Hunted by the Past, page 5
Something too quick to read flashed across his face. “I’ve never tried this with anyone else, so I’m not sure what will happen.”
“Can we hurt each other doing this?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “But if it helps find Kelsey, does it matter?”
Nope, not one damn bit. I sighed and gingerly laid my hands on top of his. Heat curled through my palms as my pulse picked up speed.
Obviously catching it, he said, “I’ll be right here, Cyn.”
I appreciated his attempt at comfort, but he couldn’t understand. Reliving things left me open and vulnerable. Having him witness what was about to happen was akin to standing in front of him naked.
Unexpectedly, a whole other type of heat rose, and mortification had me closing my eyes in a vain attempt to block out the dangerously good-looking man at my feet. What the hell was wrong with me? Yeah, it had been awhile, but there were reasons, good reasons not to let this edgy awareness sink its teeth in. Not now, and if I was smart, not ever again.
Shoving the distraction far, far away, I took a deep breath. Then another. The feel of Kayden’s hands under mine helped me to center. Within minutes, my hastily rebuilt mental wall resembled a pile of rubble. Nerves trembled. If this worked as he expected, Kayden would see the psychic signatures loud and clear as we cruised through the memories, some of which belonged to me. It was unsettling to consider what he might pick up.
Opening my eyes, I met Kayden’s gaze and my vision filled with flecks of gray sprinkled through the blue depths. For a suspended moment, I swore I could feel him in my mind—strong, bright, determined, rock steady. His presence acted like a magnet on my ability, drawing it close and deepening the connection between us. My stomach bottomed out and my breath stalled at the unusual sensation. I blinked once and the feeling faded, leaving me strangely bereft.
Shaking it off, a flicker of movement around Kayden caught my attention. Bracing, I switched my focus beyond him to the hall. Concentrating on the nebulous image, I rose and lost my grip on Kayden’s hands. The world spun, then steadied.
“You okay?” Kayden’s question came from behind me and a warm weight settled on my shoulders, a welcome anchor in the disquieting deluge of images.
I nodded but watched the entryway. With the touch of his hands, the memories around me brightened, becoming more concise than before, and allowed me to zero in on the one I wanted quickly. Seemed his idea about keeping a physical connection had some merit.
Kelsey’s attacker stepped into the living room. Then he backed a frightened but determined Kelsey up. She swung out, knocking my gun from his hand. This time, I watched it skitter under the couch. A faint scrape of metal against the hardwood floor followed.
At the slight noise, excitement rose and so did Kelsey’s emotions, stronger than before. They curled like waves, dragging me relentlessly closer. I fought to keep my distance. Not an easy feat as her emotional imprint grew in strength. The effort to stay above it, roughened my voice. “Are you getting what you need?”
Kayden’s fingers dug in, his voice tight. “Holy shit.”
Sounded like a resounding yes to me. I focused on her attacker, but that strange static cloud still covered his face. Part of me hoped with Kayden tagging along this wouldn’t happen. Frustration rose and the images shook, threatening to break apart. I drew in a slow breath and tried to push my careening emotions aside. The images steadied, but the strange occurrence remained behind. “Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?” Kayden’s voice was low.
“Can’t see his face.” I took a step closer, but he held me back.
“Maybe you should tell me what you’re seeing, Cyn,” he said.
Puzzled, I looked back to him over my shoulder with a frown. Watching the memories hovering around him proved to be a strange experience. “Can’t you follow the signatures?”
“They’re a hell of a lot stronger than I’m used to, but all I see are faint pieces of actual images. I just can’t make out who’s who.” His gaze narrowed on the scene in front of us and for a moment I couldn’t remember what I wanted to say. Instead of fading into the background, like most people tended to do when I relived a scene, Kayden remained etched with startling clarity. It made it almost painful to look at him. Weird.
Turning back to the scene, Kelsey was once more struggling with the man. “The gun’s gone and he’s going after Kelsey.”
“Can you get a positive ID of his face?”
