I needed to get beyond the front door, because too many emotions occurred when people came and went, muddying the residual memories. Sure enough, the
ever-changing impressions swirled, and Kelsey’s image disappeared. Struggling
to find her, I worked my way through the front hall until a flash of pale hair behind something big near the living room caught my attention.
I drew closer. Kelsey faced off against a looming figure. Male, judging by the size. I noted the jeans, drab T-shirt, and heavy-soled boots for later reference as I worked my way around. I needed a face, but when I got in position I frowned in confusion. Like a channel just off center, his head and shoulders were
covered by a disturbing blur of static that created a lingering menace.
That was new. Maybe Kelsey’s fear was behind this unusual phenomenon?
Then my heart stopped as he moved his hands in a familiar, lightning-quick
disarm move until the gun was pointed at Kelsey. My emotions spiked,
fracturing my concentration, and the scene wavered. I fought for calm, scared to
lose what little control I held. Everything steadied. I sucked in a breath of relief, but it was too soon.
Kelsey’s emotions crested like a deadly undercurrent. Frantic, I struggled to
gather as much information as I could before it dragged me under. When her shock morphed to anger, it added a desperate edge to her movements. Her self-defense skills were rusty, but she kept him off balance. A quick strike knocked
the gun out of his hand and out of the scene. His efficient counterattack revealed
he was simply playing with her.
Judging by her rapidly encroaching panic, she knew it too. She began to back
away, her lips moving, her fear evident in the white lines around her mouth and
her fists clenched at her sides. The only indicator of her underlying fear were her
sidelong glances for escape.
Even knowing I could change nothing, instinct had me stepping closer so I could reach out and drag her to safety. My hand closed on empty air.
She disappeared.
Frustration boiled, and I spun around, frantic to find her again. Wisps of other memories circled, but I shoved through them. Rubbing at the dull ache in
my temples, the soft brush of forgotten cloth reminded me I still held her shirt.
Bunching it up, I pressed it to my face and dragged her scent into my lungs. Her familiar fragrance wrapped around me and stalled my rising frustration. The minute break gave me a chance to reclaim my focus.
I dropped my hands and looked around. It took precious time to work
through the layers of memories, but I found Kelsey on the floor, her attacker’s hand wrapped around her throat. Her fingers scrabbled at his tanned wrist, leaving behind bloody gouges. A bright red, hand-shaped mark covered one side
of her face, indicating she’d been hit at least once.
My anger joined her panic, increasing the emotional draw exponentially. It seeped through my mental barriers and sent me to a level I rarely experienced.
One where the lines blurred between my reality and the past.
Rough hands tightened around my throat, choking off my air. I clawed at the
phantom grip, as terror soared, buoying me above Kelsey’s emotional waves.
The pressure on my throat disappeared, and I sucked in air as I instinctively lunged for the guy still holding Kelsey to the floor. The sharp pain of my shin meeting the edge of an end table not only shattered the scene but brought me back to the present with the brutal reminder I couldn’t change a thing. All I could do was stand by and helplessly watch the echoes. Swearing on a harsh sob,
I limped around the table trying to recapture the past.
I made it to the counter separating the kitchen and dining room when Kelsey
reappeared. This time her attacker had her against his chest, his arm locked against her throat. Bright blood trickled from the side of her mouth and her lips
were swollen. Still, she continued to struggle.
He leaned in and said something I couldn’t hear.
Her movements stilled, her face whitened, and pure terror turned her eyes a
deep blue. Those terrified eyes locked on to mine and I staggered as I heard Kelsey’s voice whisper through my mind. “Run, Cyn!”
Then they disappeared.
CHAPTER 2
