Face Off by Emma Brookes Page B

Suzanne’s hand touched Clark a shock wave went through her body. Cold, hard fear clutched at her, as she felt the room spinning. Quickly she drew back her hand.
    â€œSo, Sister. What do you want with me?” Clark spoke. He laughed, a deep, throaty laugh which sent chills down Suzanne’s spine. “Are you here to save my soul?”
    Suzanne steeled herself and again reached across the table, placing her hand on Clark’s arm. The images came rapidly, like a child in charge of the clicker at a slide presentation. Too fast to see the picture clearly. With her free hand, Suzanne grabbed the edge of her chair, squeezing hard, trying to gain control and slow the images.
    Click. A young girl on the ground, Clark standing over her. Click. Clark brings an ax or meat cleaver down on the girl. Click. A close-up of the young woman’s face, which seems to be covered with thick makeup. Click. Another girl, more heavy makeup.
    Click. Suzanne saw a road—a winding, gravel road, which turned into a river of blood as she watched. The blood flowed down, covering tall brush and large sunflowers.
    â€œHey, what’s the matter with you, Sister?” Clark’s voice jolted Suzanne back to the present. “You some kind of nut or what?”
    Suzanne watched as Clark unpried her fingers from his arm. “You trying to break my arm, Sister?”
    Suzanne knew she had to go for broke. She stood and reached across the table, placing her thumb on Clark’s forehead. “Will you receive the blessing, my son?”
    Clark looked up at her, nodded and started to speak. Suzanne whispered in a rush. “Where is Amy Matthews? What have you done with her?”
    An enormous black cloud descended around Suzanne. Cold icy fingers of fear jabbed at her from the darkness. No! What is happening? She could feel another presence. An evil entity. Besides Clark. She could feel herself trembling, gasping for air. Let me through! I need to know! But she couldn’t penetrate the darkness.
    Then all at once she was struggling. Trying to escape, trying to reach the air. She could see shovels of dirt coming down on her, choking her. Then it was Amy. The dirt was coming down on Amy, covering her. She realized her thumb was burning white-hot and she pulled it down from Clark’s forehead. Immediately, the spell was broken, and she sat down heavily in the chair.
    Jena Karnitz came running over. “What’s the matter? What happened? Are you all right?” Her eyes took in Suzanne’s white face and shaking hands. “Maybe you had better come lie down for a few minutes.”
    â€œGet her away from me!” Clark screamed. “What are you guys trying to pull on me, anyway?”
    Suzanne stood, grabbing on to Jena for support. “Maybe I had better lie down for a few minutes. I do feel rather faint.”
    â€œThere’s a small couch in the coffee room,” Jena said. “Will that be all right? Can you make it?”
    â€œYes. Thank you. Thank you so much. You’re very kind.”
    Officer Karnitz guided Suzanne into the coffee room and indicated the couch. “Is there anything you need?”
    â€œWell, yes, actually. I have some pills in my purse, but I left it in that other office where you had me wait. Would you mind getting it for me?”
    â€œNot at all,” Jena answered. “I’ll be right back.”
    The minute the door closed, Suzanne headed for the open window she had noticed when they entered the room. She cranked it farther open, then hoisted herself up and fell not so gracefully through it to the ground outside.
    She stood up and ran for the parking lot then jerked open the door to her car. “Come on, come on!” she said as the motor sputtered and refused to kick in.
    â€œWhat is it? What’s the matter?” Jessie yelled. “What did you find out?”
    â€œJust a minute, Jessie. They know I’m not a nun and they are going to