Page 56 of Mystery in the Mountains

She threw off the covers and set off down the stairs.

“Sunny, are you okay?”

She made her way in the living room and turned off the radio.

“Was it a dream?”

She nodded before collapsing on the couch.

He came right to her side and sat with his hands on her knee. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She nodded. “It was the same dream I’ve been having.”

“About the accident?”

She nodded again. “This time, I was walking through the woods, and there was a heavy fog in the air, but as I came to the bend, I saw that it wasn’t fog. It was smoke. It was as if everything was paused, and I could see the car about to drive off the road. But I could see a big black truck running the car right off the road. But then I saw these big red eyes glowing in the distance. The moment I saw them, it was as if I felt its gaze turn on me. Then everything picked up speed, and the truck ran the car into the ditch before it went up in flames, all while the red eyes watched in the distance.”

Asher rubbed her knee.

“Then I woke up coughing from the smoke, and that damn song was playing again.”

“We don’t speak ill of Loretta Lynn in these parts, you know that.”

“I know,” she said, holding her hands up in a defensive gesture. “It’s just that radio keeps playing that song.”

Asher cocked his head, assuming it was an electrical short. “What do you mean?”

“That is the second time I’ve woken up after a dream to the radio blaring that song. It did it after I got the vision when I was in my mother’s parlor, too.”

“Hmmmm. That is strange.”

“I know . . . It’s like the house is trying to tell me something.”

“This house has always been a bit strange,” he said, giving her hand a small squeeze.

“I know, but it’s even worse than it used to be. It’s like it wants me to pick up where my dad left off. I don’t know why, but that scares me.”

“I’m here with you. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he said as he pulled her in close for a hug, kissing the top of her head.

At that moment, a creaking door flung open and hit a wall upstairs.

Sunny’s eyes got big as panic overtook her features again.

Asher was off in a flash, taking the stairs two at a time.

How could an intruder have gotten in?

But he didn’t find anyone or sense anyone . . .

“Ummm . . . Sunny,” he called as she climbed the stairs.

“What was it?”

“Didn’t you say this door was locked?”

She climbed the stairs and cocked her head. “Yeah, I couldn’t get into that room, and the last time I tried, that song played again.”

“What is going on with your house?”

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