Page 72 of The Harbinger

“Nyet.”

I jumped back with a startled shriek, my hands pinned to my chest.

Catherine stood behind me with a hand-held shovel in her hands.

“You people walk like the dead,” I mumbled.

She bent over, ignoring my comment, and moved me out of the way—In quick sharp movements, she undid all my work with a grumble under her breath.

Okay… I guess this wasn’t my garden plot after all.

Catherine dropped the rose sticks along the back, and my skin started to crawl. Beads of sweat formed over my brow, and my stomach twisted as she lined the orange and red flowers in the front, their colors alternating.

By the time she’d finished demolishing my garden and then up and disappeared without a word, my heart shook in my chest as the dogs took up their barking.

I shot a look over my shoulder as the hairs on my neck raised.Was someone watching me?

My shaking hands gripped the rose stick, pulled it from the back, and placed it in the center where I’d had it along with the flowers.

By the time I’d finished, my back ached with tense muscles, grime had found its way under my fingernails, and the fine hairs on my neck still stood at attention.

But I’d looked over my shoulder more than once. There was no one there. Katya hadn’t come out, Catherine was long gone, the dogs hadn’t stopped their incessant barking, and Sacha… he hadn’t been here for days.

My relaxing break turned into internalized chaos.

What was Sacha doing?

Where did they house the dogs?

Would he get mad if I went back to the horses?

And how would I convince Chef Francesco to make hamburgers and fries?

He wasn’t here…

Woof.

Woof.

I tossed my small rake down and stood from my fixed garden plot, swiping dirt particles off my hands.

Wasn’t anyone going to shut them up?

I paced back and forth, my feet kicking up dirt, then glancing towards the sound of those dogs.

Why were they barking?

Woof.

Woof.

“Gah.“ I pivoted, damning the consequences, and walked towards them.

I crept up to the edge of the woods, sunlight slicing through the trees. Snarls and barks ripped through the air, closer now. Ahead, the shapes of dogs shifted in and out of view, my heart pounding harder with every step forward. Terror raced through me, yet I couldn’t keep myself from going further.

Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted Sacha’s window as if drawn to it. A chill raced through me when the curtains stirred, and two eyes locked onto me like a glinting blade.

Was Sacha home, holed up in his room?