Crimson Harvest

An instant later, his thoughts were disturbed by a scream. He whirled around and raced back to the room. When he entered it, his eyes were greeted by the sight of his niece cowering in her chair, her knees drawn up to her chin and her arms covering her head.

Jeannie was still lying in her bed, her eyes closed, the heart-rate and blood-pressure indicators blipping and blinking like normal. He moved towards Heather.

“No! Don’t come near me!” she squealed, and he stopped in his tracks.

“Heather! It’s me!” he called to her. She peered between her fingers, and, when her eyes focused on him, she sprang to her feet and ran to her uncle. He put his arms around her protectively as she sobbed into his shoulder.

There was the sound of several feet coming to the doorway. Both the nurse and the policeman stood there gaping. After a moment, Heather pulled back.

“He was here!” she gasped.

“Who was?” Kevin asked.

“Gage! Gage was here!”