Free Tapestry of the Past by Alvania Scarborough Page A

into words.

Chapter Five
     
    Images, like a pack of predators, slipped eagerly through the night, seeking a victim to wrap in the echoes of a sanity trapped in life and death combat. Wild, chaotic and totally lacking in substance, like ghosts they teased and tormented with half-formed touches and whispers of pain, betrayal and rage.
    And, above it all, hovered an insidious, malignant enjoyment feeding and growing on the swirl of emotions.
     
    Pain.
    Screams.
    Excitement.
    Blood dripped onto the floor from the table, rippling the surface of the dark, ever-spreading pool.
    Light glittered and flashed on the thin blade as it was slowly lowered.
    Pain. Sudden, shocking, consuming.
    * * * * *
    Kalesia moaned and stirred in her sleep.
    * * * * *
    Nylon circled his wrists, laced up his forearms, pulled his arms tightly behind his back.
    Excruciating pain lanced his chest at the intolerable tension on his shoulders. Wave after wave washed over him.
    He screamed.
    Over and over, his ragged voice bounced amongst the trees, startling a Florida panther, causing a mule deer to twitch its ears in fright before bounding deeper into the forest.
    He was on his knees.
    Moonlight filtered down through the pine. The clean, crisp resin fragrance hung heavy in the moist, night air. Inhaling deeply, his starved lungs flooded with the dark peaty scent of a bog.
    An ant crawled up his thigh. Sweat trickled down his breastbone.
    Hot.
    Humid.
    Fear.
    It permeated the night, hung motionlessly on the still air, soaked him as he squinted up at his captor.
    Dirt filled his mouth as he was forced, face down, in the loose soil.
    Beneath his cheek, he felt the tiny tickle of another ant, then a sudden sharp sting.
    Shrouded by shadows, the second man knelt and slowly slid his forefinger over the bound man’s cheek. First the left, then the right.
    The small caliber bullet exploded in his brain.
    The second man smiled and picked up a shovel.
    * * * * *
    Kalesia gasped for air, unable to breathe for the dirt filling her mouth. Scrambling to her knees, arms wrapped tightly around her midriff, she forced herself to take slow, controlled breaths. Her heart was pounding so hard, it was making her sick to her stomach. She reached up and touched her temple, her hand shaking. The phantom pain nearly blinded her.
    Sweet mercy, not another one.
    The dark closed in on her. The smell of terror and fear permeated the room. Bile burned her throat. Out. She had to get out. Out of bed. Out of the room.
    Almost leaping from the bed, pausing just long enough to grab her robe from the foot of the bed, she yanked the door open. Once in the hallway, some of her panic faded, allowing her to think. She really didn’t want to be alone. Damn, she wished Gabriel hadn’t insisted the cats sleep in the laundry room. Times like this, she missed their warmth, their weight, curled next to her. She eyed the closed door next to her room, shifting from one foot to the other as she weighed her options.
    She chewed on her bottom lip. After that kiss this afternoon, maybe it would be better if she just went downstairs and fixed herself something hot to drink.
    Safer, in any case.
    Anyway, she doubted Gabriel would believe her. He’d made his reservations obvious, despite his willingness to help. Could she bear it if she saw that look of disbelief in his eyes tonight?
    She pulled on the robe, tightening it. No. Not tonight. Not with Gabriel. Once before a man had nearly destroyed her with his disbelief. Instinct warned her it would be infinitely worse if Gabriel were to deny her ability again.
    She couldn’t chance it.
    Her decision made, she crept downstairs, taking care to make as little noise as possible.
    Unfamiliar with his kitchen, she switched on the light and searched for the ingredients for hot chocolate. Kalesia winced at the over-loud sound of the cabinet door closing. She paused, listening. When the house remained quiet, she breathed a silent sigh of relief.
    She went about