Darkness Fading

Chapter One [Revised 2.13.16]

***Hello! This book is my baby and I'm trying to make it as engaging as possible. Please comment what you think! I'm open to suggestions and would love to hear what you like or don't like about it!!***

"Turn back, turn back, thou pretty bride,
Within this house thou must not abide.
For here do evil things betide."
-The Brothers Grimm

The wind howled a dark tune as I watched the tall figure stalk along the perimeter of Sarah Marshall's house. When he reached the back door, he slammed his elbow into the glass pane, the splintering crack echoing in time with the wind's song. His arm slipped through the biting hole and the door swung open. He disappeared into the sleeping house.

I cursed as I stepped back from my window and grabbed my home phone. My fingers raced across the well-worn buttons.

"Evie?" James answered, on the first ring.

"You were right. Someone is breaking into Sarah's house and I need you to get here as soon as you can. I couldn't get a clear shot. I shouldn't have sent you out this late. I'm so sorry."

"I'm already heading your way. Don't do anything stupid, Eves. We agreed to do this together. Damnit, pretty girl. I had a feeling he'd come tonight." Smack. I heard him slam his hands onto the steering wheel.

"I need you to stay in the house and lock yourself in your room. I'll be there soon," he finished.

James Wilks, my best friend and co-owner of our business, Eternal Moon Investigations, had more experience with confrontation than I did. I was more brains, while James was more muscle.

After the line went dead, I crept back over to the open window and slowly peeked through the curtains. I aimed my .45, just in case. At first, Sarah's yard looked peaceful, her perfectly manicured lawn lit by the dim glow of the moon. Ruining the image, I recognized the form of the intruder through her window. No one is home, asshole. I aimed my gun for his chest, my finger itching to pull the trigger.

A crash exploded from somewhere inside my own house. I sucked in a breath. Without hesitation, I rushed toward my bookshelf. I placed my thumb on the hidden fingerprint scanner, waiting 3 seconds. The entire shelf soundlessly cracked open. I wasted no time slipping inside the secret room while pulling the shelf closed behind me. The lock clicked into place. I let out a relieved sigh and leaned my forehead on the cold steel door.

After I bolted and secured three more manual locks, I flipped the tiny silver safety and holstered the handgun on my hip. I grabbed my cellphone from the large oak desk and dialed James, again.

"Don't come back to the house! Someone is in here," I whispered.

"Where are you? Are you armed? Please tell me you are in that room Evie!" James whisper-yelled back, as if he was the one who needed to be quiet.

"Of course I'm in the room. I have my gun on me." I glanced around the small room, my gaze landing on the weapon rack to my left. Finding nothing better than my gun, I turned and began turning on the six wall mounted surveillance monitors above the desk.

"Can you see anything?"

"I'm turning on the monitors now. I need to focus. Just don't come back until I tell you to."

The monitors flicked on. I sat down and studied each room on the surveillance cameras. The living room was clear but in the middle of the kitchen was my backdoor. It was completely ripped from the hinges. The hallway and two guest bedrooms were empty.

My gaze landed on my own bedroom last. A man stood still next to my unmade bed with his back to the camera. He was dressed head to toe in black, his tall muscular form evident through his clothes. He had my pillow pressed against his face. Gross.