Levi nodded, still looking oddly distressed and forced a smile in my direction. "Good luck, Harley."
"Thanks," I responded, hoping my voice sounded more confident than I felt. "I'm sure everything will be fine."
I'm not sure what I was expecting. A smoke-filled room full of stinky candles and crystal balls like the fortune teller tent at the county fair, maybe? Actually, if I was honest, that was exactly what I was expecting. So, when Trevor led me to a cozy kitchen and gestured for me to sit at the dining table while he filled a teapot at the sink, I was more than a little surprised. "We're going to do it here?"
"Sure," Trevor said agreeably. "Like I said, you won't really be sleeping and it usually only takes a few minutes, so.." He trailed off and settled into the chair across from me, stretching his arms out, palms up and waiteduntil I cautiously placed my own on top of his, palms down. "Good. Now, Harley, we are going to close our eyes and then all youhave to do is listen to my voice, okay?"
"Okay." I drew in a deep breath, grateful that the man hadn't commented on the nervous squeak that my voice was reduced to.
"Good. Now, close your eyes and match your breaths to mine."
Trevor inhaled slowly and held the breath. As crazy as it sounds, I swear I could hear him counting to three in my mind before he exhaled and then drew in another.
The darkness in front of my eyelids began to swirl.
Little flecks of light appeared and then burned out.
The darkness shimmered and then I was standing in the center of a forest. The moon was full and tinged red, but the thick canopy overhead filtered out the light, leaving me surrounded in shadows.
The air was thick with a mist that clung to my chilled skin, making me shudder with every faint breeze that drifted by.
There was a sharp, acrid scent wafting on the air and my nose wrinkled against it. In the distance, I could barely make out the outline of a small cottage hidden amongst the trees and I shivered, all but overwhelmed by a cloud of dread that made me want to drop to my knees and weep.
"Harley?" Trevor's calm voice wrapped around me, soothing me. "Are you okay?"
"I..think so," I managed to stutter, swinging around wildly as I tried to find him. "Where are you?"
"I'm right here." A firm hand rested on my shoulder, urging me to turn and meet his concerned gaze. "Can you see me now?"
I nodded, my breaths coming in pants.
"Good. Does any of this look familiar?"
"Yes," I confirmed, too scared to be concerned about the high pitch ofmy voice. "But I don't know why."
"That's okay," Trevor assured me. "You don't have to know anything right now, dear. Can you tell me what you're feeling?"
"Scared," I said immediately.
"Of what?"
"I..I'm not sure," I said slowly. I pointed to the outline of the cottage in the distance. "It's almost like there are waves of evil coming from over there." I drew in a breath, the weight of the soggy air heavy in my chest. "Stupid, right?"
"No, Harley, it's not," Trevor disagreed. "I can feel it, too." He studied the darkness around us curiously. "There is definitely a negative presence."
An angry screech came from the distance, making me think of a wounded animal. I began to shake and started to back away from the danger that I perceived heading my way.
"Harley? Where are you going?"
Words escaping me, I shook my head frantically as a large, hulking form stumbled toward me, its features hidden in the dark.
"What the hellisthat?" Trevor gasped.
"We have to run!" I choked out, grabbing his wrist.
"No. Not yet." Trevor pulled his wrist away and leaned down, picking up a large rock from the ground by his feet. "Here."
"Huh?"
