I don’t know why I felt that way. I would never hurt somebody. I’ve never even been in a fist fight.”

“It’s okay. It wasn’t real. You were here the whole time.”

“I know, I know, but it felt real. It freaked me out. It was like something took over me.”

“Do you think it was the spirit that used to be your dad?”

“No, his voice was different. It wasn’t like his voice at all. It was deeper, but softer, like there was anger there, but contained. It wasn’t my dad. I’ve heard his voice. It wasn’t him. It was something else. Something wicked.”

“Fuck,” Wilder mumbles, rubbing my back. “You’re okay. Calliope is on her way over.

We’re going to give you some protection.”

“What kind of protection?”

“Spiritual protection, to try and stop these entities from getting to you. I can only assume that’s what caused this vision you had.”

Still trembling, I can’t bring myself to let go of his shoulders.

“I’m so fucking freaked out, Wilder.”

“I know. I’m really sorry this is happening to you, but I’m not gonna leave until you’re safe, okay? I’m not going to leave until this is over. All of it.”

I nod, hearing the sincerity in his voice and believing it. “Okay.”

“Is there anything else that happened that you think is important?”

“I, um.” I rub my forehead, trying to sort through my thoughts. “The voice told me that it was the guy’s fault. He saidmy future was taken away from me, but I’ve never seen this man before, the man I hurt. I’ve never seen him. I don’t know him.”

“And the voice said he took your future from you?”

“Yeah, or, like, it was his fault that I didn’t have it anymore, but it wasn’t clear what it was talking about.”