Prologue
July 1915
Rural Nebraska
"Esther run! Hide!" June screamed to her oldest daughter as she ran as fast as she could. She lifted the hem of her dress to allow her legs to gain more distance. She wanted to run to the farmhouse and lock the doors and windows. But her children were there and she could not put them in harm's way. The thing behind her was fast and she had to lead him away.
She ran past the house screaming her warning again and bolting for the stable. She didn't dare look over her shoulder. She knew he was right behind her. She could hear his heavy breathing, smell the death on him.
She just needed to get to the secondary storm shelter. Her children were smart and knew that if ever there was any type of danger, be it severe weather or bandits, they were to go to the storm shelter just outside the back patio. She was sure her screams would have awakened them and the oldest would get them to safety.
Her husband had insisted there be a secondary storm shelter, large enough to get his prize stallion underground if there was severe weather.
She ran past Guinuess' stall and could hear the stallion striking the wall in agitation. At the back of the stable was the metal door in the floor that lead down into the storm shelter. It took all her strength to lift it just enough to slip under. She heard his footfall at the barn door before he screamed in rage as the shelter door slammed down. In the pitch black she felt for the bar to secure the door. He would not get to her this night! She sent a prayer out that she and her children were safe. In the pitch blackness her eyes stared up at the heavy metal door. She could hear him pounding at the door and claws scraping against the metal. She backed away from the door, deeper into the darkness. Then suddenly the scraping stop and there was silence. She moved closer to the door. Had he left? Dare she look? As her shaky hand reached toward the the bolt she heard something grating across the middle door above her. With a sinking feeling in her stomach she realized what he had done. He had covered the door. She didn't know with what, but after moving the bar and pushing with all her might the door would not budge. Not even the slightest. She opened her mouth and screamed