Page 2 of Still Afraid

Chloe gripped Josh’s elbow. “Should we get Poirot from the car?”

Breana asked, “Who?”

“My dog.”

“We don’t allow dogs here.”

“Wait, what?” Chloe’s blood grew warm. “He has to be part of our ceremony.”

“What if he poops inside?”

“He’s not going to do that. He’s a perfect gentleman and properly housebroken too.”

Chloe’s defensive muscles grew taut, causing her head to swirl like the clouds outside.

A window shattered ten feet from them, scattering colorful fragments across the room.

Breana screamed.

A tree limb protruded through the broken window.

All three of their cell phones blared an emergency. Chloe pulled her phone out. Tornado warning!

Breana went ashen as she stared at her own phone.

Chloe rested her hand on Breana’s shoulder. “Is there a shelter? A basement?”

She nodded. “The bathrooms are downstairs along with the kitchen.”

“You two go downstairs, and I’ll grab Poirot.” Josh didn’t see Chloe’s nod. He was already pushing the door open. Through the window, she watched Poirot jump out of the SUV. Had he opened the door on his own? He ran to Josh, struggling against the wind.

A funnel cloud descended from the heavens.

Chloe ran to the door and shoved it open. “JOSH!” The wind nearly ripped it from her hands.

Poirot jumped into Josh’s arms. Though Josh ran toward her, he barely made any progress.

She’d already watched Josh be ripped away from her once before. She couldn’t handle it again, but neither could she peel her eyes from the scene before her. God, please. Please. Please. She couldn’t think straight enough to form a more coherent prayer.

Josh and Poirot reached her and went inside while Chloe tried to close the door.

“Leave it. Downstairs, now.”

She darted to the stairs beside Poirot.

“Breana!” Josh called behind Chloe. The woman stood frozen in place. Josh grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the stairs. “Chloe, go!”

More stained-glass windows shattered, and they rushed down the stairs and into the women’s bathroom.

The storm wailed outside, rattling the entire building around them. Were they safe even in the basement?

Chloe dropped to the floor and wrapped her arms around Poirot. Josh drew her and Poirot back toward the wall and against his chest.

Poirot licked her face as he always did when he could sense she was scared about something.

Josh said, “Breana, sit against the wall.”

With a blank expression, Breana obeyed.