Free Lost in Shadow (A Shadow Walkers Ghost Novel) by Cynthia Luhrs Page B

He sounded amused. How could he make jokes when he must be in agonizing pain? She just looked at him like he was crazy. A memory, crystal clear, came to her. Once when her brother was six, he’d cut open his hand playing on the construction site for a new home. In and out, in and out, she thought she could hear the thread pulling, making a squicking sound as it went through flesh and blood, sewing up the wound. All of sudden she saw black spots. When Emily came to, the doctor was chuckling while putting her up on the next bed. He gave her an ice pack for the back of her head. Her brother was fine. From that day on, she couldn’t stand the sight of blood.
    “The keys are hanging on the wall above the table.” Colin rasped as he started coughing, Emily didn’t have a clue how she’d get him out of there. This was not possible; she must be having some kind of delayed response to almost dying. She assumed she was hallucinating or having a walking, talking, daydream. This couldn’t be real. There wasn’t time to get re-enactors down here. Okay Emily, pull it together and get the damn keys to unlock him. Figure it out later.
    Pausing, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to manage Colin on her own, but if she didn’t do something, somebody else would show up to kill him or she’d be back in reality on her way to the loony bin for sure. Best not to think about it too long or she’d run screaming from the dungeon; she’d wanted an adventure—looked like she was going to get more than she bargained for.
    Trying a number of keys, precious minutes passed before she found the right one. Unlocking the manacles, she winced, seeing his raw and bloody wrists. Reaching out to try and catch him, she knocked over the stool, Colin fell to the ground.
    “Oof, I hear somebody, hold milady.” Colin motioned to the right where a shadow was moving on the stairs. Getting to his feet, he swayed. Shaking his head as if to clear it, she watched him move silently down the dim corridor, past the other cells. How could he get up, let alone walk with the injuries he’d sustained? Was she imagining him here? Turning around to look in the cell, Emily heard muffled grunts and scuffling. Colin staggered back dragging a scruffy-looking man who appeared to be dead but hopefully was only unconscious.
    “Wretched boot licker for the Day Walkers.” Colin curled his lip, sides heaving with the effort as he threw the body into the cell and slammed the door shut.
    Confused, she looked at him, eyebrows raised to her hairline.
    “This human, scum of the earth from looking at him, found out what a Day Walker is, wants to be one, and therefore spends his time playing errand boy for them, hoping to get a shot from Dayne. Immortality is a powerful motivator.”
    “Sorry…Day Walkers? Dayne? Immortality? I know it’s Halloween, but seriously, this is so not amusing in the least. What are you going on about? What the hell is a Day Walker?” She stamped her foot, hands on her hips and glared up at Colin, even as the term came back to her—that whisper she had heard.
    “Lass, we don’t have time.” Dragging her by the arm, Colin headed away from the stairway deeper into the dungeon.
    “Wait, we’re going the wrong way, the exit is the other way.” Pulling away, she cocked her head, listening. “I hear footsteps; Day Walkers or whatever the hell they are, are coming.” Emily’s voice was high, almost a squeak.
    “Lass, it will be all right. We’ll take the tunnel.” Colin choked out, staggering against the wall. He was white as a sheet, his skin grey and clammy under the grime mixed with his caked on blood.
    Colin needed medical attention; biting her lip in concentration she put her arms around his waist so he could lean on her.
    “Maybe this isn’t the best time to tell you—I’m a bit claustrophobic.” Emily’s lip trembled as she tried to put on a happy face. It came out as more of a grimace.
    “Don’t be afraid. The tunnel runs under the