“No, it’s still blocked, but he’s toying with her.” I pulled against his grip, needing to get closer. I could hear a low buzz, like a radio just off channel. Excitement spiked and I murmured, “There are voices.” The urge to get closer tugged at me. I moved forward, forcing Kayden to follow or lose his grip. “I need to get closer.”
“Closer to what?”
“Kelsey.” The invisible currents of the emotional storm between Kelsey and her attacker buffeted me. Even as a warning chittered away in my brain, an idea of what was needed to get more information formed. Something tightened my chest. “Kayden?”
“Yeah?”
“Remember what I said about using pain to bring me back?”
“What the hell are you thinking?”
“Don’t leave a bruise.” With no more warning, I dropped down into the maelstrom of Kelsey’s residual emotions and left Kayden behind as my anchor.
Like a churning sea, fear rose first, swamping me and then sucking me under. Shoving it away, I worked to clear my mind until I could bob to the surface and ride the storm as the real world disappeared and the memories washed over me.
The annoying low buzz slowly cleared, and words began to echo in hollow bursts. At the same time my perspective shifted. Now I was on the floor facing the entryway, the couch behind me. A large presence loomed over me while the buzz faded in and out, slowly shifting to actual words. A low, evil taunt filled my head, “…want to play…tle girl? Fin…but…rather play…sister.”
“Fuck you!” Stuck inside Kelsey’s fear and fury, her response came through loud and clear. When he struck her, there was no way to avoid the stinging lash of pain or the faint taste of blood blooming in my mouth.
“Dammit, stop pissing him off, Kels,” I muttered. Rattled, I tried focusing on the face above us. The static morphed into a nightmarish blur of ever-shifting waves of black and gray. My stomach lurched at the nauseating motion.
“… one more time…she…?” What I could catch of his voice was pitiless and turned my blood to ice.
Kelsey’s terror spiked, pulling me a little deeper into the past. The line between Cyn and Kelsey blurred, then my sense of self disappeared until all that was left was a petrified Kelsey.
Our mouth was dry, but it didn’t stop us from sending blood and spit at the cloud of static.
A vicious yank dragged us backward over the floor. Our hands scrabbled against the grip tangled in our hair. Our nails gouged material and skin, tearing skin as we tried to get our feet under us for leverage. But we were being dragged too fast and our heels skidded across the floor. Then the pressure at the back of our head disappeared.
Before we could scramble away, a large calloused hand clamped around our throat, cutting off our air and dragging us up to our knees. One hard shove slammed our head against the wall, sending starbursts across our vision as the edges grayed. Then the grip disappeared.
We sucked in air. Desperate, noisy gulps. Our vision began to clear. Somewhere a deep voice tugged at us, leading us away. “C’mon, Cyn, breathe, you’re okay.”
Kayden. Like a sliver of wood wedged under the skin, the spark of recognition allowed me a chance to pull back from Kelsey just a tiny bit. Enough so I could rise above the shared panic and remember that I couldn’t change what had already happened.
Kelsey’s fear peaked. The edges of the blocking static began to fade. Still she struggled against his chokehold, her movements getting more and more sloppy. Details. I needed details.
The strange static broke in places. Bits and pieces appeared and disappeared. I tried to catch as much as I could. “Clean shaven, sharp chin, short hair…” I could barely hear myself and had no idea if Kayden was getting any of it, but I had to try. Details came together, merging with those from the night half a world away.
Reeve Ellery.
“…or another…bring her…me…bitch.” Ellery leaned in close and loosened his grip. His hand rose and fell once more. Our head snapped back under the blow, but the distance I gained diminished under the impact. The swirling mass re-solidified, obscuring any other details.
I pulled back a little further, trying for more distance from Kelsey so I could watch the scene. It was harder this time, as if I swam through syrup. When I was able to refocus, I realized I lost part of the scene as I was now kneeling next to Kelsey. Terror had drained everything but the startling red marks of violence from her bloodless face.
The low buzz returned. Worried I’d pulled too far back from the memories, I reached for Kelsey as the strident notes of Rob Zombie’s “American Witch” cut through the buzz.
