Chapter 1: No Turn Around

The rays of the summer sun streak through the dark forest like sheets of iridescent gold. Dancer’s hooves barely touch the ground as we race through the trees. I’m flying, hardly able to breathe. We ride as one. My horse’s strength and power ripple under me.

BOOM.

Black clouds and blinding chrome flash in front of us. Dancer stops dead. I fly off his back past a blurred vision of metallic wings.

My butt hits the ground. “Owww.”

I’m on my feet the minute I hear his terrified whinny. Visions of cougar and bear flash through my mind. Chills crash down my spine.

Dancer gallops for home.

“Wait! Come back!” I yell. He’s gone. I don’t want to turn around to see what scared Dancer enough to leave me behind. But I do.

Too terrified to scream, I stare into huge, yellow cat eyes shining from the mist. My heart pounds in my chest. The blood drains to my toes. I try to run, but my legs collapse like wet noodles. Something grabs me by the back of my shirt.

“Let go!” I yell and fall backward.

The mist disappears. I can’t stop shaking. A female monster smiles at me, tiny fangs brilliant white against her creamy mocha skin. She is six-feet of lean muscle. Her face - a cross between a fox and a cat, yet oddly human. Orange hair spikes above pointy ears. Bright yellow boots with five-inch heels fit over a slinky red jumpsuit.

I jump up and run. Hear the crack of a whip. A heavy weight hits me from behind, grinding me into the ground. I can’t move. Heartbeats slam in my throat. I gasp for breath. Warm slime drips on my head.

Suddenly, an alarm blares. My eyes pop open. Kong slobbers on my face, pinning me to my bed. He’s my dog, a hundred-and-forty-pound bullmastiff. I weigh a hundred pounds when I’m wet. I want to hug him in relief, but I can’t move or breathe. Bells clang in my head.

“Get - off,” I gasp.

The dog heaves himself off the bed. His tail whacks the clock against the wall. Relief.

I suck in air, my heart still hammering my ribcage. Chills wiggle up my spine like speeding worms. I blink to be sure I’m really in my bedroom. Somehow the ugly, rose wallpaper comforts me. I calm down, unaware that a real nightmare is barreling toward me.

Life should give you warning road signs, so you are prepared when your heart starts breaking an inch at a time.