Free Soul Betrayed by Katlyn Duncan Page B

visions I experienced. But dreams could become a twisted reality that seemed as real as a memory.
    Jackson was there. He wore dark jeans and a black button-down shirt. His head was cocked to the side as he stared at me and the hairs on the back of my neck prickled. My legs moved on their own toward him. A black haze rose up from the ground, contorting around us in a mindless dance. His normally piercing blue eyes reflected the haze, making them appear black and within seconds I was in front of him, bushing his hair from his face. I traced his sharp features with my fingers until his eyes met mine.
    I ripped my hand back as if he’d stung me. His eyes
were
black. Just like the Possessed humans. His hand struck out, snatching my wrists.
    “Jackson,” I cried, wishing I’d just stayed away from him.
    He trapped his bottom lip under his teeth in a menacing grin. “I have you now.” His voice was unnatural, slow even.
    How had he been Possessed? He wasn’t human.
    “You need to come with me before it’s too late.”
    “Let me go!” I struggled against him using all of my strength to release his grip from my wrists but my attempts were futile. He was a lot stronger than I remembered. Our training sessions floated to the forefront of my mind and I pulled my own strength up from deep within me. “Let me go!” I repeated, shoving him away.
    Stumbling back he let go of my hands and his wicked grin transformed to terror. The black haze around us had shifted. It floated through the air toward him and his eyes darted around as if he saw something I couldn’t. “No,” he murmured.
    Then the haze shot forward, crushing him. He fell to the ground and struck at the haze as if he were being attacked.
    I went to him but ran into something solid. I lifted my hands, pressing against the invisible barrier between us and watched as his movements quickly slowed until he was still. His head fell limply against the ground, the black eyes turned to blue. I screamed, the sound muted by the barrier. I raised my fists again to try to break through but stopped when I realized the black haze had enveloped my hands as well. I shook them, not wanting the same fate as Jackson, but when the haze moved with me instead of killing me, I realized I was the one who controlled it. I had somehow made it take Jackson. But it didn’t feel the same as it had been with David. I didn’t feel any different. Dropping my hands to my sides I squinted at the protective barrier. It glistened and when I stepped closer it reflected a face that was not my own.
    I was Hannah.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    I sprang up from the seat, slamming my head on the roof of the car. Something touched my leg and I shrieked again as the dream dissipated from my mind.
    “Relax,” Ally said, pulling her hand back against her chest.
    The car was illuminated and I realized we were stopped. Fumbling for the handle I spilled out of the car onto concrete. My hands scraped against the ground, confirming the fact that I was awake and hadn’t just killed Jackson.
    Cooper had parked at a well-lit rest stop, the fluorescent lights keeping the shadows at bay. I looked down at my hands but there was no black haze.
    I heard Ally get out of the car, “Are you okay?”
    I took in a few quick breaths, nodding.
It was just a dream.
    Ally looked around the parking lot. A few other cars were parked along the stretch, but no one had seen me. I stood up from the ground, wiping my hands on my jeans.
    Ally’s nose wrinkled. “Cooper wants to know if it was another memory.”
    “No, just a dream.” I looked around for Cooper but I guessed he was non-corporeal so as not to be seen by the other humans.
    “Okay,” Ally said, reaching her hands over her head in a stretch. “I have to pee.” She then snorted as if Cooper said something funny.
    I led the way to the bathrooms and pushed the door, a little harder than necessary.
    Ally bounded past me into a stall. I stood by the mirrors. The sink top was a massive