Freaky Hearts Read online

  “Those aren’t always reliable,” Nixie pointed out.

  “Do you have a better suggestion?”

  Nixie nodded without hesitation. “You.”

  “Me?”

  “You’re psychic,” Nixie supplied. “You found the girl in her mother’s head, even though she wasn’t really in her mother’s head. That means you were desperate enough to figure out a way to find her even as you attempted to do something else. I think you’ll be able to find her if you simply open your mind and allow your powers to wander free.”

  “I … never considered that.” I rubbed the back of my neck as we trudged toward the cabin. “I assumed I imagined the girl.”

  “If you believed that we wouldn’t be out looking for her,” Naida countered. “I agree with Nixie. You’ll be able to find her. Take us to the cabin first, though. Now that you’ve mentioned the ground being salted I’m dying to see it.”

  It didn’t take us long to reach the cabin. Thankfully, the police either weren’t watching the area or were doing it from such a distance we couldn’t trip over their minds when scanning the location.

  Naida set about searching the area with a scientist’s curiosity, furrowing her brow as she examined dirt samples and scuffed her feet against the earth. She didn’t appear keen to enter the cabin.

  “What do you think?” My patience was wearing thin watching the pixies work.

  “I think it’s odd,” Naida replied after a beat. She straightened and glanced around, noting the layout of the clearing and shaking her head. “The cabin is located directly in the center of the salt circle. There are no stumps to indicate that trees were taken out and the place feels isolated, so I doubt it’s visited regularly.”

  “What do you think the cabin’s location means? Do you think someone was trying to keep a spirit out?”

  “I think it’s the exact opposite,” Naida answered. “I think someone locked a spirit in and used the salt to keep it trapped.”

  “Can you feel the spirit now? I searched when we were here the first time and came up empty.”

  “There’s nothing here now except anger and resentment,” Naida replied. “Some terrible thing was kept here for a long time. It’s gone now. Whether that means it has found a way to escape the salt … well, I don’t know. It doesn’t live here any longer. That’s the one thing I can say with certainty.”

  “That doesn’t mean visits are out of the question,” Nixie said. “I feel as if something has been close to this area … and recently. It’s malevolent, whatever it is.”

  “Do you think there’s a way for us to find out what manner of creature was held here?”

  Naida shrugged. “Have you considered running property records?”

  I opened my mouth to scoff at the suggestion and then knitted my eyebrows as I considered the suggestion. “That probably should’ve been our first move, huh?”

  “It’s just a suggestion,” Naida said, tilting her head to the side. “If you track down who owns the land you might be able to find some answers. Either way … I’m done here for now. This place gives me the creeps.”

  “You and me both,” Nixie intoned, grimacing before turning to me. “It’s your turn. You need to see if you can find Sarah.”

  “But … I don’t know how.” I was embarrassed to admit my insecurity, but I was terrified of picking the wrong direction and somehow dooming Sarah.

  “That’s not true,” Naida said, shifting so she was directly in front of me. “Trust your intuition. It’s strong. It won’t lead you astray.”

  “But … .”

  “Close your eyes,” Naida ordered, grabbing my hands and offering me a jolt of power to center myself. “Close your eyes and open your mind. Listen to the wind. It will tell you which direction to go. Don’t think about it. Don’t internally debate the merits of following your gut. Relax. Just feel. Okay … which way?”

  I opened my mind as she ordered and let my power ooze out, exhaling slowly. I lifted my finger and pointed to the south, and when I opened my eyes I found Naida smiling.

  “Good job,” Naida said. “Let’s move. I have a feeling you decided to go for a walk today because we have a legitimate chance of finding that girl. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

  Even though doubts niggled at the back of my brain I did as Naida asked and followed my instincts. Before I realized what was happening we found ourselves deep in the forest, the sound of running water catching my attention as a river appeared in front of us.

  “Did you know this was here?” Naida asked, crouching low so she could dip her fingers into the flowing water. “It runs relatively fast.”

