Home > Nightfall (Grim Gate #1)(5)

Nightfall (Grim Gate #1)(5)
Author: Emily Goodwin

I turn back around and am suddenly face to face with Bob. My heart jumps into my throat and my lips part as I gasp in shock. Bob never moves from his spot. Never. What the fuck am I supposed to do? Twenty-four years of being a medium should have trained me for this, yet I’m rooted to the spot, unable to look away from the dead man that stands in front of me.

Say something. Right. I should say something. I suck in air, preparing to speak, but get hit with the sickening smell of death. I recoil, eyes watering, and then it’s like Bob is suddenly stuck in reverse, reaching out for me right as he’s yanked backward. His head jerks to the side and a noose appears around his neck as he’s lifted into the trees. His body sways with the wind for a moment and then he disappears.

“The fuck?” I mutter, still not able to move. I blink rapidly, looking up at the trees. Nothing is amiss, and the half-dozen or so horses in the pasture before me are still grazing as if everything is normal.

And maybe it is—to them. But for the last seven years, Bob has stayed in exactly one spot and has never reacted to me, no matter how hard I tried, and I threw things at him before. They passed right through him, of course, but I felt guilty for days.

I let my eyes fall shut, shaking myself. I have to get Charlie and get him ready for a lesson. Focus, Anora. Bob is dead. My student isn’t, and she’s rather difficult. I can’t lose her and risk having to choose between groceries or Mystery’s board next month.

I’d choose Mystery over myself anyway, of course, and speaking of my white Arabian, he nickers softly when he sees me, and then gives me the stink eye when I go to Charlie, not him.

“I’ll be back for you,” I promise, and have to chase after the stubborn pony before I’m able to catch him. I hurry back to the barn and get Charlie ready just in time for Heather to arrive. It’s a bit of a mental fight to keep my attention solely on her for the next hour, and it’s only once she’s gone, Charlie’s back in the pasture, and I’m leading Mystery toward the barn that I can relax.

“You know what?” I tell my horse, stopping halfway between the pasture and the barn. “Let’s just go for a walk in the woods.”

Mystery gently nudges me, wanting me to turn around so he can rub his head against my back. White fur sticks to my sweaty skin, thanks to the late-August heat. I tie his lead rope to his halter, making a makeshift bridle, and hop up on his back.

There are a few miles of winding trails through the forest behind the pastures, and it’s always been my happy place. I relax as I feel Mystery move beneath me, knowing the path and needing little direction from me. I keep the lead rope loosely held on one hand and absentmindedly twist his mane through my fingers of my free hand.

Letting my eyes fall shut, I tip my head up once we get into the woods. Sunlight filters through the trees, warming my face every few paces. I love being out here, alone with my horse. I can let everything bad slip away for a little while.

Suddenly, Mystery’s head shoots up, and his entire body tenses. I open my eyes and lean forward to keep my balance. Something moves through the underbrush beside us. I turn, taking a tighter hold on the lead rope. When I don’t see anything, I urge Mystery forward.

“Come on, boy,” I say in a calm voice. “It’s probably just a bunny. And not the evil killer bunny you got scared of last week.” I roll my eyes and pat his neck. “Though really, you could totally take that bunny.”

Mystery takes a few steps forward before he comes to a halt. His ears twitch, listening to something that I can’t hear. I urge him forward again, but he doesn’t budge. Instead, he sidesteps off the path. Branches crash into my face, and I duck my head down.

“Mystery, whoa,” I say, but he’s too spooked to listen. I pull back on the lead rope, struggling to direct him onto the path. “Calm down, big guy, it’s okay.”

Branches snap behind us. I turn my head, my breath catching in my chest when I see a dog slink through the trees.

“Easy, baby,” I sooth, letting go of the rope with one hand to pet Mystery’s neck. “It’s a dog. We’ve come across them before. Remember, you’re bigger than he is.” I watch the dog move through the weeds, and my nerves shoot through me when the dog growls. If this dog attacks, it’s not going to end well. One kick to the face could kill this dog, and one bite from said dog could injure my horse.

I feel Mystery tense beneath me. He paws at the ground and raises his head up, preparing to rear.

“Easy,” I say and pitch forward, momentarily taking my eyes off the dog. “Walk forward, then run,” I pant as I fight against my pulling horse. I flick my eyes back in time to see the dog slowly step back onto the trail.

The familiar shape of a dog registers in my brain, but something is…off. Its muzzle is twisted and flattened against its face. Gray human-like eyes narrow as it growls at me, revealing razor-sharp teeth. Its legs are thick and hairless, ending in paws that look more like talons.

My eyes widen in terror, heart hammering, and I can’t look away. Mystery rears, striking out at the creature. Too scared to move, I feel myself sliding backward, falling off my horse. The lead rope burns as its yanked free from my hands. At the last minute, I try to regain my balance but fail, crashing through trees as I fall. I land hard, hip hitting the ground first and knocking the wind out of me. My head smacks against the hard ground next, and stars dot my vision for a split second.

And then everything goes black.

 

 

Chapter Three

 

 

A sharp bark echoes in my ears, stirring me awake. I plant my hands against the dusty dirt beneath me, nausea twisting in my stomach as I push up. My ears ring and pain webs through me, followed by dizziness that only makes the nausea worse.

Mystery is only feet from me, and I scramble back to avoid getting trampled by my own horse. The dog-like creature is still on the path, still growling with saliva dripping from its yellowed fangs. I could have sworn that bark sounded just like Hunter, but it had to have come from the creature before me.

I try to stand but falter, and the creature lunges forward. I close my eyes, preparing for the attack. Heart in my throat, I throw my hands out at the last second, covering my face. With a snort, Mystery rears again, hooves crashing to the ground inches from the creature. He strikes out again, clipping the thing on the face. Several inches of fur and skin tear off, hanging off of its cheek in a diagonal slash from its eye to its cheek.

Another bark echoes through the forest, and the creature slinks back, taking a final snap at Mystery before turning and running away. I stare unblinking at the spot where it had stood. My hands start shaking, and suddenly, I can’t catch my breath.

Mystery nudges me, and I jump, thinking the thing came back. Frozen, I stare into the trees, looking for the dog. My heart is racing, beating so fast it might explode inside my chest. Leaves rustle just feet from us. Adrenaline surges through me, and I clamber back up and onto Mystery.

I squeeze his sides and he takes off, running to the barn. I slide off once his hooves hit the gravel path behind the barn, taking his lead rope and giving it a tug to get him to stop. He would run right into his stall if I let him.

Panic once again flashes through me when I see the red bloodstain on Mystery’s shoulder. I reach up to feel for a wound and then realize the blood is coming from me. I bring my hand to my head and the pain registers. Shit. I blink and get a flash of tree branches as I fell. One no doubt sliced right into my forehead.

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