Page 15 of Echo (A Monster’s Prey #2)

“Stupid, Kid,” the deep voice that I’d heard from the radio said. He stepped forward, showing an older man with gray hair. His blue eyes studied everything, and there was some old wisdom that radiated from him. “It’s okay, Sweetheart.”

“I didn’t do any of this.” My voice shook.

“I know.” He stopped a foot away from me. A growl rumbled in the forest near us, and I held my breath. He held up some cuff keys, as if he were showing the monster what he was doing. I didn’t miss how he was careful not to touch me as he unlocked my cuffs.

Once I was free, he backed away, putting a respectful distance between us. “We’ll collect the bodies and be out of your hair, Miss.”

“Don’t leave me here,” I whispered, praying the monster didn’t hear me.

His eyes grew sad. “We both know I can’t leave with you.”

I remembered the loud proclamation the monster yelled to nature herself and knew he was right. “What is it?”

“Only your ancestors know that.” He shook his head. “It’s not a man, and I hate to tell you this, but it’s your problem. Just like all the Rinah women before you.”

I fumbled to my feet and finally saw Officer Reed being loaded onto a gurney. A low groan coming from him said he was alive, but I wasn’t sure how long he’d stay that way. Not with his head caved in.

“I’m sorry.” The older officer frowned. “He’s fresh out of the academy and isn’t from here. I’m sure he came in with something to prove and made everything worse.”

“Has it done something like this before?” I swallowed. “Am I in danger?”

“Rinah women keep that thing trapped on the property to protect the entire hollar from its wrath. Pearl kept it placated for over forty years, but one of my first jobs was out here. You’re Ruby’s granddaughter, right?”

I nodded.

“It killed your grandfather, and my captain ate his food from a straw for the rest of his life after that night,” he said quietly. An older EMT walked past us with a tired expression, like it wasn’t his first rodeo here either. “Call us when you need bodies collected.”

“So that’s it. No investigation or crime scene? No protection?”

“You won’t spend a day in jail. All I ask is you keep it as contained as possible.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry in disbelief. “I’d rather go to jail at this point.”

“You’ll deserve sainthood by the time you're done.” He tipped his hat. “I hope to see you at the community market today. My wife wants some of your Rinah honey.”

I finally gave up and let out a laugh that didn’t sound amused even to my ears and a tear finally trekked down my cheek. “I can’t even find the fucking bees.”

He pointed in the general direction of the trees.

I rubbed my eyes, stuffing down the urge to scream down inside me. “Thanks.”

“Have a good day, Ma’am.”

“Go fuck yourself.” I tried to smother the words, so they wouldn’t be heard, but I knew he did. At least he didn’t take it personal and walked off without saying anything else.

I turned to face the stupid fucking house, when my eyes landed on the white door. The paint job had been changed yet again. My left eye twitched, and I forced myself to keep perspective on what was actually important.

I went into the house, ignoring the leftover mess in the living room and searched the house, until I found Ranger locked in the bathroom. He glued himself to my heel.

I grabbed my keys and walked out the door. Fuck everything else. This was that creature’s house now.

When I stepped off the porch, I sensed the thing in the woods to the side of my car. My hair stood on edge as I fumbled to unlock the car. Ranger growled and barked at the exact place I suspected my monster was.

Don’t run or rush. Don’t act like you’re food.

Yeah, okay.

I opened the car door.

“I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth, leaving a trail of dead bodies behind us. And when I catch you…” He chuckled darkly, and I could swear I felt the sound inside my bones. “You better be prepared.”

Why did that sound like he would fuck me until I couldn’t run anymore, rather than divorcing my head from my shoulders? A stupid part of me wanted to try, just to see what would happen.

But the smarter parts of me, reminded me that I didn’t know this enemy. That if I played games with a being that had already shown how little he valued life, that I would surely lose.

He let out another chuckle.

I turned, ready to see this creature once and for all, but all I was met with was shadows from the rising sun under the thick canopy.

“Do it, Little Rabbit. I love a good chase.”

That cop said my ancestors had the answers, and I suspected I knew exactly where to find them. If there was anything I knew, knowledge was power.

I didn’t care if he murdered everyone here, but I was getting out whether my pussy liked it or not. And I’d do it without him following me.

He wasn’t the first monster I’d needed to escape from, and I doubted he would be my last.

I slammed the door of the car and trekked my happy ass up the steps of the porch to come up with some kind of plan that would actually work.

“Shame.”