  “I didn’t pay any attention to the geography,” I admitted. “Once we found the cabin I thought it was over.”

  “We should’ve been more proactive,” Nixie said. “You should’ve told us about the salt. We could’ve conducted some research before Sarah went missing. We might’ve been able to avoid this altogether.”

  I couldn’t stop myself from scowling. “I had no idea this was going to happen.”

  “Of course you didn’t,” Naida said, patting my arm. “Still … don’t you feel that?” She tilted her head to the side, resembling a dog listening for intruders. “We’re close.”

  “How do you know that?” Once she said the words I deflated a bit, catching myself before the worry kicked in and overwhelmed me. “Do you feel Sarah?”

  “I feel something else,” Naida replied, narrowing her eyes. “I’m not sure what it is, but it’s not good. You led us to this area for a reason. That must mean Sarah is here.”

  My mouth went dry as I struggled to swallow. “If she’s here … .”

  “Then we’ll find her,” Naida finished, refusing to let the fear overwhelm her. “Split up. She has to be close.”

  We did as instructed. I relished the time away from Nixie and Naida because it meant that I could refocus without them staring. Once I sucked in a steadying breath, though, I felt a new form of fear. For a moment it was overwhelming. Then I realized I wasn’t the source of the emotion. I was experiencing someone else’s terror.

  I jerked my head up and glanced toward some culverts to my right, practically tripping over my own feet as I tried to close the distance in minimal time. Nixie and Naida must’ve read the intent behind my purposeful strides because they scurried after me.

  I hopped into the running water, my feet instantly freezing in the cool liquid. I ignored the discomfort when I stared into the culvert. One side was wet, a nonstop flow of water trickling through. The other was dry and clogged with debris. It was there, halfway down, I caught sight of a small, shaking figure.

  “Sarah?”

  The girl jerked her head in my direction. I couldn’t make out her features because she was too far away, but she instantly burst into tears and banged her head against the metal pipe as fear jolted her.

  “This way,” I prodded, gesturing with my hand. The culvert was too small for me to climb in after her. There was a chance Nixie might make it, but I was hopeful Sarah would crawl to us. “Come to me and I’ll get you home.”

  “I can’t,” Sarah wailed. “I’m stuck. I’m tied to something.”

  “You’re tied to something?” That didn’t make a lick of sense.

  “Or I’m snagged on something,” Sarah replied. “I’m not sure. I can’t move.”

  I frowned and glanced at Nixie. “You’ll have to go in there.”

  Nixie was perplexed. “Why me?”

  “You’re the only one small enough.”

  “Oh, fine,” Nixie muttered, making a face as she dropped to her hands and knees and crawled into the opening. “You’ll owe me for this.”

  “Just get her,” I snapped, tapping my foot against Nixie’s tiny bottom and propelling her into the culvert. “Hurry up. She’s got to be starving and terrified.”

  “I’m going. I’m going.”

  I had only a few seconds of relief to bask in finding the girl before Naida shifted her stance
and flew – no, she really flew – to the top of the culvert. I recognized the way she held herself right away, the firm set of her feet, the hands balled into fists in front of her chest, the pulsing muscle in her jaw as she stared toward something only she could see. She was prepared for battle.

  “What’s going on?” I asked, nerves overtaking me as I moved to the left. That’s when my gaze landed on a hulking figure at the far end of the culvert. I couldn’t make out any features – I wasn’t sure there were any to make out – but the creature was tall and thick, with dark skin reminding me of mud rather than flesh.

  “Get moving,” Naida ordered, whipping her hands to the sides and bringing forth a tempest of water from the river. She could control the weather, so adding water elements this close to a source wasn’t difficult. “Take the girl and run.”

  Nixie appeared at the opening of the culvert and shoved Sarah out. I grabbed the girl with both hands while keeping my gaze on Naida. She looked like a warrior princess ready to do battle for the fate of her kingdom.

