Just Intuition Read Free Page A

door.
    Her girlfriend curled in fetal position under the shelves of linens. Erin 's internal panic reached a new crescendo and she touched her arm. Allie's entire body jolted upright and she smacked her head against the shelf. Mewling like a kitten, she thrashed against the tangle of bedding.
     
    * * *
     
    What woke Allie was the smell. Acrid smoke. Burning stench curled evil fingers into her nostrils. Throat constricted by fiery tentacles, she held her breath, eyes screwed tight. Her skin burned with furious intensity and she tried to kick, but found her limbs immobile. She was trapped in the blaze.
    The shadowy figure watched excitedly and raised arms to the sky.
    She struggled with all the ferocity of a wild animal. Incessant roaring intensified and descended in an incendiary tornado. Lungs ready to burst, she gulped air like the drowning and her tormented body freed itself.
    Hell 's inferno opened to devour her.
     
    * * *
     
    "Wake up, baby." Erin's voice cracked.
    Allie 's dark brown hair splayed across her face. A trickle of crimson ran the length of her eyebrow, drizzling a bloody streak onto the white fabric of the sheets. Fiona whined and tucked her tail between her hind legs.
    Erin dropped the pistol and gathered Allie in her arms. She felt hot. A fine line of moisture beaded her upper lip and she was drenched in sweat. Eyes wide open, she panicked and gulped for air. One hand brushed her bloody eyebrow and she stared blankly at the red smear.
    "It's okay. You're okay. It's just me." She whispered soothing words until Allie's movements calmed and her breathing slowed. She tucked her face into Erin's shoulder and Fiona's nose intruded to sniff wetly at her cheek. The dog huffed in relief when she reached out a trembling arm to encircle her. Fiona was apparently more of a comforter than a protector.
    " What's going on? Are you hurt? Are you having a nightmare?" Erin asked. She brushed disheveled hair from her girlfriend's forehead.
    "Burning in hell. Burning alive."
    Woven in Allie's hair, Erin's fingers froze.
    "Watching fire..." Allie whispered. She stared unfocused toward the end of the hallway.
    Erin turned to look. Nothing. Tiny hairs prickled the back of her neck.
    "Church Lady is gone..." Allie 's whisper trailed off and she sucked in shallow gulps of air. Erin was now thoroughly transfixed.
    "Whaddyamean?" It all came out as one word. She made a conscious effort to maintain control. "What-did-you-say?"
    Silent for a moment, Allie's breathing changed and tight muscles released. "It's just a nightmare. I'm not crazy, you know," she whispered tersely into the folds of Erin's shirt. She was suddenly awake, aware, and very defensive. She pulled away and met Erin's gaze. Intensity smoldered in her dark eyes. "I'm not!"
    "I know. I 'm always on your side, remember?"
    Allie kicked clear of the snarled sheets. Startled, Erin and the dog followed her to the bedroom. Fiona wagged her body in a semicircle beside Allie, who balanced evenly on both feet and faced the morning light.
    "What happened?" The adrenaline kick Erin had experienced a moment ago was making her lightheaded.
    " It was just a nightmare." Allie closed her eyes and filled her lungs.
    " I was afraid someone had broken in. I could't find you, and the window was open—"
    " It was hot last night. I bypassed that window when I set the alarm."
    " Oh," Erin took a step toward her. "I didn't know you could do that."
    " It's in the alarm interface toolbox." Allie scrunched her eyebrows and stretched to her full five foot nine inches, rolling her shoulders like a fighter. After a few more deep breaths, she shifted gears and made her way out the door.
    "Baby, wait!" Erin trailed behind her, snatching a robe from its hook. She caught up to Allie in the hallway.
    "You're not going out to slay the dragon in your tightie-whities are you?" Erin grinned. "You'll freak out the neighborhood kids."
    Allie grimaced, took the robe and draped it around her white T-shirt and