And I Will Live
an excerpt

She was falling, spinning, out of control. She landed on her feet, catlike in the middle of the road, and then took off down the centre line, arms pumping and feet pounding on the bitumen.

It was behind her, she could sense it, hear it, feel it. But it wasn't after her; it wanted someone far more important. She could see her up ahead, straddling the broken line, completely motionless; her dress was as white as the line she stood above, both so radiant in the moonlight it was as if they were glowing. The Beast wanted her, Lauren could sense it – but why wasn't she moving?

She continued to run toward her, panic rising in her as the footsteps behind her got closer. She had to get to her, had to rescue her …

The Beast passed her, its great dog-like body taking loping strides to get ahead. Lauren screamed in anger and fear as it hurtled toward the figure.

"Run!" she screamed at her.

The girl remained motionless, didn't even look toward Lauren and the Beast, and yet still they drew closer.

"Run! Get away!" Lauren tried again, the pain of screaming and breathing heavily tearing down her throat into her chest. She reached into her pocket, expecting to find something there to help her – but her pocket was empty, causing her to unleash a cry of frustration.

Suddenly something hit her hard in the back of the head and she pitched forward on the road, hands hitting the ground but not easing the impact for her knees. Her hand flew to the pain and when she brought it back to the ground it was warm and sticky. She looked up and saw the Beast still pelting toward the girl. She tried to cry out, to warn her once more, tell her to run, but she was hit hard again and suddenly found herself lying on the ground.

Groaning through clenched teeth, Lauren tried to push herself onto her hands and knees, but another sharp blow on her head left her on the ground, clinging to the bitumen as the world span around her.

She raised her eyes once more, but blood was running into them from a cut on her forehead. She couldn't move her hand to wipe it away, so she closed her eyes and rested her head back on the road. She just had to hope the girl heard her and took the warning.

Then there was an ear-splitting scream and the road broke apart.