Chapter 27: Open

Another snarl sounded in her ear. The air whooshed beside her from a missed swipe at her face and her heart leapt into her throat. Legs wobbled from the pressure of pushing their limits; it was after her and it wouldn't stop until she was caught.

In the next moment, the world was ripped out from underneath her. Body weightless, she fell forward and into a mouth full of extra sharp teeth.

***

Limbs stiff; weighed down by paralysis, she struggled to open her eyes. She willed herself to move, to not fall asleep again. She wanted to scream.

Hands touched her arms with a gentle squeeze, and she was lifted into an upright position. The solace of an embrace eased her eyes open and calmed her spirit. They stayed that way for a while on account of her squeezing back whenever the hold attempted to loosen–it made Victor laugh.

"I'm not going anywhere right now. I promise," he said, caressing her face.

With a short nod she let go and looked around. She was back in her bedroom, but there was