Free Torn From the Shadows by Yolanda Sfetsos Page A

needed to make sure they knew what they were getting themselves in to. I wouldn’t always be around to babysit them, and neither would Ebony.
    As I picked up my stride, I realized I hadn’t crossed paths with many spooks classified into this nasty cluster. These were the messy kind, ones they made movies about, not ones we faced on a daily basis. But that wouldn’t stop me.
    The temperature dropped as soon as my foot hit the metal stairs. I was pretty sure being anywhere near metal wouldn’t be a good idea with this many volts surging through the warehouse, but we needed to get upstairs.
    I peered over my shoulder. “Okay, we have to take the stairs up to the next level but these are metal and will conduct electricity if any of the bastards get close.”
    “What are we going to do, then?” Juliet asked.
    “We have no choice but to clear them as fast as we can. And don’t touch the railing.”
    Both girls looked up, past me. Without needing to turn around, I knew what was going on because I could feel the static prickling at the back of my neck. As soon as we took the first step, the phantasms were going to strike with enough voltage to fry us.
    “Are you two ready?”
    They both nodded, though Juliet was biting her lip.
    “Let’s go!” I took the stairs two at a time, stomping so hard the silver dagger tucked in my right boot dug into my ankle, and the one Papan had given me dug into my quads. But I didn’t let it stop me—I kept moving and was relieved to feel the staircase jump with each step. It meant the girls were right behind me.
    When I reached the top, I grabbed Jana’s hands and dragged her the rest of the way. She was still holding onto Juliet, who had almost reached the top when the railing was struck with enough voltage to make Jana miss a step. She nearly toppled and I strained to maintain my grip on her. I somehow managed to keep Jana upright, but Juliet had already reached for the railing.
    Her body jolted.
    “Let go of her hand,” I screamed.
    “But she’ll fall.” The shock must have struck her at that moment because Jana forcibly pulled her hand back and shook her fingers. “Ouch!”
    Juliet’s eyes widened as her fingers slipped from the railing. With no one there to keep her anchored, she tumbled down the stairs and landed at the bottom with a sick thump.
    “No, Juliet!”
    I grabbed Jana’s elbow before she could follow. “Don’t do it. You’ll end up just like her.”
    “We need to check that she’s—”
    “Yeah, we do. But this staircase is a livewire and there’s only one way for us to go—that way.” I pointed down the passageway in front of us.
    She rolled her shoulders and finally nodded, heading up. “Let’s get these assholes!”  
    At least she’d remembered to grab one of the duffels.
    I led the way across the concrete floor. We crossed it as fast as we could. Suddenly, every light inside the place clicked off. It looked like Ebony had taken care of the power.
    The square windows situated on both sides of the triangular roof helped patches of light filter through, making it easier to see where we were going—the office.
    We stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of a metallic door. My eyes skimmed the surface and the large window beside it. The door might be closed and the blinds shut, but I could see the colors shifting inside. The phantasms were assembled on the other side, waiting for us.
    I yanked down my sleeve enough to cover my hand before pushing down the slim door handle then promptly removing my grip. “Son of a bitch!” A shock flowed through me, sending pins and needles racing up and down my fingers.
    I kicked the door in so hard it slammed against the window. The glass shattered and the blinds bent out of shape.
    “Come on,” I whispered, not waiting for Jana to respond.
    The office area wasn’t as big as the downstairs, but enough to hold four desks set up in an open-plan format. A few filing cabinets were positioned in the corners, as well