Valley of the Shadow Read Online Free PDF

happening.”
        “Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?” This had to be some kind of trick. Maybe this was the guy who’d shot them. Who’d killed Terrell. Devon slid his chair back farther. “What do you want?”
        Conner went on. “And you remember Helen and Mitch? They were real too. Mitch is in a hospital up in Winthrop Harbor. He got in an accident on his motorcycle that same night. He’s been in a coma for the last two months. I swear it’s all true!”
        But Devon was shutting down. This was too crazy. They were doing something to him. Playing some kind of game with him. Maybe trying to get to him. He stood and backed away. “Just stay away from me, you hear me? Stay away!”
        “Devon, please. Give me a chance to prove it to you. You don’t know the whole story. You don’t know what was really going on. I can help you.”
        Devon turned and pounded on the conference room door. “Get me outta here!”
        The guard unlocked the door and poked his head inside.
        Devon pointed back at Conner. “Dude’s crazy. I don’t wanna talk to him.”
        The guard glanced from Devon to Conner and back to Devon.
        Conner knocked against the glass. “Devon, I just want to try to help you,” he said. “I can help you.”
        But Devon shook his head. “I’m done here. Let me out.”
        They brought him back to his room, where he sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the floor. Snatches of memories raced through his head, like he was standing in the middle of a busy street with cars flying past on either side and he could only catch glimpses of their occupants. Fleeting images and voices. Some of them terrifying. A lake and a farm. A gray sky. Mist rolling in from a forest.
        He could almost hear the whispering again. Words he couldn’t understand. He stood and peered into the mirror. One half reflected his own harried countenance. But the other…
        Someone was standing behind him!
        Devon spun around. The tiny room was empty. He shot a glance to the mirror again. It was empty now too. But he knew what he’d seen. A tall, gaunt man. Long black hair. Dressed in an old overcoat and dirty trousers. Like a vagrant. Yellow eyes, glowing. Brown teeth, grinning at him.
        Devon’s heart thudded against his ribs. He’d seen the guy before!
         A door has been opened, Devon.…
        Devon felt the words inside his head. But they weren’t his thoughts. It was as if someone else were in the room with him. He peered at the mirror, but his reflection looked strange somehow. His eyes were empty. Solid white. Void of any life or soul, they gazed back at him from a face that felt familiar but looked completely alien.
        Devon leaned closer.
        The image in the mirror mimicked his movement. But a smirk was spreading across its face.
        Devon froze, unable to look away. His reflection grinned at him, lips peeled back. Jaws opened. Black saliva, like ink, dripped from rows of pointed teeth.
         A door you can’t close.
        The image in the mirror lunged forward and Devon fell back onto the floor.

5
    MITCH STARED AT THE STRANGER. The bookstore was silent except for their breathing. Finally Mitch said, “Get away? From who? Howard?”
        The stranger nodded. “Yes. Howard. And that farm. You need to leave. You’re not supposed to be here.”
        “Not supposed to be here? Where? Indiana?”
        “You’re not in Indiana, my friend.”
        “I’m not your friend, pal. You don’t even know me.” Mitch struggled to regain his composure. “What say we start with your name.”
        The stranger glanced around the bookstore as if making sure they were alone. Then he said in a low tone, “You can call me Nathan.”
        “Nathan, huh.” Mitch put his hands on his hips. “Where exactly are you from, and how do you know me?”
        Nathan moved to