Page 104 of Nightshades

Don’t get me wrong, it wouldn’t be ideal to be lost in the middle of nowhere like this, but maybe there is more to it than that.

“No. It’s always so much more than the obvious answer.”

“Help me!” Reba calls out from somewhere. “Help! Someone!”

Her voice echoes across the never-ending pastures of sand. I can’t tell where her cries for help are coming from. Her voice surrounds me. Reba’s call for help should have me running to her. That’s my job as a cop. I should protect and serve, but Reba has done very bad things, and I think she deserves worse than prison—or anything the justice system could give her.

“This way,” Shade directs, taking my hand so I don’t get lost.

What would happen if I did get lost? Would I be stuck here forever? Would I die with her?

“I feel him. Our child. He loves the taste of fear.”

“He could be a she.”

“Either way. It seems they won’t be human.”

“Being like me will only cause hardship for them,” he says, still following the shouts from Reba.

“I would rather them be like you. Absolutely fearless and bold.”

“That’s you.” He pulls me against him, lifting my chin so I look at him in the eyes. “You’re everything I’m not. I might feed from people’s fear, but you soothe mine.”

“You’re not afraid of anything.”

He doesn’t say anything. His eyes lose their intensity and become a bit sad.

“I am afraid of losing what I thought I’d never have.” His hand rests on my stomach.

“Help! Is anyone there? Please, I don’t have much time. Oh god,” she cries, her voice becoming louder the closer we get.

“She doesn’t taste nearly as good as you do.”

“Shadey, no one better.”

We stop at the edge of a hole. It reminds me of a grave for a coffin, dug perfectly to fit a coffin, but deeper. So. Much. Deeper.

There’s no way Reba Lynn can get out.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she laughs with a bit of hysteria. “I didn’t think anyone would hear me.”

“I heard you.” Shade kicks sand into the hole. “But I’m not here to save you.”

“What?” Reba and I say in shock at the same time.

Shade’s lip twitches and he turns to me. “Her worst fear is being buried alive.”

My lips form an ‘O’.

Of course we aren’t here, inside her mind, to save her. Cop habit, saving people.

“Please, don’t do this. Please, I won’t stalk or murder anymore. I couldn’t help it, but I’ll stop. I’ll never do it again.”

Shadetakes a deep breath, inhaling the fear again, and I do the same, wondering if I’ll be able to feel it again.

I do.

My child loves it and wants more.