Bat out of Hell (3 page)

Her
heart
skipped
a
beat.
She
knew
she
was
alone,
but
she
had
definitely
heard
something.

Probably
mice.
The
warehouse
was
an
old
dump
of
a
place.
She
walked
over
to
the
bigger
boxes
waiting
for
shipping
where
she
thought
the
sound
had
come
from.

One
box
caught
her
attention
as
it
had
earlier
in
the
day.
It
was
huge
—
big
enough
for
a
man.
In
fact
it
was
shaped
sort
of
like
a
coffin
from
what
she
could
see
through
the
edges
of
the
cardboard.
The
thought
made
her
shiver
as
she
heard
another
loud
bump
like
a
fist
against
hard
wood.

“
Oh
my
god.
”
She
breathed,
her
hand
on
her
heart.
Her
brown
hair
felt
damp
on
her
now
cold,
sweaty
forehead.

Ava
stepped
away
from
the
box,
ready
to
run.
She
didn't
think
there
was
a
live
animal
in
there,
and
that
thought
made
her
even
more
nervous.
She
wiped
her
hands
on
her
skirt
and
laughed
aloud
in
fear.

This
time
the
box
jumped.

“
Who's
in
there?
”
Her
voice
came
out
in
a
squeak.
She
backed
up
to
the
door
of
the
storage
room.

“
Dear
lady,
please
let
me
out.
”

An
accented
voice
spoke
the
words.
Am
I
losing
my
mind?

“
I'm
not
doing
anything
until
you
tell
me
who
you
are
and
what
you're
doing
in
a
box.
”
Ava
moved
like
a
cat
across
the
room
and
picked
up
a
huge
knife
she
kept
for
work.

“
I
am
Count
Dunning.
I
will
explain
everything
if
you
would
help
me
out
of
this
box.
”
His
voice
had
a
peculiar
ring,
and
her
fear
only
grew.

“
No
way.
I'm
calling
the
police.
”
She
turned
to
find
her
cell
phone
on
the
worktable
when
he
spoke
again.

“
No.
I
mean
you
no
harm.
Please
let
me
out
and
I'll
explain
everything.
”

Ava
took
a
cautious
step
toward
him.
“
I
have
a
knife
and
I'll
use
it
if
I
need
to.
”

“
Fine.
Just
let
me
out.
It's
stifling
in
here.
I
need
to
breathe
the
night
air.
”

He
definitely
has
an
accent.

Ava
considered
for
a
moment.
“
All
right,
but
if
you
do
anything,
I'll
cut
you.
”
She
took
the
knife
and
made
a
long
slit
down
the
box,
pulling
it
open.
It
had
been
taped
up
well,
and
it
was
a
struggle.
“
Wow.
Somebody
sealed
you
in
here
tight.
”

“
Yes,
my
friend
Maura
and
her
assistants
helped.
They
did
a
thorough
job.
”

After
a
few
minutes,
she
got
down
to
a
shiny,
black
box.
Her
heart
beat
faster.
The
shape
mimicked
a
coffin,
but
it
couldn't
be,
could
it?

“
Thank
you
a
million
times,
dear
lady.
”
The
muffled
voice
was
closer
now,
and
her
heart
thrummed
in
her
chest.

“
I
can't
lift
the
box
out
of
the
package.
You're
too
heavy,
but
oh
—”
she
watched
the
lid
of
the
coffin-like
box
rise
by
degrees.

“
I
have
my
own
lever
inside.
I
just
needed
the
other
box
opened.
”

Ava
stared
in
shocked
silence
at
the
man
who
sat
in
the
container.
His
hair
flowed
down
his
back
like
a
river
of
obsidian
on
a
moonlit
night.
His
skin
glowed,
it
was
so
fair
it
looked
unreal.
Changeable
eyes
like
topazes
stared
back
at
her.
He
curled
his
lips,
smiling
in
a
challenge,
and
Ava
gasped
at
the
sharp
incisors
at
the
sides
of
his
mouth.

“
What
are
you?
”
she
whispered,
backing
away,
stumbling
over
a
box
in
her
haste.

“
Don't
be
afraid.
I
won't
hurt
you.
”
He
stood,
stepping
out,
and
Ava
admired
his
flowing
white
shirt
complete
with
cravat
and
ruffled
cuffs.
Gray
breeches
and
boots
finished
the
look.
He
might
have
stepped
out
of
the
1800s.

“
Don't
come
near
me.
”
Ava
sidled
around
some
more
boxes.

“
I
won't.
I'll
stand
right
here,
but
I
am
cold,
tired
and
more
than
a
little
hungry
and
thirsty.
”