  “What’s going on?” Nixie’s expression reflected worry as she climbed out, making a thumping sound as she landed on the ground. She ignored her filthy clothing and skin, snapped her head in Naida’s direction, gasping when she caught sight of … well, whatever that thing was at the other end of the culvert.

  When the creature realized I had Sarah in my arms it let loose an otherworldly bellow, dropping to four legs and barreling in our direction. My heart pounded as Sarah screeched. Naida, however, remained unnaturally calm.

  “Go now,” Naida ordered. “Things are about to get ugly.”

  “What about you?”

  “I can take care of myself,” Naida replied. “Take the girl. Go. Don’t stop until you get back to the circus. Don’t stop for anything. Do you understand?”

  I grimly nodded. “Don’t be a hero.”

  “It’s too late for that,” Naida said, releasing the growing water tempest in the direction of the creature. “Go!”

  I wanted to argue. I wanted to hand Sarah to Nixie and stand with Naida so we could take down the foe together. She was already moving, though, and I knew I would simply get in the way if I remained.

  “Let’s go,” Nixie ordered, grabbing my arm. “She’s got this.”

  I could only hope she was right.

  24

  Twenty-Four

  I was sapped by the time we hit the fairgrounds, my muscles straining as I struggled to maintain a steady pace with Sarah’s extra weight draped over my frame.

  Sarah hadn’t stopped crying from the moment Nixie released her from the makeshift prison and she wrapped her arms around my neck so tightly I thought I might pass out from lack of oxygen. Nixie kept it together for the entirety of our run back to the circus, but once we hit the relative safety of the parking lot she couldn’t stop herself from watching the tree line for her sister.

  “She’ll be okay,” I gasped, slowing my pace to catch my breath.

  “I know,” Nixie said. “I just want my face to be the first one she sees when she comes back.”

  Even though she uttered brave words, I knew Nixie couldn’t help but be worried. “She’ll be okay,” I repeated. “She knows what she’s doing.”

  Nixie pressed her lips together and merely nodded.

  “She’s a warrior. She’s going to kick butt because that’s what she does,” I said, turning my attention to trailer row and picking up the pace again. “We need to get help. We need to call the police.”

  Nixie reluctantly fell into step behind me. I couldn’t risk a glance over my shoulder because I didn’t want to see the unsaid accusation on her face. I knew what she was thinking despite my false bravado when propping her up only moments before. We left her sister to fight an unknown entity without backup.

  I didn’t get much time to dwell on my guilt. Kade appeared on the pathway, his expression murderous. I hurried in his direction, almost stumbling over the last few steps. Despite his obvious anger, Kade collected Sarah and managed to steady me with his hip as I fought to suck in oxygen.

  “What in the hell happened?”

  Sarah started a fresh crying jag, causing Kade to widen his eyes and curl her to his chest.

  “We found Sarah,” I blurted out.

  “I figured that out on my own,” Kade barked. “I … where did you find her?”

  “In a culvert in the woods,” I replied, jolting as the angry sound of thunder rumbled. I swiveled to stare at the woods, frowning when I saw the dark cloud hanging over the trees. Everything but that area remained sunny and bright, but dark and low thunderclouds rolled over the woods.

  “Do I even want to know what that is?” Kade asked, stroking the back of Sarah’s hair and rocking her to diminish the sobbing.

  “It’s Naida,” I replied. “She was with us. It’s just … we weren’t alone out there.”

  Kade’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

  “It means that we need to get Naida out of the woods and call the police,” I wheezed. “I have no idea how we’ll explain finding her, but … we have to come up with something.”

  “Is there a reason you didn’t think of that before you wandered off in the woods? Alone. Did I mention you did it alone?”

  “I hardly did it alone,” I shot back. “I took Naida and Nixie.”

  “Why didn’t you take me?”

