Page 22 of Michael
Rafa clicks his teeth in contemplation. With a tone full of mischief, he answers, “I don’t think you’ll want to...”
I throw him a knowing look. “You’re going to the DeLux Café, aren’t you?” I’m almost afraid to ask.
He remains silent.
“Rafa?” I insist.
Rafa purses his lips and gives me an innocent shrug. “Maybe,” he says with a wicked grin.
I let out an exasperated breath. “It’s not even a Wednesday.”
My brother shrugs and gives me a knowing smile. “Don’t worry, Mikey,” he says with a sly chuckle. He stands up, stretching his tall frame in the process.
I laugh despite myself. “You’re sure you don’t need any help? I can come with you if you want.”
Rafa shakes his head and chuckles again. “No, thanks, big bro. You should stay here and enjoy your dinner.” He winks at me before walking towards the door. “Don’t get into trouble while I’m away? I’d hate to miss out on any action.”
I give him the thumbs-up and reply with mock seriousness, “I won’t if you don’t.” Then I quirk up an eyebrow and add in a playful tone, “Just so you know, I won’t tell Uri you’re hanging out with demons and old gods.”
Rafa stares at me for several long seconds. “Man, I must have done something good to deserve a brother like you.” He pauses. “And if that motherfucker calls, you tell himeverything. I want him to lose his shit. The fucker denied me my vacays!” With that, he waves goodbye and leaves the house on his secret mission.
Alone again in my home, all sorts of questions race through my mind: what kind of trouble is Rafa getting himself into? Why does he feel the need to keep secrets from us? How will they catch the dark monster that’s causing havoc in our hospital? The only thing that brings me comfort is knowing that I’ll be there to watch over it all no matter what happens next... and then there’s Amanda.
CHAPTER13
Amanda
I shufflemy feet across the asphalt, the cold evening air seeping through my jeans and into my bones. When I reach the building’s back entrance, my eyes dart around the clinic’s deserted parking lot, taking in the contrast of inky darkness and the white glow of a distant streetlight.
With no time to lose, I swipe the keycard and the door clicks open. As I peer into the dark basement, a dim light flickers at the end of a long, narrow corridor. I brace myself and tiptoe in, hands trembling, feeling like a detective in a horror movie. My mission is to catch a twelve-inch cat-like creature that seems harmless but is proven to be a lethal predator. I invariably think of Richard, with his sexy exterior and his malicious nature, and can’t help but smirk.
I dive into the darkness, careful not to step on the kodi’s tail, which could trigger a fit and send the creature into a frenzy.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” I whisper, setting the trap cage on the floor. And although I do it with the utmost care, the trapdoor shakes and rattles, setting off a loud clang that echoes in the darkened hallway.
Gooseflesh shoots up my arms.
I grab the kennel fast, silencing the noise, when out of the corner of my eye I notice scratches on the wall. Slowly, I straighten and follow the marks along the wall, which lead to the end of the hallway. As I struggle to remain calm, the light above me keeps buzzing and flashing, igniting my anxiety.
To my right, I find a set of double doors, which I push open, stepping through the threshold into a spacious room. I immediately wish I brought a flashlight with me because the deeper I wander into this maze, the darker it gets.
I turn the cellphone’s light on and continue the search for the kodi’s trail. By the time I’m all but groveling, I start to question my reasons for being in a hospital basement in the middle of the night, alone, hunting a demon’s vicious pet—the basic elements of a horror film.
The path ahead of me leads to a broken door, slightly hanging off its hinges. Fresh blood stains the lower part of the frame. I gasp in dread and my heart races. I crouch by the door, unsure whether I’m ready to confront whatever is on the other side. Although I’ve read about kodies, I’ve never actuallyseenone before. But if César Millán can train a wild pup, then why can’t I manage to catch a kodi? That’s what I’m hoping.
“You should be resting,” a smoky voice says.
The blood in my veins freezes. Slowly, I look over my shoulder, and I can just glimpse a pair of tactical boots in the doorway before my phone’s light starts flickering, and finally goes off.
Shit. The battery’s dead.
A heavy, oppressive silence fills the room, broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. But there’s something else in the air. Something strange and unfamiliar. The fluttering of feathers—soft, like those of a dove.
I jolt in surprise as the emergency lights abruptly switch on and cover the room in a sapphire glow. I immediately spin around to face whoever’s behind me.
“Holy fuck!” I cry, my limbs all but wobbling as I collapse against the wall. Thank the gods I’m wearing a splint. Otherwise, I could’ve wrecked my already-ruined wrist. “You scared the shit out of me, Michael!”
“Sorry about that,” he says, offering to help me on my feet.
