“Where?Can you give me any details?”
Please,I beg the gods, or my own mind, or whatever the supernatural source of the visions is.Please give me what I need.
The picture comes clearly.“There are four bell towers.A church...”I describe the view.“It’s a family.Mom, dad, four children.Twin toddlers and an older brother.And a little girl.”I saw everything through her eyes.
“All right.”Rex rises.I know he’s headed to his lair and surveillance system.He’s going to search the city, using the details of vision to try and help.If anyone can do it, it’s him.
I both want and don’t want him to go.I’m still half asleep, my heart sick with adrenaline.I’m too afraid to hope.
He pauses beside the bed, turning like he’s attuned to me.“It’s okay, Inara.”He kisses my forehead.“You rest.Call me if you get a vision of anything else.”
“Be careful,” I whisper, but he’s disappearing out the door.
The little girlsleeps curled with Binky, her plush rabbit.The much-beloved toy has one eye missing and matted fur, but to her, it’s the most perfect thing in the world.She dreams of sunshine and playtime in the park.But her nose wrinkles when a gust of air coats her face with smoky heat.
She comes awake with a start.Something is wrong.There’s no shouting, only a soft, strange noise, but it alerts her all the same.She calls for her mom and then her dad.
She’s too afraid to stand up and leave her bed.Her instincts scream at her to run, but she can’t move.
And then the door opens, and a huge figure stands between her and the scary heat in the hall.
She’s too frozen to cry out, but maybe if she doesn’t move, he won’t see her.
But the monster does see her.“It’s okay,” he says, moving toward her.His steps are silent, as if he’s made of shadow.She should be afraid of him, but something tells her he’s a nice monster.
He says, “Your mom and dad are waiting.I’m going to get you out.”
And then she’s in his arms.She’s still wrapped in her favorite yellow blanket and clutching Binky to her chest.Safe.
“Close your eyes,” the shadow monster says, and she does.The heat flares, making her flinch.There’s a roaring sound that swallows up the tinkling of glass breaking before night air is cool on her face.She feels like she’s flying.
And then it’s over.She’s set down on the ground.It’s cold, but she has her blanket.
“Oh my gods,” someone screams.“She’s here.She’s okay.”It’s her mother, crying, “Baby, you okay?”
Her father pulls her into his arms.
She opens her eyes, but there’s no sign of the monster.She turns her head, searching.There he is, slipping into the shadows.Becoming one with the darkness.But she knows he’ll be back if she ever needs help.
“What happened?”Her mother cups her face, drawing her attention back to her parents.Their eyes are wide and frightened, but she doesn’t feel scared.
“It was the monster, Mama.He saved me.”
Inara
I sit huddledin Rex’s office chair.Hamish was here earlier and brought me a mug of tea, but I haven’t touched it.
My eyes are glued to the TV screen where a news reporter is standing outside a burning apartment building.“The building was home to over seven hundred tenants.Preliminary evidence points to an electrical issue that started the fire?—”
I mute the sound.I can’t take it anymore.The camera pans away from the reporter, showing the fire trucks lining the streets.Next to one ambulance, a little girl stands clutching a worn yellow blanket and stuffed animal.My breath catches.It’s her.The girl in my dream.She’s alive.
The door opens and Rex walks in, the silky hair at his temples still sweaty like he just stripped off his protective helmet.He smells like smoke.
I burst into tears.
“Hey,” he says and crouches down, letting me pour myself into his arms.Then we’re seated together, and he’s nuzzling me.“It’s okay.The fire’s almost out.No one was hurt.”
I can’t speak.There’s a pain in my chest, but it’s purging.Rex seems to understand.He strokes my back and lets me cry it out.
