Dolarhyde said. "I don't think he liked it very much
Fantasy. He's making it up Jesus do I hope. "I've never hurt you, D. I never wanted to. Let's just be friends and fuck and have a good time and forget about this,"
"Shut up," he said calmly. "I'll tell you something. The most important thing you'll ever hear. Sermon-on-the-Mount important. Ten-Commandments important. Got it?"
"Yes, D. I - "
"Shut up. Reba, some remarkable events have happened inBirminghamandAtlanta. Do you know what I'm talking about?"
She shook her head.
"It's been on the news a lot. Two groups of people were changed.Leeds. And Jacobi. The police think they were murdered. Do you know now?"
She started to shake her head. Then she did know and slowly she nodded.
"Do you know what they call the Being that visited those people? You can say."
"The Tooth - "
A hand gripped her face, shutting off the sound.
"Think carefully and answer correctly."
"It's Dragon something. Dragon... Red Dragon."
He was close to her. She could feel his breath on her face.
"I AM THE DRAGON."
Leaping back, driven by the volume and terrible timbre of the voice, she slammed against the headboard.
"The Dragon wants you, Reba. He always has. I didn't want to give you to Him. I did a thing for you today so He couldn't have you. And I was wrong."
This was D., she could talk to D. "Please. Please don't let him have me. You won't, please don't, you wouldn't - I'm for you. Keep me with you. You like me, I know you do."
"I haven't made up my mind yet. Maybe I can't help giving you to Him. I don't know. I'm going to see if you do as I tell you. Will you? Can I depend on you?"
"I'll try. I will try. Don't scare me too much or I can't."
"Get up, Reba. Stand by the bed. Do you know where you are in the room?"
She nodded.
"You know where you are in the house, don't you? You wandered around in the house while I was asleep, didn't you?"
"Asleep?"
"Don't be stupid. When we spent the night here. You went through the house, didn't you? Did you find something odd? Did you take it and show it to somebody? Did you do that, Reba?"
"I just went outside. You were asleep and I went outside. I promise."
"Then you know where the front door is, don't you?"
She nodded.
"Reba, feel on my chest. Bring your hands up slowly."
Try for his eyes?
His thumb and fingers touched lightly on each side of her windpipe. "Don't do what you're thinking, or I'll squeeze. Just feel on my chest. Just at my throat. Feel the key on the chain? Take it off over my head. Careful... that's right. Now I'm going to see if I can trust you. Go close the front door and lock it and bring me back the key. Go ahead. I'll wait right here. Don't try to run. I can catch you.
She held the key in her hand, the chain tapping against her thigh. It was harder navigating in her shoes, but she kept them on. The ticking clock helped.
Rug, then floor, rug again. Loom of the sofa. Go to the right.
What's my best shot? Which? Fool along with him or go for it? Did the others fool along with him? She felt dizzy from deep breathing. Don't be dizzy. Don't be dead.
It depends on whether the door is open. Find out where he is.
"Am I going right?" She knew she was.
"It's about five more steps." The voice was from the bedroom all right.
She felt air on her face. The door was half-open. She kept her body between the door and the voice behind her. She slipped the key in the keyhole below the knob. On the outside.
Now. Through the door fast making herself pull it to and turn the key. Down the ramp, no cane, trying to remember where the van was, running. Running. Into what-a bush-screaming now. Screaming "Help me. Help me. Help me, help me." On gravel running. A truck horn far away. Highway that way, a fast walk and trot and run, fast as she could, veering when she felt grass instead of gravel, zigging down the lane.
Behind her footsteps coming fast and hard, running in the gravel. She stooped and picked up a handful of rocks, waited until he was close and flung them, heard them thump on him.
A shove on the shoulder spun her, a big arm under her chin, around her neck, squeezing, squeezing, blood roared in her ears.