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And then she knew for certain that this was all about timing—about their mutual birthday. Whatever his twisted plan was, it involved both sisters, not just one, otherwise he wouldn’t have taken the time or chance to kidnap them both. The bastard needed both of them to do his sick work, and that gave Zoe some power. The only way to save Chloe was to save herself first.
With a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, Zoe pressed into the forest. The pain in her ankle was crippling and her chances of outru
As she ran, she heard him give chase.
She had a head start because he’d taken the time to put Chloe into his vehicle. Dear God, if Chloe had the brains and the ability, maybe she could drive away and get help! But those thoughts were futile. Chloe was too passive, too introverted, too damned weak to help herself. Chloe was the classic victim. That’s why it’s up to me to save her, Zoe thought as she hobbled through the dark woods.
Closer he came, crashing through the underbrush.
Oh, Jesus!
He was gaining on her!
Over the rush of water and the rasp of her own ragged breathing she heard the pounding of his footsteps, snapping twigs as he rushed forward.
Her heart froze.
Keep moving. Just keep ru
Lunging forward, she brushed branches from her face. Thorns scratched against her bare legs, but she kept moving, plunging through the darkness. Her heart was beating frantically, pulsing in her ears when she heard his breath coming in hard, fast gasps.
So near!
So damned close.
Even though her twin was tied up, she hoped Chloe was using this distraction to try and escape.
Hurry, hurry, hurry!
“It’s no use, bitch,” he said, his voice so close to her she flinched. Oh, God, he was right behind her! Adrenaline spurred her legs faster just as she felt fingernails swipe over her bare shoulder and fall away. “I’ve got you!” His foul stench told her that he was close, inches away. He took another swipe at her, this time grabbing her arm. Zoe leaped, trying to break free of the pincer of his grip. Her shoulder wrenched as she yanked her arm back and his moist hand, sweaty and probably bloody, slipped away.
“Shit!”
The force of evading him sent her airborne. She landed hard, and her ankle gave way. Letting out a groan, she began to roll down a steep hill, her body bumping and sliding over mud and leaves. Picking up speed, she kept traveling down, down . . . away from him. She surrendered to the momentum and let herself tumble like a stone.
Above it all, somewhere beyond her violent descent, she heard the far-off rev of an engine.
Chloe? Oh, God, please. Let her save herself.
Splash!
Zoe slid into the water.
“What the fuck?” the freak cried from the top of the embankment. “Shit!”
As she felt the current tug her downstream, she silently prayed that her twin would get away.
CHAPTER 4
“I t’s happening. It’s happening again!”
Aria
Please, no. “Where are you?” Bria
“Help them.”
“Help who?”
“The others.”
“I don’t know who you mean.”
“The ones like us, silly. Help them,” Aria
With a sickening spasm, Bria
“What?”
“End this, or there will be others.” The wind was picking up, growling over the flat landscape, whipping up sand as it moved. “Their blood will be on your hands.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Oh, you know, Bria
Overhead, the vultures circled again, screeching loudly.
Bria
Tanisha was a friend whom she’d met through the support group Bria
“Hello?” she answered, blinking and trying to shove aside the disturbing images from her nightmare. “Tanisha? Are you okay?”
“No,” was the quick answer. “Not really and I, uh, I know it’s late.”
Bria
“Yeah, yeah, I said I know. But I couldn’t sleep, kept having weird dreams about Allacia. I’m sorry, but I had to talk to someone.”
“No problem,” Bria
“It’s just that I’ve had this weird vibe tonight, like it was happening all over again. You know, the separation thing.” Before Bria
Tanisha believed that in the universe of twins, there was an invisible aura co