An Extraordinary Girl
an excerpt

Step away, child, or...

"You won't hurt him!" Ryan had shouted, furious and defiant.

No. I'll make you hurt him.

Ryan froze and stared at Blue in horror. It was true, Ry could feel it. The voice could make her hurt Blue. She looked up at the vacant-eyed man adn swallowed hard. Blue's growling increased. "No, Blue, no," she begged the old dog. "I have to go. You stay here!"

What a very smart little girl you are, the voice had said.

That had made Ryan angry, and she balled her fists, but there was nowhere to direct her fury. The blank-eyed man wasn't the voice, she had known that instinctively. And the laughter that echoed through her mind confirmed that.

What a very bright child you are! I shall so enjoy getting to know you. But first...

The man moved swiftly, and Ryan felt a sharp sting in her arm. Suddenly woozy, the last thing she saw before sudden darkness swooped over her was Blue lunging, teeth bared, and a baseball bat swinging to meet him.