Feral by Brian Knight Page B

they jumped up in tandem.   Starting with the back patio outside the kitchen, they turned on every light in the house.   Then, while Jared dug through a box of old Disney movies once kept on hand for Alicia’s infrequent visits, Shannon seated herself across from Charity and grasped the girl’s shaking hands.
    â€œDon’t worry, sweetheart.   Remember what you said?”
    â€œHe doesn’t like the light,” Charity said and squeezed her hands.   Then she looked into Shannon’s face.   “It doesn’t matter.   He’ll come anyway.   Please take me back to the park,” she said.   “He can’t get me there.”
    â€œNo,” she said.   “Feral Park is dangerous.   You saw what it tried to do to me.”
    Charity glared at her silently, then lowered her head and nodded.
    â€œWe won’t let him get you.   If he tries, my brother will shoot him.   He used to be a cop,” she said, and smiled what she hoped was her most reassuring smile.   “He can stop anyone.”
    That didn’t seem to be enough for Charity.   Looking into Shannon’s eyes again the girl said, “Will you protect me?”
    â€œYes,” Shannon said without hesitation.   “I’ll protect you.”
    Charity slid from her chair, raced around the table, and wrapped her in a long, aching hug.   Unable to stop the tears that sprung from her eyes, Shannon hugged her back.
    In the living room the movie started.   They held each other, listening to the Disney anthem, a safe sound, a sound that said everything was right with the world.   Good magic.   The movie was Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs .   Shannon knew how this one went.   Despite all their best efforts the dwarves wouldn’t be able to save Snow White, the wicked witch would get her.   Only a prince could save the maiden, and Shannon was not a prince.   She had promised to protect Charity, but could she?   She hadn’t been able to protect her own girl.
    Charity watched the movie warily, as if she did not trust the animated horrors to stay behind the screen.   At length she relaxed though, and sitting on the couch between Shannon and Jared, she fell asleep.
    Shannon carried the girl, a light bundle of clothes and hair, to her bedroom.   It was cluttered with dirty clothes, books, magazines, and other assorted junk.   It had only been three months, but without Alicia to pick up after, housekeeping had become a lost art.   Jared followed them.   He stood outside the door while Shannon tucked Charity in and switched off the reading lamp next to the bed.
    Shannon left her brother to watch over Charity for a few minutes, then returned with an item for the sleeping girl, a small flashlight, flat black with a small loop at the butt end.   She slipped one of Charity’s small hands through the loop, and when she laid it in her palm, Charity’s thin fingers closed around it.
    â€œThank you,” she whispered, looking up at Shannon.   Then closed her eyes and slept again.

Chapter 13
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    G ordon and Charles had watched the house for over an hour but could make out nothing through the closed blinds.   All the lights were on, every light in the house it seemed, and no one came out.
    â€œI have to see her,” Gordon said.
    â€œYou have to be cool,” Charles countered.   “It’s probably not her and you know it.   Charity is the last person in the world we should expect to find in there, even if one of them is . . .”
    â€œThe killer?” Gordon finished for him.
    â€œYes,” Charles said.   “Also very unlikely.”   He reached down and pulled his gun from its ankle holster, opened the cylinder and checked the rounds.   This wasn’t a good sign for Gordon.   It meant Charles expected he might have to use it.
    Satisfied, he closed the chamber again and