Jake glanced at her, his expression troubled. “All right, I'll go. But I want Monica brought out to us. I think we need to witness what happens, as much for your sake as Trevgard's." Michael nodded, then stepped into the shadows and disappeared.
"Damn,” Jake muttered. “How did he do that?"
"He moves fast,” she muttered, although he hadn't. He'd only taken a dozen or so steps and had hesitated, out there in the darkness. She wondered what he sensed. “And the tunnel turns to the right a few yards away. That's why you can't see him."
Jake touched her arm lightly. “Let's head back. The darkness doesn't feel quite as safe without your sinister friend around."
He was right. It didn't. The sense of danger had increased twofold in the few minutes Michael had been gone. The quicker they got out of this tunnel, the better. Nikki rubbed her arms, then turned and followed Jake down the track.
"What's that noise?” Jake said, after a few minutes.
Energy surged in response. She clenched her fists and listened. The wind sighed past them, gathering speed. The ground began to tremble.
"Christ,” Jake continued. “A train!"
She pushed him forward. “The hole's only twenty feet or so away. Head for that." Adrenaline surged, giving her feet wings. The lights swung erratically across the darkness, and for an instant, reflected brightly in a dead blue eye. She slid to a stop.
"Jake, watch out!"
Around her, the night found form. Something grabbed her waist and swung her away into darkness. She screamed, but icy fingers covered her mouth, cutting the sound off. She tasted dirt and death, and bile rose in her throat. Struggling violently, she kicked and punched the creature that held her so tightly. Kinetic energy surged, but before she could release her weapon, something hit her head, and pain exploded.
Evil danced around her. When my creatures bring you to me, I will make you mine . Jasper's thoughts were soft, as if spoken from a great distance.
No! She lashed out blindly with kinetic energy, fighting the strength of the creature holding her. Though wrenched away, another quickly replaced it. Dimly, she felt the warm touch of blood on her cheek, heard a distant scream of anger not her own.
Then nothing but mocking laughter.
Chapter Nine
A slight hiss was all the warning he got. Michael dodged, but not fast enough. The dart hit his forearm, and spread fire through his veins. Silver ... the dart tip was made of silver . Swearing softly, he wrenched it from his arm. The zombies were close, moving down a tunnel that ran parallel to his. Monica was still ahead, still running away.