Whispering Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page A

closet.
    Rachel’s heart leapt to her throat. That was fast. Too fast.
    She grabbed the glass ball from Garrett and stuffed it in her backpack with her clothes, cushioning it as best she could. Her hands were shaking as she zipped everything shut. She grabbed her purse and a spray bottle full of saltwater from her desk.
    â€œCan you get the suitcase?” She slung her backpack over her shoulder.
    â€œSure.” Garrett lifted her suitcase by the handle rather than wheeling it around. He nodded toward the spray bottle and said, “What’s that for?”
    â€œI’ll explain later. We have to go. Now.”
    The door to the bathroom slammed shut and they both started at the sound. It reminded her of the popping noise Michael’s gun had made.
    â€œIs there a window open in there?” Garrett asked.
    â€œNo.” There were no windows in the bathroom at all.
    Too fast and too powerful.
    Rachel grabbed Garrett’s hand and pulled him toward the hallway. They needed to leave immediately. For that level of manifestation to take place so quickly…
    They must have been waiting for her. Waiting for her to let down her guard even a little. Like they had warned her they would.
    Her mother was already in the hallway, her small frame somehow taking up the entire space.
    â€œIt is highly improper to have a gentleman in your bedroom.”
    Rachel froze. Her mother was a master manipulator. All she had to do to destroy Rachel was tell Garrett that the voices Rachel had heard in the hospital—the ones that made everyone think she was crazy—hadn’t gone away. Rachel doubted it would help if Garrett knew they had always been there.
    Voices of the dead.
    Garrett was a doctor. He would think in terms of pathologies and cures. He would take her back to the hospital, where the rooms and halls were filled with wandering spirits. She wasn’t sure her sanity would survive another stay.
    â€œDon’t let it trouble you.” Garrett squeezed Rachel’s hand, pulling her along. “We’re leaving.”
    He shouldn’t be the one facing off against her mother, but Rachel didn’t know if she was strong enough to do it herself. She knew what her mother was capable of and was terrified of the woman.
    In that moment though, she hated herself. Hated her weakness.
    The past few weeks were a gray blur of pain and despair. Her mother’s words only seemed like an anchor pulling Rachel deeper into the abyss. An abyss that was calling out to her.
    â€œRachel…” she heard again.
    â€œAnd where are you taking her?” Rachel’s mother asked.
    â€œYou don’t deserve to know,” Garrett said. Rachel had never heard him sound so angry. His hand was trembling, his grip tight. “I can’t believe you’re more concerned about bad publicity than your own daughter.”
    â€œDon’t leave us.” The voice was louder, closer. Then another spoke. “You’re supposed to be with us.” And another. “You were never supposed to leave.”
    The voices were right next to her. Her skin erupted in gooseflesh as she felt a breath of icy cold air on the back of her neck. She quickened her pace, but her mother followed along as Garrett led Rachel down the stairs into the foyer.
    â€œMy daughter has already been abducted once,” her mother said. “I think that’s quite enough.”
    â€œMother!” Rachel didn’t recognize the shriek that came from her mouth as she wheeled around. Her entire body was shaking. “Don’t you dare compare this with what happened to me,” she said. “Garrett is trying to help, which is more than you’ve done since I came home.”
    Wherever Garrett was taking her had to be better than this—as long as it wasn’t back to the hospital. She was fine with whatever he had in mind. She trusted him.
    She didn’t trust anyone else in the house with the knowledge of