Page 17 of Caution

I backed away, chest on the verge of caving in with every attempt to catch my breath, to calm myself.

I didn’t even want to think about what might happen if they got through that door.

Whenthey got through that door.

My consideration wasn’t the determining factor here, reality would be. And with a whole crowd of people trying to get through that door, the outcome was clear.

I got close enough to the door again to flip the light switch beside it, intending to search the room for something,anythingI could use to fight.

It was a supply room.

With a door that led outside.

My heart leapt with hope as I launched myself at that door, unlocking it to step boldly into the night.

I still had no idea where I was, but being in the openhadto be better than the confines of that bar.

At least, I thought so, just before I poised myself to take off running.

BeforeI realized I wasn’t alone outside.

“Hi, Sharon.”

Sharon?

Oh, shit.

In front of me, Daveed smiled, showing off a mouth full of sharp, jagged teeth.

He was several feet back, but not alone.

He was accompanied by more of those cloaked figures in black.

Manymore.

And they were all coming at me.

Much faster than should’ve been possible, just like that night on the trail.

I couldn’t move that fast. Hell, I’d barely had a moment to think and they were already just inches away from me, all red-rimmed eyes and pale beige skin and sharp teeth and black claws.

“No!” I shrieked, throwing up my hands to shield myself from impending attack. I closed my eyes, braced for the inevitable—the ripping of my flesh, the pain, the blood…

… death.

None of that came.

I peeled my eyes open to find myself alone in the alley, mounds of dark clothes the only evidence that anyone—anything—else had been there.

I rushed back inside and closed the door.

Locked it.

Took in the sound of the crowd on the other side still trying to get in.

What the fuck is happening?

Across the room, the distinct splintering of wood caught my attention.

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