Synopsis
Excerpt
With all the strength left in her leaden limbs she, she pounded on the invisible barrier imploring the sea of mostly impassive faces on the other side that watched with little care. She screamed a croaking cry that even she could barely hear. The mountainous shadow behind her shuffled closer, his sneer almost a physical force that ran greasy fingers down her body when combined with the throaty chuckle that emanated from him. He was getting closer and the barrier was not weakening. Suddenly a caring face materialized in front of her. It smiled a loving smile and reached out to caress the barrier as if stroking her hair through it. Grasping desperately at the hand, her fingers slid right through and found no purchase. The loving face smiled and pulled back as if to break down the barrier and free her. A spark of hope surged in her breast as the face stepped back, its eyes sliding toward the encroaching shadow behind her. In a blink, the face changed. It became angry and disgusted, but not at the menacing shadow. Its vitriol was focused on her. The face twisted as the emotions grew and then just as quickly became as impassive as the rest of the sea before floating away. Thick hands encircled her throat from behind and a malevolent chuckle slithered into her ear. With one last surge from an unknown reserve she struck the barrier and screamed an ear splitting call as the barrier shattered and she fell through alone into an icy darkness.
