Bound to Fear Read Free

years ago
    A prickle ran down her spine.
    “Dad, are you there?” Tasha called out, but
the words were thrown back at her, echoing off the stone walls.
    She was early that was all. He’d be here.
He’d promised.
    The sun slipped lower in the sky, finally
vanishing behind the huge warehouses. Shadows hugged the edges of
the buildings, drawing ever closer to where she stood in the
encroaching night.
    She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.
Something was out there, watching her from just beyond the edge of
darkness. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a movement in
the dim light. Tendrils of emotion teased at her mind, like nothing
she’d felt before. Not a person; there were no conscious thoughts,
only raw feelings. Anticipation, hunger, hate.
    For a minute, Tasha stood immobile, every
muscle locked solid. Then she turned her head slowly and peered
into the gloom. She blinked, trying to make sense of what she was
seeing. A dog? But it was bigger than any dog she’d ever come
across, bigger even than the wolves she’d seen at the zoo.
    It took a step closer, clearing the shadows,
and an icy wave of dread rolled over her, threatening to suck her
under. Her mind screamed to run, but her body wouldn’t obey, every
muscle clenched tight as her gaze locked with cold yellow eyes.
    Another step and the spell was broken. She
hurled her backpack at the thing’s head, then spun around and ran.
She’d only taken a few strides when a heavy weight slammed into
her, crashing her to the ground. Stars flashed behind her closed
eyes, and the coppery taste of blood filled her mouth.
    Tasha rolled onto her back and the beast was
on her, pressing her down, hot stinking breath smothering her. She
tried to scramble away, but it lunged, taking her shoulder in its
huge jaws. Bone crunched loud in her ears. Searing pain flooded her
body and mind, and she knew she was going to die.
    Maybe not yet.
    But soon.
    She must have blacked out. When she came to,
the beast was gone, and she wasn’t dead after all. Her own
shuddering breaths were the only sound in the darkness. She tried
to roll over, but red hot spikes of pain pinned her to the ground.
Her phone was in her backpack. She could see it lying about ten
feet away. It might as well have been a mile.
    Her dad would be here soon, all she had to
do was hold on.
    The beam of an approaching vehicle flooded
the area with light. Tears of relief blurred her vision; she’d
known he would save her. Always before, she’d balked at using her
inner sense, scared it would mean she was accepting the impossible,
descending into madness. Now, for the first time she reached out,
needing to feel her father’s comforting presence. But the minds she
encountered were strangers.
    She twisted her neck so she could watch.
Some sort of dark van pulled up a few feet away, but she didn’t
recognize the vehicle. Two men stepped out and came toward her.
    “She the one?” the closest asked.
    “Oh yeah. Let’s get her in the van—that
thing’s still out there.”
    “Wait. My father—” Tasha clamped her lips on
a scream as the first man leaned down and dragged her to her feet.
He tossed her over his shoulder, oblivious to the moan of agony
wrenched from her throat. The few paces to the van seemed to last a
lifetime, before she was dropped in the back. She landed with a
jolt and lay staring at the roof, trying to get a grip on a world
reduced to nothing but hurting.
    The rear door slammed and she was alone.
Panic tore at her insides as the vehicle started to move, and
quickly picked up speed.
    The journey passed in a haze of pain and
confusion intermingled with brief respites of unconsciousness.
Finally, the door opened and a dark figure stared down at her.
    “Welcome to The Facility.”

Chapter One
    Present day
    Jack raced through the dark forest, weaving
between the trees, listening for the sound of his pursuers. When he
realized he was leaving them far behind, he slowed his pace. He
hadn’t spent all