Excerpts
From Saturday of Second Weekend
Liam stood in the center of Hidden Valley's grove and peered into the treeline. He tried not to look like he was peering. He tried to look calm and in control. After all, the campground was just a short trek up the hill behind him. If he screamed, someone would come to his aid, right?
Would he want to admit he needed that aid?
Animate shadows slunk across the corners of Liam's vision, darker patches in an already dark night. The knowledge of their presence crawled along the edges of his awareness, unwilling to be pinned down. Was he strong enough to control them? What if he failed? What if -
The sound of bones shifting in a grave filled the air around him. It made him jump. Had anyone else heard it? How could they not? What if someone found him?
The creeping shadows blocked out more and more of the night. Darkness prickled along his veins. The stars flickered and were gone as the world fell away, leaving him spiraling down into the blackness.
"It took you long enough . . . " The words echoed through his skull with shadow-sibilance, as heavy as six feet of earth over a corpse.
Liam trembled involuntarily and tried not to scream.
"No matter . . . ." crumbled a graven voice.
"What is your desire . . . " The third voice shrieked like an unholy bird of prey.
It took a moment before the horror of the voices gave way to their words' meaning.
He had called them.
And they had come.
Liam smiled with grim triumph. "There's this girl . . .