  “Because someone had to be here to handle the cops,” I replied, my lungs finally returning to normal breathing. If he wanted to argue, I was up for it. My frazzled nerves needed a direction to vent, and apparently he wanted to provide it. “I did what I thought I had to do. If you want to argue … .”

  “I want my mommy,” Sarah wailed, kicking her foot against Kade’s stomach and causing him to grunt as he shifted his attention to her. She was becoming increasingly active.

  “We’ll talk about this later,” Kade muttered, cuddling Sarah to his chest. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re going to find your mother right now.”

  “We need to call the police,” I said, lowering my voice. “They’ll be suspicious, but we couldn’t leave her out there. I had to know.”

  Kade clenched his jaw and exhaled through his nose. “Of course you couldn’t leave her out there. We’ll figure it out.”

  “We’d better do it fast,” I said, digging in the pocket of my cargo pants for my phone. “I’m calling for help right now.”

  “Do it. The sooner we get Sarah home, the better it will be for her.”

  I nodded as I pressed my ear to the phone and stared at the stormy woods. Sarah was safe. That was the most important thing. But what about Naida? I couldn’t tamp down the insistent worry that she might never be safe again.

  DETECTIVE ASHBURN was dumbfounded as he approached the trailers. Kade managed to calm Sarah enough to drink some juice, but she refused to leave his lap and occasionally screeched for her mother when she lost interest in the juice.

  I steeled myself for trouble when Ashburn stopped in front of me. “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  “I planned on attending later this afternoon anyway,” he said, glancing over his shoulder as two uniformed officers approached. “I don’t suppose you want to tell me how this happened?”

  I’d given this serious thought – in the five minutes between calling 911 and Ashburn’s arrival – so I was ready to spout some fantastical lies. “I wanted to check the cabin in case Sarah was there,” I started. “I wasn’t sure you guys went out there – although I assumed you did – and when we were out there we got turned around and ended up by the river. That’s where we found Sarah.”

  “Uh-huh.” Ashburn looked as if I’d explained that a unicorn led me to the girl. “Do you expect me to believe that?”

  “It’s the truth, so I don’t know why you wouldn’t believe it,” I replied, crossing my arms over my chest in a defiant stance. “I took Nixie with me so I wouldn’t get lost. We happened upon the river. Then we heard crying and looked in the culvert.”
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  “And she was just sitting in the culvert?” Ashburn prodded. “That sounds … unlikely.”

  “She was stuck,” Nixie said, rubbing some of the dirt from her cheek. “She was actually tied in there. I’m small, so I climbed in after her.”

  “Did you consider calling us before doing that?”

  “Nope,” I replied, not missing a beat. “We weren’t out there alone.” I’d thought about this part, too. I could hardly describe a monster and expect Ashburn to believe me. “While Nixie was freeing Sarah a man appeared at the other end of the culvert. We couldn’t see him well, but he started after us. We didn’t know what else to do … so we ran.”

  Ashburn stared blankly for a moment, as if on a delayed timer, and then widened his eyes. “You saw him?”

  “I saw a dark figure,” I clarified. “I was nervous and afraid. I ran. I didn’t look back. It was hard enough to carry Sarah without falling. I couldn’t risk looking over my shoulder.”

  Ashburn turned his eyes to the trees. The clouds were dissipating but still evident. “Do you think he’s still out there?”

  “That’s something for you to ascertain,” I answered. “I brought Sarah here and called you right away. I thought that was the right thing to do.”

  Ashburn rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at one of the uniformed officers, his expression unreadable. Finally he shifted back to me. “You know this sounds ridiculous, don’t you? Why should I believe that story?”

  “Because it’s the truth.”

  “How do I know you didn’t take her and then conveniently ‘find’ her?” Ashburn challenged. “You could be covering your tracks.”

  “Perhaps you should ask her.”

  “What are the odds that she’ll be like Joshua Gilmore and forget what happened?”

  I shrugged. “Joshua didn’t forget. He blocked it out because he was traumatized. He will eventually remember, and when he does he won’t point the finger at us.”