Elemental Reality by Cesya Cuono Page B

the prey I was. I booked it out of there, glowing hands and all, and made my way outside. I started to run home, yelling at myself for not being in better shape. If I survived this I would become a firm believer in running for exercise. Hell, I would buy stocks in athletic shoes. My throat burned with each gasping breath, and my muscles ached with each step I took. Intense heat followed behind me, but I was too afraid to turn around. He was following me.

12
    Grave Danger
    “Callista!” Cayden shouted from behind me, his voice a demonic snarl. I peered over my shoulder and saw a tall figure dressed in a black cloak. Its flesh was marred and burned, reminding me of a real life Freddy Krueger. I froze in place, unable to comprehend what I was seeing as it crept closer to me. The voice was Cayden’s, but the face wasn’t. The heat it gave off was atrocious; my skin was on fire. Flames burst from its hands in undulating waves. A scream was stuck in my throat. I needed to move, to will my legs to carry me home and away from this thing. As the heat blistered my skin, I snapped back into reality. I whirled around and slammed into someone. Hands curled around my upper arms, steadying me. I chanced a glance, sighing in relief when I realized it was Oli. I was thrilled to see him but horrified that he too looked terrified.
    “Run home, Kitten,” he ordered, eyes wide. “Don’t stop for anything or anyone. And don’t look back. Go!”
    He gave me a shove in the direction of my house. I took one last look into Oli’s pleading eyes and bolted. I ran as fast as my legs would take me, never stopping or turning back. My legs cramped, and the beginnings of a stitch knotted in my side. Then I saw my house in the distance and hope of safety consumed me. With one last burst of energy, I took off. It was as if wings carried me home. My energy didn’t dwindle until I slammed the front door and dead bolted it behind me.
    Panic rose in my chest, roaring in my ears with the thunder of my pulse. Each beat of my heart pounded behind my ribcage so violently it was about to burst from my chest. Where was Oli? I stared through the peephole and was greeted with a vast, empty yard. Guilt twisted my stomach like it was thrown into a grinder, and I choked back the tears that threatened to overwhelm me. My forehead rested on the door as I tried to steady my breathing. It was working until footsteps sounded behind me. My heart dropped from my chest to my curdled stomach. I whipped around, ready to fight, but stopped when I noticed a very pale Lola.
    Grasping at my heaving chest, I shouted, “You scared the crap out of me.” She looked sick. “Are you okay?” I asked, voice frantic. She seemed to be in shock. I had never seen her like that, and it scared me.
    “I don’t really know if things are okay, Cal,” she said in a quiet, shaky voice. “Oliver was here earlier; he and Dad were talking outside on the patio in hushed voices. All I heard him say was ‘Callie’s in danger,’ and Dad looked like he was about to faint.” My jaw dropped, and Lola continued. “Then Oliver tensed up and took off in a hurry. When I heard you slam the door I thought it was Oliver coming back with you. Did you see him? I tried calling you. Dad’s still outside, maybe we should talk to him?”
    I nodded and followed her outside. What was Oli saying to Dad, and who were they talking about? How did Oli know I was in danger? Did it have to do with our connection? Panicked, terrified, and exhausted, I was sick of everyone hiding stuff from me. My gut said that the “stuff” they were hiding was that Freddy Krueger-like thing.
    Dad sat on a patio chair and stared off into space. He didn’t even notice when we came outside. I closed the sliding glass door and carefully approached him. Lola sneezed one of her thunderous sneezes, and Dad practically came two feet off the chair. When he laid his eyes on me, relief spread across his face. He jumped up and scooped me