But each mattered.
As he put the fistful of bones on the tarp, he heard it. Something echoed across the lake.
It was a single word, and it sounded like it was caught up in the wind.
And it made no sense.
‘Revenge.’
Looking around, Michael was confused. There was no one there but him, so he wasn’t sure where it had come from. On top of that, it sounded…
Ominous.
Before he could react, goosebumps crisscrossed his body beneath the wetsuit.
Oh, and it got far worse.
That’s when he felt it.
Something wrapped around his ankle, and began pulling him down deeper into the water. It was a slow pull, but he wasn’t able to fight it.
He had just enough time to scream, and then, gasp for one last breath.
As it pulled him down, he looked at his feet, and saw a bony hand wrapped around his ankle.
It startled him so much so that some of his air escaped in bubbles from his lips.
All around him, there was sick laughter, and he could hear that too.
And now, he understood what Finn had meant. He’d been wrong to think Gabby had imagined it.
There was something evil down here, and now it had him in its grasp.
There would be no talking to Graham.
In fact, he’d never get to resolve anything because Graham would likely be the one who had to have the lake dredged for his dead body.
This was now going to be his watery grave too.
The castle wasn’t the only thing haunted.
The lake was too.
Michael Graves came here to heal, and instead, he was going to die.
* * * The Ravensmire Castle * * *
Five Minutes Earlier
The Castle
The Master’s Suite
When Graham opened his eyes, the room smelled like him. For the longest time in the last seven years, he’d not been able to remember that scent, and now, he could.
All around him, he could pick up the scent that had been D’Artangnan.
Yeah, he’d recognize it anywhere.
