Authors: Robert J. Crane

Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Genre Fiction, #Horror, #Dark Fantasy, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Paranormal & Urban

Unearthed (59 page)

BOOK: Unearthed

7.91Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

Read Book Download Book

ads

Hendricks closed the door and listened to it slam shut with a desperate finality. He had a sour taste in his mouth, felt the urge to brush his teeth, but he just stood there in front of the door, in the dark, and felt the tingling of fear cause him to sweat.

This wasn’t like him. This wasn’t like him at all. He tossed his bag to the side to let the thump reassure him. It didn’t do any such thing; it almost made him jump out of his skin in the darkness.

Hendricks fought his way to the lamp by the window, reached for the little knob under the bulb, felt the ridges of it between his fingers as he turned it. It snapped on, casting the room in orange shades, painting a very familiar picture composed of dull taupe, and one very obvious disparity of red.

Red?

He turned and looked, and there she was, flaming hair flowing down, standing in front of his door with those dusky eyes.

“Guess I should have expected this,” he said, navigating past her as he circled the bed. He kicked off his boots, tired of feeling them on his feet. He pulled off his hat and left it on the dresser upside down so as not to fuck with the brim. He peeled off his drover coat and threw it on the bed, then stood there, arms folded over his chest. “Or should I not have? I can never tell what you want anymore.”

“I want to help,” Starling said, staring right at him.

“Then stop feeding me bullshit,” Hendricks said, and he couldn’t keep the anger out of his voice. “Stop pushing me in the directions you want me to go. Stop—” He cut himself off before he could launch into a furious tirade.

Starling stood there, stock still, and then said, softly, “I don’t mean to push you.”

“Then … fucking tell me something,” Hendricks said. “Tell me anything. Stop holding back, being mysterious, sitting there vague and fucking superior, alluding to me not being ready. Just … treat me like an adult in this, for once.” He felt his hand come up, run over his whole face. “Just … I don’t know … I’ve done what you asked.” He turned his eyes on her, watched her cock her head at him quizzically. “Deal me in, will you? I didn’t chase after Kitty Elizabeth, even though part of me wanted to. I stayed. Just … tell me what the endgame is. Tell me what I have to do … to save this town.”

“Why do you care about saving this town?” Starling asked, and she seemed genuine.

“Because if Midian falls …” Hendricks said, shaking his head, “you said the world follows.”

“Your world fell long ago.”

“The world’s still here,” Hendricks said.

“Not this world,” Starling said quietly. “
Your
world. Your world died in a place called New Orleans.”

Hendricks stared at her, trying to contain his surprise. He didn’t figure he did a very good job, but he answered as soon as he got ahold of himself. “Just because mine did, it doesn’t mean everyone else’s has to.” He shook his head. “I need to … to stop it. It’s … the only thing I think I can do anymore. Fight.”

Starling took a step toward him, then another. He didn’t back away. Her hand came up slowly, carefully, and touched his cheek with a gentleness that he wouldn’t have expected from a girl who could punch a demon so hard. Her fingers were silken, soft, and they caressed up to his ear, where they grabbed tight, and he flinched from the pain—

—sweet fucking Christ, the pain—

—the fires, roaring, raging—

—the earth opening, cracking, ripping asunder—

—the skies blazing, clouds spinning, tornadoes descending from red above—

—flood waters raging terrible over dry, cracked ground—

—plague, famine, war—

—screaming—

—agony—

—fear—

Death.

It all flashed through Lafayette Hendricks’s head in an instant, and yet an infinity. He stood there for a moment, staring into those dark eyes, and for a moment he saw light, and then it was gone. His knees felt weak, betrayed him, and he tipped over, falling—

She caught him in her arms and lowered him to the bed. It felt soft under his head, under his back. She felt soft, too.

“Damn,” he whispered, and his mind was spinning.

The end of the world really was coming.

Return to Midian in

LEGION

Southern Watch

Book 5

Coming Late 2015!

Usually, this is the part where I talk a little about what you just read, but I doubt anyone really wants to talk about what you just read, so let's move on.

If by strange chance you want to know when future books become available, take sixty seconds and sign up for my NEW RELEASE EMAIL ALERTS by
CLICKING HERE
. Don't let the caps lock scare you; I don't sell your information and I only send out emails when I have a new book out. The reason you should sign up for this is because I don't like to set release dates (it's this whole thing, you can find an answer on my website in the FAQ section), and even if you're following me on Facebook (
robertJcrane (Author)
) or Twitter (
@robertJcrane
), it's easy to miss my book announcements because…well, because social media is an imprecise thing.

Come join the Girl in the Box discussion on my website:
http://www.robertjcrane.com
!

Cheers (or apologies; whichever, really),

Robert J. Crane

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/APOLOGIES

I owe the following people what I would normally call my thanks, but in this case I think I'll just say I'm sorry to them.

Jerod Heck and David Leach for being first readers on this one.

Sarah Barbour, who probably learned more in the editing of this manuscript than she ever wanted to know, and whose soul I am destroying one book at a time.

Jeff Bryan I can just thank, because he doesn't have a soul to destroy.

Jo Evans, who thankfully made it out of this one relatively unscathed. It was touch and go there for a while, though, I'm sure.

Karri Klawiter made the cover once more; a beautiful cover for a horrifying book.

Polgarus Studio once again for formatting in a flash.

I want to thank my family, none of whom will read this book (I hope) except for my mom. Sorry, mom.

Finally, to my loyal readers, I want to say sor…ah, who am I kidding? If you've been with me since Omega, you guys are either immune to my crazy or you actually enjoy this pain. Either way, I'm thankful but not sorry. See you next round, you nutters.

About the Author

Robert J. Crane is kind of an a-hole. Still, if you want to contact him:

Website:
http://www.robertjcrane.com

Facebook Page:
robertJcrane (Author)

Twitter:
@robertJcrane

Email:
[email protected]

Other Works by Robert J. Crane

The Sanctuary Series

Epic Fantasy

Defender: The Sanctuary Series, Volume One

Avenger: The Sanctuary Series, Volume Two

Champion: The Sanctuary Series, Volume Three