lly into the room. The floorb

sure. Every step he took toward Alyssa

corner. Her fingers gripped the brass c

ed his own head, letting out a raw

assive fist connecting with

ass ex

room. A sharp piece of glass

lled up, dripping down her skin and so

fresh blood

ent energy radiating from him spiked. He lu

eavy candlestick with all her mi

s large hand shot out and

ap. The pressure was immense

from her numb fingers an

into a chest as hard as stone. The hea

nd a faint metallic scent of gu

injured hand up to punch his shoulde

He scooped her up, throwing her over

Alyssa shrieked,

enter of the room

ttress. A cloud of dust explo

ressed down, pinning her to the bed. His heavy, er

ingering effects of the drug and the

lled the eme

body went completely limp, sinking int

ight of her body m

in his mind seemed to hit a wall. He stared down at her pa

n, his massive hand reached out-not to harm her, but to the inside pocket of his tattered suit jacket. He pulled out a heavy brass key-the master key to the room. He unlocked the main deadbolt, then unfastened the iron chain from

nd seeped through the crack under

en. She gasped, suc

the bed. The room

pounding. The terrif

. The iron chain lay on the floor, a

ed her veins, drowning

or her heels. She pressed her bare feet against t

byrinth of shadows.

running blindly away

she hear

he bright beam of a flashlight swept a

t pa

und frantically. There was nowh

of massive mahogany double

and slipped inside, pulling it shut just as the flas