by Karina Banks
Publication date: September 22nd 2023
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult
There are two main things I’ve learned since my life turned upside down. The first is, if you speak of someone’s death before it happens, you’ll be blamed for murder. The second? If the hottest guy you’ve ever seen kisses you, and thanks you for saving his life, don’t argue.
I watched him die, over and over. So many times. The vision is always the same and there is never one damn thing I can do to save him. I don’t know why I can’t dream about normal things, like going to school naked, or spiders. I hate spiders. No, I’m lucky enough to see strangers at the moments of their deaths.
The only thing keeping me sane is knowing the visions aren’t real.
Until the accident. The blood. He dies in my arms.
At least, I thought he did. But now he’s here, telling me I saved his life. Telling me unbelievable stories about monsters and gods and destiny. Promising to protect me.
If none of this is real, why am I afraid of the creatures hunting me? And if I saved his life, why are the nightmares back, stronger than ever? What is this thing lurking inside me, eager to strike?
I don’t know, but I’m freaking out.
I’m afraid what I think is real, isn’t. And what I know is not, just might be.
Excerpt 1
The creature’s eyes dart back and
forth between me and Ryker, as if taking its time, contemplating who to kill
first. Ryker takes advantage of its hesitation, shoving me away. “Dani, go!
Run!” The command is raw and guttural, impossible to ignore.
I take off, running as fast as I can toward the school.
Adrenaline rushes through my bloodstream like a bomb went off inside me. There
is no thinking. I have tunnel vision. All I see is the grass in front of my
feet. The door that leads to sanctuary inside the school building. All I hear
is blood pounding inside my skull and the rush of air as it bursts in and out
of my lungs. It’s as if I’m breathing fire.
I’m halfway there. He said he’d be right behind me. I
can’t hear him. Where is he?
I risk a glance back, over my shoulder. I expected him to
follow. When I look behind me, I see he’s still staring the creature down. He
has a dagger in one hand and he is slowly circling the monster, waiting for it
to strike.
Shit. What is he thinking? Is he trying to buy me time? I
don’t need more time. I’m almost there. Worse, that thing huge, easily the size
of four large men. Maybe it is, because I count eight legs sticking out of the
goo.
I slow to a jog, then stop, turning completely to watch
him and the creature pace one another. As Ryker did with me, with each step
he’s moving just enough not to incite an immediate attack, but positioning
himself for a straight shot away, toward the school’s garden.
No. Oh, God. Shit.
I know how this ends. I just saw it. There are more of
them, in the garden. Waiting. An ambush. They are here to kill him. Why? Why?
Why?
I sprint toward him, away from the school. Away from
safety. I can’t allow him to run for the garden. More of those things are
waiting. They’ll gut him. Cut him open. He’ll bleed out, blood soaking the
gravel path. Just like my vision. No. No. No.
“Ryker! Run! They’re in the garden! It’s a trap! It’s a
trap!”
I scream at him, my legs pumping as fast as I can make
them go, faster than any track meet or workout I’ve ever run. A terrified part
of me knows it’s not fast enough.
I push my muscles to their limit, trying to reach him in
time. I don’t know what I can possibly do to help him against that thing, but
two is better than one. It has to be. We’ll run for the woods. Anywhere but
that fucking garden. Literally anywhere.
“Dani, no! Get back!”
“The garden! It’s a trap!” I sprint, my gaze dropping to
the abandoned high heels shoes on the grass. The four inch points aren’t
exactly one of my grandad’s shotguns, but they’re better than nothing. That
thing has eyes, doesn’t it?
I’m forty meters away when the creature lunges at Ryker.
He is looking at me, yelling at me to run.
My heart stops dead in my chest. I yell out a warning,
but it’s too late.
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