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Then she heard her doorknob rattle.
“What’s this? You locked me out?” the intruder asked. “For shame, Abbey—and I thought you missed me! Well, I guess I’ll just have to get in by myself.”
As something heavy thudded against her bedroom door and the lock rattled, Abbey nearly screamed. Oh God, he was coming in—there was no way he wasn’t going to break the lock. It wasn’t strong enough to keep him out.
Thud…thud…THUD! CRACK!
Sure enough, the door gave way. And then Abbey heard the footsteps coming into her room.
“Did you miss me like I missed you, babe?” he asked casually, as though he hadn’t just broken down the door of her room. “You know, I had forgotten all about you until I saw you in the news. And then I remembered how you were the one—the only one—who ever got away from me. Which is why I decided I needed to come back for you—come back and finish the job.”
Abbey shoved a fist in her mouth to keep back the cry of terror that rose in her throat. At the side of her neck, she could feel Spex trembling in fear. The little Eye-pet was absolutely quiet, though. The two of them huddled in the darkness under the bed like a pair of rabbits trying to avoid the wolf.
“Oh please,” Abbey prayed silently, though she didn’t even know who she was praying to. “Please send someone to save us! Please don’t let this be the end!”
“Courage, daughter—I am with you, even in danger.”
The warm, feminine voice filled her inner ear, but Abbey had a feeling she was the only one who could hear it. With it, came a warm presence that wrapped around her like a homemade quilt.
“Who are you?” she thought at it, not daring to speak aloud.
“I am the Mother of All Life and I say to you now that your life will not end here. Be of good heart—help is coming to you!”
“It is? From where? From who?” Abbey thought frantically, but the warm voice and the presence that went with it were suddenly gone.
“I know you’re in here.” It was his voice again—Henry’s voice—the Wheelchair Killer. The serial killer that her guide dog, Major, had saved her from. But Major was gone now and Spex was too little to do anything but hide, shivering in her hair.
Abbey tried to hold onto the warm and comforting feeling she’d felt when the voice spoke to her, but it was terribly hard to do with a serial killer creeping around her bed, looking for her.
Suddenly, a hard hand grabbed her by the ankle.
“Got you!” His voice was triumphant—like a hunter that’s bagged an especially good trophy. “Come out, little blind girl—it’s time to play!”
“No! No!” Abbey shrieked, kicking wildly. She wasn’t going without a fight!
“Whoa—hold still now, babe,” Henry—if that was even his name—crooned as he grabbed for her other leg. “It’ll all be over soon if you just…hold…st?—”
But his last word ended in a choked-off gurgle. The hand on Abbey’s ankle tightened at first and then let go abruptly.
Abbey yanked her legs back under the bed just as she heard a low, animalistic growl. And then a flat crack! Then silence.
She lay there, trembling under the bed, not knowing what had happened. Tears were streaming silently from her eyes and she didn’t dare to move. What was going on out there? What had happened to her attacker? Where?—?
“Lelka? Are you there? Are you all right?”
The deep, rumbling voice was the most welcome sound Abbey could imagine. Gasping and crying, she crawled out from under the bed, aware that she was probably extremely dusty and not caring a bit.
“Solon?” she gasped, reaching for him. “Where are you?”
“Here, lelka—I’m here.” And then the big Monstrum was gathering her into his arms and holding her close to his broad chest.
Abbey broke down completely. Pressing her face to the side of his neck, she sobbed out all the terror and tension she’d been feeling just moments ago. Solon said nothing—he just held her and stroked her trembling back and shoulders, letting her know that everything was all right now. She clung to him and breathed him in, taking his Bonding Scent deep into her lungs—the scent of love and of protection and of safety. The scent that meant she was finally home.
“How?” she managed to get out at last, when her sobs had tapered to sniffles. “How did you know to come to me tonight? Did…did you come over to try and get back together?” she added hopefully.
“I’m afraid not,” he rumbled. “The Goddess warned me you were in danger so I came as soon as I could. I saw your front door standing open, which I knew wasn’t right since you humans always lock your domiciles. Then I heard that male calling for you.” His voice dropped to a growl. “Is he the one who attacked you before? The one your faithful canine saved you from?”
“Yes—the Wheelchair Killer,” Abbey confirmed. “He…he’s killed fifteen women and girls. And he was trying to make me number sixteen,” she added, feeling sick.
