Page 63 of Cole: Bloodlines
He pivoted left at the whisper of movement—a sound like fabric dragging across wet stone—and leveled the gun at the darkness, squinting until his eyes watered. Something massive shifted in the inky blackness twenty feet ahead, a deeper shadow within shadow. Cole's spine locked rigidly, his boots grinding against the grit-covered concrete as he widened his stance. Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades, cold as ice water.
The thing moved again—an enormous silhouette stretching upward to an almost unbelievable height, its hooded head nearly brushing the low, rusted pipes overhead.
“Come.”A single word, low, rumbling—like thunder rolling through the heavens. But this thing didn’t look like something from the celestial realm. As it turned away, Cole caught sight of broad, unnaturally wide shoulders beneath torn fabric, moving with the smooth, predatory grace despite its size. A piercing high-pitched giggle—eerie and chilling—echoed through the foul air, crawling across Cole's neck like icy spider legs, raising gooseflesh down his arms.
What the fuck was that?
“Cole?” Gabe's voice, barely a breath from the doorway. “What is it?”
I have no fucking idea.
“I'm... not sure,” Cole mumbled, eyes still fixed on the monstrous figure in the shadows… beckoning them to follow. He glanced back at Gabe. “Come on.”
Gabe stepped from the room. It took him a moment to notice the monstrosity in the darkness. He froze. “What…”
“It wants us to follow it,” Cole murmured, keeping a tight grip on the gun.
“Why?”
Cole shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Neither man was quick to move.
“I think…” Cole swallowed. “… if it wanted to kill us… we would probably be dead already.”
Somethingchitteredin the darkness—aclackingsound… liketeethclicking. Ice crystals formed in Cole’s blood. Was it coming from the shadow beast? Something in his gut said it wasn’t.
“What the hell…?” Gabe whispered tightly. “Did you hear that?”
Cole nodded, holding his weapon half-raised. He took a step down the corridor.
Gabe grabbed his arm. “Cole…”
“We have no idea where to start looking,” Cole said quietly. “Maybe…” He glanced down the dark corridor. “Maybe… it will lead us somewhere.”
Gabe eased his grip, and the two men followed the giant at a respectable distance, maintaining enough space between them in the event the thing suddenly turned on them.
Well into the dark void, somethingthumped—like someone jumping down onto the floor. Cole and Gabe halted, and Cole raised the gun higher, squinting into the darkness. Goosebumps sprinkled his arms, causing the hair to stand on end as something moved through the shadows, teeth clacking.
“What the fuck is that?” Gabe whispered with a notable edge.
Cole shook his head, squeezing the gun's handle, and eyed the darkness.
“Come… come…”something tittered at them. It wasn’t the same rumbling voice as before.“Are you friends of the pretty baby?”
Whatever was speaking to them was close, weaving back and forth in front of them in the dark.
“Pretty baby with the pretty name,”it cooed, falling into a creepy, sing-song tone.“Savanna… Savannah…”
Both men froze. Cole leveled the weapon, heart pounding. “What did you say?” His throat quivered. “Do you… Do you know where she is? Is she hurt?”
The thing tittered again.“Pretty baby is hiding.”
“Where?” Cole insisted tightly. “Whereis she?”
“Come, come.”
Was this…thing… and its monstrous companion leading them to Savannah?
