Dark Angel (Anak Trilogy) Read Free Page A

button again to stop the horn. I took that moment to collect my thoughts. What do I need to do? Racking my brain for a plan, I decided to push the button to unlock my doors, jump up while I pushing the button, yank open the door, and throw myself inside. Hopefully, I would surprise whatever was out there, and it would not react fast enough to get to me.
    “At the count of three, Annie.” A lmost silently, I counted.  “One . . . two . . . three.”
    I hit the unlock button and jumped up. However, i nstead of yanking the door open when I saw what was making the growling noise, I gasped and stumbled backward. I drew my fist up toward my mouth stifling the scream that was growing within me. Tears sprang to my eyes.
    I n front of me was a huge animal. It was as big as a small vehicle. The creature crouched yet stood on its hind legs upright. Its elongated, hairy, muscular arms were curled, yet at such a great length that they rested on the ground. The claws were broken and torn. Each thick nail curved crookedly for at least six to seven inches. Its mouth was open exposing several rows of teeth like a shark.  Four to five inch jagged, pointed, yellowed teeth dripping with salvia crowded the creature’s mouth, so that it gave the appearance of a demonic smile. The middle of its eyes was red encircled by a wide yellow band, and its eyes were fixated on me.  The deep growl that emanated from its throat was horrific. It felt as though the ground under my feet trembled from sound of it. I had never seen anything so menacing. Its thick, shaggy, hairy coat looked black, though it was hard to tell as it blended in with the darkness of the night. Pulling its lips even farther back exposing more of its deadly teeth, it snarled. Salvia poured from its mouth in a stringy stream. I was about to die. This was it—the end. All I could think of was my father. If I am torn apart by a vicious animal and he loses me, it would surely put him over the edge. Tears ran from the corners of my eyes.
    “Daddy,” I whispered closing my eyes tight.  I wanted my last thoughts in this life to be of my father.
    The animal moved stealthily around the front of the car into a leaping position. It moved its body to face me head on, so the vehicle was no longer between us.
    “Get in the car,” I told myself, but I was frozen in fear, unable to move.  I tried to make my limbs move, but it was as if they weren’t getting the message from my brain. They felt as if they were bloated and weighed ten times their actual weight. Since the creature was less than fifteen feet in front of me, I didn’t see how I could accomplish getting in my car before the animal got to me, but it was my only chance. 
    “Please,” I whispered, “my Dad will die if I die.”
    Since my mother’s death, I’ve had a crisis of faith, yet standing here faced with certain death , I pled to any unseen entity that might be in hearing distance to spare me. Then, if the situation wasn’t desperate enough, something moved in back of me. I was still paralyzed with fear. Was there another creature? I strained to hear any further sounds coming from behind me, but my head stubbornly would not turn to look at what lurked there.
    “Need some help?” a silky, deep voice materialized from the darkness. As if a switch was released, my limbs became my own again. I turned, seeing a creature behind me that was as frightening as the one before me. My mouth dropped open. I’m sure I looked deranged as I gazed at the sight standing behind me. Hovering above me in the darkness, his face shining with an alabaster glow, was an immense creature. He was gigantic, and he was absolutely, frighteningly beautiful. His large hand pushed me gently backward. 
    “Stay behi nd me.” He ordered in a lovely, soothing voice.
    This was unbelievable. This creature , I’m not sure I could call him a man, that stood between me and the animal was incredible. He towered over me. His long hair was the color of