The Ruby Locket by Anita Higman, Hillary McMullen Page B

clouds had mostly passed on by, but a new kind of storm rumbled inside me.
                  The house is nowhere in sight. I’ve gone too far. I’m utterly lost.
                  And, dear God, I thought I heard that funny sound again. A growl. Only a real one. Behind me. Now.
                  I spun around.
                  The poppies fell out of my hand as I stared through the grass into the eyes of a creature I’d never seen before. The huge dog-like animal was hairless and yellow-eyed. It slowly advanced toward me with an unhinged kind of gait. One bold step. Then two.
                  Every cell of my body screamed one word—run.
                  But I held steady.
                  The beast snarled at me, baring its teeth. This was no ordinary dog. More like a monster. In fact, as I stared into its sickly, sallow eyes, I felt that the creature had surely risen from the farthest corners of hell.
    God, help me.

 
     
    Chapter Sixteen
    Dauphine
     
    W hat to do. Run. Now. No. Back away slowly. Or should I raise my arms in a threatening way?
                  The animal crept closer.
                  My eyes stayed locked onto his. Probably not the right thing to do, but those eyes. Those hideous eyes mesmerized me. Took me in. All but possessed me.
                  I took a slow step back without looking down. Then another. And another.
                  The vile creature flinched, as if preparing to lunge in my direction.
                  A shriek spilled out of me, the sound of it echoing through the surrounding hills.
                  The animal didn’t budge. No scream was going to frighten him off. Running might be my only hope. If only I had a weapon. Even a stick. But I saw nothing to defend myself.
                  I scanned the area for refuge. Nothing. No, wait. I suddenly spotted a small white building peeking out from the trees. A steeple. It must be the chapel Miss Easton had spoken of. The beast walked in such a disjointed way, maybe I could outrun him.
                  If he caught up with me and attacked, one slash with his claws and I’d surely bleed to death before I could get help. Why had I wandered so far?
                  Still unafraid, the creature took one more step toward me. He was getting too close.
                  Run. Now!
                  I took off, racing toward the chapel, tearing through the grasses.
                  The beast chased after me, his guttural panting just behind me. I sped up, but almost stumbled on a stone. Catching myself, I kept sprinting toward the sanctuary.
                  My chest heaved. I gasped for more air. The chapel’s doors. I could see them. If only I could make it.
              I glanced back.
    The animal whipped through the thicket, still just a few paces behind me.
                  Fifty steps. Twenty. Ten. Almost there. Up the steps. Almost there. What if the doors were locked? Please. No! I reached for the handle, pressed the lever, and the door swung open. I was almost pulled inside as if I’d been drawn inward by an unseen hand. I slammed the door shut, the tomb-like sound of it echoing through the building.
                  I held my aching sides as I rested against the doors. Inside. Safe. My heart drummed, nearly beating itself right out of my body.
                  Outside, the beast lunged against the chapel doors, growling and panting and barking out his fury. 
                  The thrashing continued against the wood as I absorbed the battering on the other side. I stepped away. The creature would surely injure himself, bashing and beating itself against the doors.
                  I covered my ears at the infernal pounding. Did Ivan know such a