Athena's Jewel (Aya Harris Collection 2)

I’d be dead by then.

A young couple appeared in front of me. Dinky flashlights hung loosely in their hands, which did a poor job of lighting up a path in front of them. This was the clearest vision yet. I could even make out their features. The girl was brunette with green eyes and freckles. Her companion was athletic with a small gap in his front teeth. They held hands as they walked, staying close together.

“Don’t you dare run off,” the girl scolded with an accent I couldn’t place. Maybe somewhere in the U.K. “I don’t care what Andy wants to do. You are not leaving me with those girls.”

The boy laughed. “Come on, Candy. They’re not that bad. You said you liked Brittney.”

“I said I could possibly like her. That doesn’t mean I want you guys to abandon us tonight for some stupid prank. You know someone will figure out it’s you guys and then you’ll get expelled. Do you really want to miss the season’s last match?”

There was a rustling in the trees to their right. The couple stopped and turned, pointing their useless flashlights into the brush.

“What was that?” Candy asked.

The boy shrugged, moving aside the leaves for a better look. “Andy, if that’s you, give it up. We’re not afraid.”

I had a bad feeling about these woods. They were the kind of woods you’d avoid late at night. The trees were thick and all animal noises had suspiciously disappeared. Someone could get lost in here for days and never find their way out.

A small girl in a white dress appeared in front of the couple, causing all three of us to scream and jump back in fright. The young girl stood there, cocking her head to the side. Her big dark eyes watched the couple without blinking. Long auburn hair framed her pale face, with the top half pulled back into

a cute white bow. From the looks of her lacy knee-length dress, she belonged to a different century.

“Please…” the young girl whispered.

Her thin voice sent shivers down my spine.

The couple stood frozen to the ground. It took a moment for Candy to come to her senses, but when she did, she took a timid step forward.

“Do you need help?” Candy asked.

Her boyfriend shot her a crazy look that must’ve mirrored the expression on my own face.

“Do you need help crossing over?” she continued.

With a groan, her boyfriend pulled her back. “Crossing over? Are you crazy?”

My sentiments exactly.

“Yeah. I used to watch Ghost Whisperer all the time with my mum,” Candy answered, as if that settled it.

The little girl looked back and forth between the couple, a grin growing on her face. It didn’t match her sweet appearance. Her lips curled up at the sides revealing sharpened teeth and a deep black hole where the inside of her mouth should’ve been. A sudden chill permeated the forest, leaving a thin layer of frost on the leaves.

“What the…?” The boy pulled Candy back, protecting her with his arm.

“Please... I need you,” the little girl squeaked.

Gone was the creepy grin. In its place was a demonic scowl that bared her sharp teeth. The little girl lunged at the couple, grabbing the boy by his sleeve. I closed my eyes just as she was lowering her mouth to his jugular, but that didn’t block out the sound of his scream which cut off in an awful gurgle. Candy didn’t get too far. The demon child chased after her and repeated the procedure, claiming two victims in a matter of minutes.

Nausea filled my stomach. I doubled over, again threatening to vomit up the last bit of Ben & Jerry’s I’d stuffed in my mouth during a late rerun of Seinfeld. I knew if I opened my eyes, blood would be everywhere. Even now, I could smell it.

I’d never had a vision this clear before. The chill in the air, the soft breeze through the forest, the scent of the blood. It was as if I was actually standing there beside the two bodies. I wanted out. I needed to get out now.

I thrashed around, begging my body to wake up. My brain couldn’t handle another vision.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared in front of my face. I blinked several times, steeling myself for another vision, but it didn't come. Instead, I found myself staring into the long straight bulb of a fluorescent light.

Turning my head, I came face to face with Ruth, still sitting at her computer. She watched me with an interested stare, as if she couldn't make up her mind about something. The women standing behind her were silent again. I could feel their eyes scanning me.

With a snap of her fingers, Ruth pointed at the nearest harpy with curly brown hair. “You. Send out a team to take care of that evil sprite before those children end up as her supper. Got it?”