Page 8 of Dark Fey Captive

“Run,” Gwen said softly.

Pivoting, I sprinted back toward the hotel as more infected answered its call. Three infected suddenly ran out of the hotel, aiming to intercept us.

Adrenaline flooded me, helping my legs eat up the distance faster.

Gwen fired the flare gun behind me, and I almost tripped.

She caught my arm, keeping me going.

Behind us, something roared.

It wasn’t an infected.

I’d never heard anything like it before.

Gwen swore and started to outpace me, forcing me to keep up or be left behind. My lungs burned. I kept my gaze on the Marina, searching for our boat.

I couldn’t see it.

Only vast, open water.

Gwen ran past the first dock without slowing. Past the remaining boats. Straight for the last dock. The empty dock.

Water loomed at the end.

I didn’t have my lifejacket on.

Infected called out behind us.

Another monstrous roar.

Infection or water?

It wasn’t even a fair choice. Both would kill me.

I let Gwen pull me off the edge.

The icy waters of Lake Superior engulfed me. My arm slipped from Gwen’s grasp.

Panic warred with the pain of the icy cold. Tipping my head, I looked up toward the light above and watched the growing distance between me and the blurry shape that was moving away.

I sank deeper, lungs burning, fear clawing at me.

I didn’t want to die, but Gwen wasn’t coming back.

She was swimming fast, still running from something.

An arm wrapped around my waist.

Big.

Strong.

Warm.

It pulled me upward toward the light even as everything grew dark.

One thought followed me into oblivion.