Kelsey’s chest stilled, her eyes flickering toward the kitchen counter. My assigned ringtone continued, capturing Ellery’s attention. He stiffened and staying in his crouch turned to look toward the front door. He couldn’t tell where the noise was coming from.
My only warning was a desperate spike in Kelsey’s emotions as she took advantage of his momentary distraction. She pushed to her feet, one hand on her throat, the other reaching for the edge of the wall. She stumbled forward a few feet before a growl sounded and hard hand caught her.
“Naughty…not done…yet.”
My pulse stuttered. Kelsey’s struggles turned frantic as he dragged her around the corner to the counter. Desperate to do something, anything, I followed them.
“…calling?” He shoved her hard. The counter’s edge cut into her stomach and she shuddered. He used his body to keep her pinned next to the blinking answering machine, her face inches from her sunglasses and her ringing cell phone, where my name spilled across the screen, making it hard to miss.
“Look…already…er running.” A cruel hum of satisfaction colored his voice as he picked up her phone, his finger wiped over the touch screen. The tune cut short.
Tears streaked Kelsey’s cheeks, mixing with the blood trickling from her swollen mouth. “What do you want?” Her question was rough and unsteady, but I caught every bit of it.
He put his face next to hers, the muscles in his arm flexing as he pressed down. Her eyes widened, terror blowing her pupils. “Nothing much…we’re going…leave Cyn…message…”
He tossed her cell on the counter and yanked her back against his chest. Kelsey’s fear crested, and my pulse stuttered under the looming wave. As his arm wrapped around her neck and began to lift her off her feet, she clawed and gouged his skin. Somewhere in the background a phone rang dimly.
The scene paused. For a breathless moment the line between past and present blurred. My heart shattered at the grim acceptance darkening Kelsey’s eyes. A sickening knowing rose, one I didn’t want to acknowledge.
Ellery jerked her up and back, and her desperate warning to run whispered across my soul. A sharp stinging sensation tore across my cheekbone and the scene began to fracture with an audible snap and slip away. Even as I rose to the present with Kayden’s help, unbelievable pain ripped through my mind and heart.
Screaming with fury and fear, I lunged forward to capture the images falling away like a broken windowpane and fell into the yawning pit.
Awareness came back in pieces. First was the sound of my name blending in with the bongo drums pounding in my skull. Then the dull ache radiating from my temple to jaw joined in. When I tried to speak, the razor blades lining my throat changed my words into whimpers. It was almost enough to drive me back into oblivion, but the niggling sensation of impending disaster blocked the tempting escape route. As the discordant symphony of aches and pain began to recede, I realized Kayden was yelling at me.
“Cyn! Dammit, Cyn, answer me.”
Forcing my eyes open, there was no way to check my flinch at the shadow hovering over me.
“Relax, it’s me.” Kayden pulled back and my surroundings came into hazy focus. “Are you with me?”
I raised a hand to my throat, swallowed, and winced. Instead of answering, I nodded.
“If you can sit up, I’ll get you water.”
No wonder my floor was so comfortable. I was half sitting in Kayden’s lap.
With his help, I managed to prop myself against the wall under the counter while he grabbed a glass of water. For a brief moment I focused on just breathing, doing my best not to trigger the emotional avalanche poised to crash on my head.
A glass appeared on the edge of my vision. My arm shook as I reached out. Kayden kept his hand on the glass, steadying it. “Take it slow,” he warned.
I sipped until the razor blades dulled enough to speak. “Did you get anything?” He let me take the glass and I cradle it in my lap.
“It’s Ellery’s signature.” He brushed gentle fingers over my aching cheek, down my throat, and over my scars, some strong emotion darkening his eyes and tightening his jaw. “You’re going to have some very interesting bruises.”
My hand rose and covered his on my neck. “They’re Kelsey’s. They’ll fade.”
His gaze flickered to my cheek. “Not that one.” His fingers stilled under mine. “Does this always happen?”
My fingers tightened, then dropped away. I shook my head. “No, just when I go too deep.”
