Skinned

Skinned Read Free Page B

Book: Skinned Read Free
Author: Adam Slater
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the Boundary. It could be an invasion. A
war
. I believe the demons are working with their human conspirators to take over this world forever.’
    Silence fell after Jacob’s words. His face was serious. In the darkness, Callum could see faint lines of shadow crease against Jacob’s gleaming white forehead. It wasn’t exactly filling him with confidence.
    â€˜There’s one thing you mustn’t forget though,’ Melissa put in. Callum turned to look at her quizzically. He’d almost forgotten she was there.
    â€˜Yeah?’ he said, pleased to break the tension.
    â€˜Callum, you’re
strong
. Maybe even the strongest of all the chime children that were active before the Shadowing began,’ Melissa said emphatically. ‘How else do you explain that you’re the one still alive? You may not quite have a handle on all your powers yet, but I just have this feeling that you shouldn’t be underestimated.’ She paused, and a glimmer of a grin began to flicker on her lips. ‘And there’s one other thing they haven’t counted on,’ she said.
    â€˜What’s that?’ Callum asked.
    â€˜Me and Jacob.’
    Jacob stared at Melissa with some surprise, and Callum could see something like respect in his face. Melissa stood shivering in the dark, but wide-eyed and alert.
    â€˜Seriously, I’ll do whatever I can to help.’
    â€˜It will not be easy,’ Jacob said, nodding to acknowledge Melissa. ‘You have only just learned your power exists, Callum. We do have some time, but we also have a distance to go. You are going to have to master your abilities, and you are going to have to do it under a degree of pressure.’
    â€˜How exactly
will
I master them?’
    â€˜I will teach you. Do not forget that although I died at birth, I too am a chime child.’
    Callum nodded. He would have been lost without Jacob’s help when the Fetch had reared its hideous head only weeks ago. He looked at Jacob again, who was staring at Callum pointedly.
    â€˜What, you want to teach me
now
? Here, in the dark?’
    â€˜No time like the present,’ Jacob replied.
    Again, Callum glanced at Melissa. She nodded once in encouragement.
    â€˜OK,’ Callum said. ‘What do I have to do?’
    Jacob didn’t answer him. Instead, he raised one white hand and pointed towards Callum.
    â€˜Doom.’
    Without warning, the great black Grim leaped for Callum. The last thing Callum saw before he shut his eyes were the ghost dog’s teeth, flashing like icicles as Doom opened his jaws . . .

Chapter Three
    The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye.
    Callum was knocked over by the force of the dog’s attack. The Grim’s body was so cold it took his breath away, sucking the air from his lungs and leaving them screaming for oxygen. He writhed desperately as the dog’s breath washed over him, the hot stench of rotting meat making his stomach churn. Somewhere in the background he heard Melissa scream. Callum could feel Doom’s weight on him, heavy as a pile of rocks. He lay there, his eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the inevitable – for those glittering, razor-sharp fangs to sink into his throat. But the shadow-dog heldhim pinned fast to the floor of the ruined church, his growl rumbling menacingly. Callum was sure his blood was turning to ice in his veins. He knew he was foolish to have ever trusted the beast, or to have believed that Jacob wouldn’t betray him.
Oh, please, just let it be over
. . .
    â€˜Release.’
    Jacob’s voice came from somewhere above them. Suddenly the crushing frigid weight on Callum’s chest disappeared. His breath came out in a shivering rush. Doom stalked away from him and went to guard the church entrance once more.
    Callum sat up slowly, quaking, and not with cold. Melissa was watching, and she wrapped her arms around herself quickly, as if the deathly chill of Doom’s lunge

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