Death Sleep ~ Book Three

seven.

Lance was crushed by the idea that his daughter might come back and put herself back in danger. No advancements had been made to figure out how to get him out of this, and he didn't think it ever would happen. How long had it truly been? How old was she? She looked around fifteen or sixteen. Had it been that long? Did he really miss out on her entire childhood?

The stress and time was beginning to punch holes in Lance. His protective bubble was getting thinner and in some places there were pinholes developing. He couldn't do this anymore. His entire life, gone. What has his wife had to go through? Knowing that her husband was alive and raising their daughter alone? What had he done to her? He just couldn't hold it together much longer.

The next time Liza came, Lance was little more prepared than he was before. He felt her perch next to the wall and probe it. He tried to move to go and reach out his hand to let her in again and found that he wasn't able. He watched the shadow on the other side of the barrier as it searched for a hole. Finding it, he saw his daughter push her way through.

It wasn't any darker than usual, but she looked as though she couldn't see. Fear played across her face and then resolve. He tried shouting at her, but nothing came out. His arms were glued to his sides. A door appeared leading to the other side of the barrier. Frantic, he tried again and again to scream to her to stop. But all he could do is watch as she hesitantly touched the door and pushed through.

The door lit up and he was now able to see through the barrier into the world his daughter had stepped into. She was squinting, it must be very bright in there. Suddenly, out of the floor, Baxter slid up and put his mouth close to her ear. She jumped and turned.

"Where's my father?"

He tried again to scream out to her, but his voice was useless. How was this happening? Why couldn't he punch through it?

"He's around. I regret to inform you that he will not be joining us today."

"What have you done with him?"

"Nothing. Well, a little something. See, I couldn't have him stopping you when you reached his barrier. His defenses are weakening, you see, and I am able to overpower him on occasion, when I desire to do so. And I desired it, when I felt your presence again."

Numbly, Lance could only watch as Baxter circled Liza like a hawk.

"He was there?" she asked faintly.

He nodded and took a step closer.

"Forget your tether?"

Lance panicked when he saw a purple tether snake out of the floor and grasp his daughter by the throat. Struggling, she was able to scream out to him.

"Daddy!! Daddy help me!"

Frantic, he found he was able to move and pounded on the solid doorway. His voice was there again, and he screamed for her, but she couldn't hear him.

"He can't hear you, love."

Oh, but he could. He could and it was ripping him to shreds. Liza didn't know she could fight Baxter. She wasn't trained like they were. She didn't know she just had to not believe him to get free. Struggling, her eyes were bugging and she was gasping for air. Her body, left behind, would be also struggling to breathe. Her heart would eventually explode. He couldn't do this, he couldn't watch his daughter die before his eyes knowing that this time, this time as he watched, it was real.