He pulled his hand free and cradled the side of my face. “Is she okay?”
“I don’t know.” My answer was a mere whisper. And a horrible lie.
Hot, damning tears rose and burned a path over my cold cheeks. I pulled away, struggling to get to my feet. Ignoring Kayden’s attempts to help, I grabbed the cell phone off the counter. This time, I would force my ability to bend to my demands. For once it would help me.
Sharp, stabbing pains sliced lines across my vision and Kayden’s curses turned into background noise. It hurt so much, I wanted to drop to my knees, but the need to prove I hadn’t failed my sister kept me upright.
I almost missed the flickering images as they had resumed their amorphous nature. Still, I was able to catch a glimpse of Ellery’s back as he headed toward the front door. It was hard to make out what he was doing, but I stumbled behind the rapidly disintegrating visuals. I hit the porch, trying to track his movements. A strange numbness inched over me and I couldn’t feel the phone or my fingers. Something thumped to the ground. Outside in the bright, hot afternoon the image flickered near the carport, then disappeared. Someone kept saying, “No, no, no.” It was irritating, and I wished they’d shut up.
My body felt clumsy, and I tripped down the steps to the loose gravel. My fingers began to tingle as if small pins were trying to poke their way out of my skin. The disturbing sensation raced up my arms and wrapped tight bands around my chest. Caught in this strange reality, it took a moment to understand that I was standing in front of Kelsey’s car. My hands hovered over the trunk, shaking violently.
Just do it, Cyn. Open the damn trunk and prove you’re just losing your mind.
My hands didn’t move.
“Cyn?” Kayden’s careful use of my name snapped my paralysis. My fingers fumbled for the release latch. Suddenly, larger hands covered mine, stilling my frantic movements. “We’ll do it together, okay?” His voice came from behind me, gentle and soft. His hands steady.
I gave a sharp nod, choking off the sob trapped in my throat. Together we raised the lid. A thin wail broke through the quiet afternoon and my heart shattered.
I’d found Kelsey.
Chapter 5
I sat on the porch in a numb haze. My fingers tracing random patterns over the gun lying in my lap. Behind me, Kayden talked to someone on his cell, his words sliding over me without meaning. He’d been talking for a while.
There were things I needed to do, questions I needed to ask. Yet I didn’t move. The emptiness carving deep gouges on my heart and soul, laid new wounds over old scars. Eventually grief would come and dull the ragged edges. Maybe.
I’d been here once before, years ago. The night my foster parents were killed by a drunk driver. Then, I had Kelsey to hold on to as our world tore apart. Now, I wondered if I’d find my way out or just drown in this deafening quiet.
My entire family was gone.
A vehicle barreled into the driveway.
I closed my eyes in a futile wish. Maybe, if I made enough deals with whoever upstairs was listening, I could open my eyes…
The dull thump of a car door slamming shut was followed by the sound of cautiously approaching footsteps.
…and find…
“Cyn?”
Familiar and deep, it wasn’t the voice I had been wishing for, and it left searing, unrealistic disappointment in its wake. I opened my eyes.
It took effort to look away from the gun and focus on the person crouched in front of me. Tall and lanky, with dirt-blond hair no comb could tame, Tag stared back, his compassion obvious.
The need to connect to someone familiar overrode past hurts busy huddling behind my grief. I swallowed, and then reached for my voice, “Hey, Hayseed.”
His nickname came out dull, but it didn’t stop him from reaching out to cover my restless fingers, stilling them against the warm surface of my gun. “Hey, you.”
Leave it to Tag not to ask me the totally inane question of how I was doing. It was painfully obvious.
“Kelsey’s dead.” Saying the words out loud made them real, cracking the barrier holding my emotions back. Tears threatened, but crying was pointless. Kelsey was gone.
My sister had been brutally ripped from my world, leaving behind a wound so raw and bitter, I didn’t think I’d ever recover. No matter what I chose to do from here, I would never make up for the fact her death could be laid indirectly at my feet. “Make me understand.” Half plea, half accusation.
