Chapter 4

A different sound followed, a sickening, wet tearing.

My hand flew to my mouth, stifling a scream.

Then, silence again. A heavy, terrifying silence.

A faint, coppery smell began to seep under the door.

Blood.

He was strong. Good fight. But clumsy. Brutus' s thought, casual, almost bored.

My legs gave out. I sank to the floor, tears streaming down my face. David.

No.

Footsteps approached my door again. Slow. Dragging.

A knock. Soft.

"Sarah? It's David. Everything's clear. He must have run off."

David' s voice. But it was... wrong. Flat.

I crawled to the peephole, my body shaking uncontrollably.

I saw David' s face. Pale. Eyes glassy, unfocused. A dark stain bloomed on his uniform shirt.

He was propped against the doorframe, a puppet.

She's smarter than I thought. This human puppet isn't working. She can hear me. She knows.

Brutus' s thought came from just behind "David."

He was using David' s body.

A wave of nausea washed over me. The horror of it was absolute.

I scrambled back from the door, a choked sob escaping me.

David. Oh god, David. Chloe' s brother.

He was dead because of me. Because Brutus wanted my skin.

She's crying. Good. Fear will make the prize sweeter.

His thoughts were a torment.

I curled into a ball, pressing my hands over my ears, but it didn't stop the voice in my head.

He was playing with me.

The bookshelf, the locks, they meant nothing to him. He could break through anytime.

He was waiting. Enjoying this.

My phone vibrated in my hand. A message from Mark.

Project wrapped early! Surprise! On my way home. See you in an hour. Love you!

An hour.

Mark was walking into a nightmare.