Return to Ashes (Cassie Quinn Book 8) by L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought

Author:L.T. Ryan & K.M. Rought [Ryan, L.T. & Rought, K.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liquid Mind Media
Published: 2024-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

24

If Cassie had any delusion of feeling rested by the time the sun peeked over the horizon, it was cast away with the latest version of her recurring nightmare. The hallmarks of the dream were all there, from the swirling fog, the faint breeze, and the weight of an invisible hand on her throat to the goosebumps that raced along her skin. Dirt and rain mixed with smoke to ground her in the present, but this time, she also caught a faint whiff of violets.

Having conscious thoughts during a dream was a surreal experience. She at once knew this wasn’t real yet could do nothing to stop it from unfolding in front of her. The ability to analyze the nightmare in real-time was useful, but she couldn’t stop frustration from building in her chest like a can of Coke that had been shaken too many times. The release never came, and all she could do was sit back and watch.

Footsteps indicated it was time for the figure to approach, lit from the back until it was just a silhouette amidst the haze surrounding her. From behind, a trickle of sensation announced the second figure. An unseen force turned her on the spot, and for the first time in over thirty days, something changed.

Instead of seeing the figure retreat into the fog, she came face to face with Chris, frozen as if he were a mere snapshot. Around his shoulders was a black cloud, distinct from the fog that filled her dreamscape. This had a weight to it, viscous and ethereal, like a being who could manipulate their cells to become incorporeal. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Cassie dredged up the name Maxine Abrahms.

As shocked as she was at the deviation in her nightmare, Cassie’s attention was drawn to the red blossoming across Chris’ chest. His eyes were wide with shock and pain and regret, his mouth open in a silent scream. It held for one second, two, three—and then the cloud disappeared in the blink of an eye. Like hitting the fast-forward button on a movie, Chris was pulled backward in double time, his hand reaching out for her like it had so many times before.

Jerked around to face forward again, Cassie’s gaze locked on the raised gun and the finger that lay against the trigger. Head swirling with the visual of Chris’ death, she didn’t have time to think about looking up to the person’s face to see if she could identify them before the sound of a gunshot woke her from her nightmare.

Cold dread invaded every cell of her body, but just like last time, she was unable to move. Unable to shiver against the ice that formed in her veins. She willed her arms and legs to stir, but it was like they belonged to someone else, not bothering to heed her commands. Tears formed in her eyes, but she couldn’t blink them away. A soft whimper escaped her mouth—the only rebellion she could muster against the weight that kept her body in place.

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