Page 32 of The Night Calling

“Let’s play,” I whispered to her. “Tell me five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear ...”

Minsi didn’t really say anything out loud, but I knew she was following my directions, finding the things, and making note of them in her head. Slowly, her shaking lessened and her sobs stopped.

“Just sleep.” I smoothed my hand down her back. “Don’t worry about anything. You’ll stay in my bedroom with me the rest of the night. I’ll take care of you.”

Minsi snuggled her head into my shoulder and slept.

* * *

I stared at the ceiling.Minsi had been asleep for three hours, maybe a little more. My arm under her head was numb, but I was so afraid of moving and waking her up. At some point, I had reached my nightstand, turned off the lamp, and tried to sleep, but I couldn’t.

I couldn’t do many things.

Like save Minsi, save the pack.

Not by myself.

I had been trying to come up with a plan for a year now, and what had I accomplished so far? A big, fat nothing.

I needed help. We all did. And even if it killed me, someone could help.

Slowly, I rolled Minsi to her side so I could pull my arm from under her. I had promised I would take care of her the rest of the night, and I felt bad because I was about to leave her alone, but I knew she was safe in here. The demons would only come in if there was another attack or if the house was on fire.

I made sure Minsi was comfortable, then I followed the same footsteps as the previous night and exited the house through Shane’s bedroom and over the balcony.

I raced to the rock formation and the fissure as fast and silently as I could.

I slowed down when I saw the fissure illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the trees’ crowns.

“Shane?” I called him, my voice low.

He wasn’t here.

I called again, searching in the fissure, around the rocks, and in the cave.

There was no one here.

Shane had left.

Again.

A pain cut fast and deep through my heart. He had left me behind, and this time I had only myself to blame.