The Beholder Read Online Free PDF Page B

but him.
    He sensed someone approaching from his left and turned his head slowly toward it. Instead of a person, four ominous red lights swirled and pulsed, weaving easily through the crowd towards him, seeming to hiss at the silvery existence which filled the air. As they came closer, he saw they were indeed people, but the red lights flowing from them looked far from human. With each step they took, Jason’s heart thumped faster.
    Was this who had sent the letter? Are they coming to kill me, just like they killed the people in my nightmares?
    He took a few steps backwards, then was attracted to the sight of a silver star floating in from the opposite side of the square. The star pulsed throughout the entire space, filling him with warmth. Jason blinked again, and the heavenly light was gone, replaced by a familiar cloaked figure, his blond hair soft against strong shoulders.
    Steps echoed off the pavement, and Jason braced himself. Whoever it was, the red-lighted creatures were approaching too fast for him to get away.
    Jason grabbed at his ears when a bestial howl tore through the air: a horrible wail of misery and death. In the next instant Jason lay sprawled on the ground, his left shoulder smoldering. Everything around him had turned chaotic—screaming people raced by, cars screeched, and glass crashed. Jason clutched at his shoulder, consumed by agony, knowing he had to get away. He raised his head and barely held in a cry as a pulsing pain sliced through his temples, threatening to pierce his brain. Just when he felt he could stand no more of it, the warmth he’d felt emanating from the cloaked figure flowed through his veins again, and the pain subsided.
    “Jason! This way!”
    It was Debbie. She was in the driver’s seat of his sedan, and the passenger door stood open. She waved frantically, and her voice gave him strength. He staggered to his feet and managed to roll into the car just as Debbie stomped on the accelerator.
    Jason took one last glance back and saw his pursuers fighting his cloaked savior.
    “How did you find me?” Jason yelled over the squeal of her tires.
    “Why did you switch off your cell phone?” Debbie countered.
    She roared around a stopped car, slammed on her brakes, then hit the accelerator again, driving hard. “First answer my question, then I’ll answer yours.”
    As she wove expertly between cars, Debbie reached into her suit pocket and pulled out a familiar piece of paper.
    “I found this in your apartment.”
    “You were in my apartment?” Jason asked, reaching for what he could see was the letter with the TW seal.
    “Of course! I was trying to find you. Where else was I supposed to look?”
    “Why?” Jason stared at the piece of paper and noticed how badly his hands shook. No wonder, he thought. Those people wanted me dead!
    “Because I think I know what’s going on with you, and I’m really scared.” Debbie said, then gulped to stifle a sob. “Take a look at the newspaper in the back seat.”
    He grabbed the paper and didn’t have to go any farther than the first page. The headline caught his attention, and he started reading.
     
    ARCANE SIGNS SCATTERED AROUND THE WORLD
    Signs Imprinted on Flesh
     
    Four people from around the world have recently gone missing in a series of strange abductions. The latest victim, a boy from Minsk, Belarus, disappeared on Sunday. His mother reported seeing a luminous image on a wardrobe in her son’s room after he had disappeared. Similar images have been noted on the bodies of the four victims found on June 4, 7, 11, and 16. There are no clues yet as to who is behind these mysterious abductions, but both local and international police organizations are currently investigating.
    (see the continuation on page 7)
     
    Jason looked up. “What does this have to do with me?”
    “Your left shoulder,” Debbie replied.
    Jason dropped his hand when he realized he was still clutching it, even though it didn’t hurt anymore.
    “What