16
The stables were warm enough, and dry, though the scent of hay filled Bella's nose until she felt as if she would sneeze.
Bear met her with a light whine and a thump of his heavy tail as she settled in the hay beside him. He leaned into her touch, his chin resting on her lap as he curled into her.
"Are you homesick too?" Bella asked, her voice a murmur as she rubbed his soft, dark head. Bear's tail thumped and she took that as a yes.
She let out a long sigh, her head resting back against the wooden wall of one of the horse stalls. "I can't find him," she admitted, her voice as soft as a whisper. "I can't find him, and I'm worried he's going to be lost forever."
Bear let out a soft whine against her lap, and she looked down, running a soothing hand across his head.
"I'm sorry," she murmured. "I shouldn't worry you with my burdens." She smiled at the hound, bending to press a kiss to the tip of his nose. She scratched his ears, and he settled again on her lap. Bella let out another long sigh, leaning back again against the wooden wall.
Though her heart was no less heavy, she let sleep come, comforted by the warm weight of her loyal dog and the soft breathing of the horses behind her.
She soon fell into a deep slumber.
…
Bella woke with a start, her heart thundering in her chest as she sat up, eyes wide but still unseeing as she pulled herself out of sleep.
She wasn't sure what had woken her yet, but slowly she realized that Bear was no longer by her side, and behind her, the horses were restless.
Her body snapped to attention, every part of her stilling as she strained to listen to the night sounds.
Everything was quiet… and then…
The creak was small, like someone opening an old box, but it flooded Bella's body with energy.
Someone was there with her.
Silently, she climbed to her feet, her heart thumping heavily in her chest, moving up toward her throat as she reached into the dark, seeking a weapon. Her fingers found the splintered wood of the horse's stall and gently stroked across the surface as she sought anything to use in defense.
The soft squeak of leather on stone made her freeze.
Whoever it was in the dark was moving toward her.
Bella's tongue wetted her chapped lips, and she continued her search, hoping she could remain silent.
Two stalls over, a horse let out a surprised nicker, and Bella's heart thudded faster.
Her fingers brushed against cold metal, and she reached for the farrier nippers, grasping them heavily in her palms. Her heart was erratic in her chest as she held the nippers in front of her, now ready to face whatever lurked in the dark.
There was a ghostly swishing sound, like fabric moving, and Bella let out a breath.
"Who's there?" she asked, her voice strong despite her fear. She heard Bear let out a snarl in the dark, and her heart squeezed in her chest.
The sound fell silent, and Bella stepped out from behind the stall, her heart hammering, the farrier nippers held up near her head in a defensive stance.
"Bear," she breathed, willing the dog to come to her side. She felt his strong body move against her legs, and she let out a tiny, relieved breath. She could feel the tension in his body as he leaned against her legs, almost as if he was trying to urge her to flee.
She couldn't see anyone, but the moonlight was weak as it filtered through the slats of the stable's walls.
"Show yourself!" she demanded, putting more courage behind her voice than she truly felt.
"What are you doing here?" a rough voice rasped out. Bella had never heard such a voice and couldn't identify if it was a man or woman.
"I said show yourself," Bella demanded again.
"You aren't meant to be here," the voice rasped again. "Get out!" The words were a shriek, and Bella sensed movement in the dark. Beside her, the horses stirred, restless and anxious, as the voice's pitch rose. Bella's hands tightened on the handles of the nippers. "Get out!" the voice cried again, louder and closer this time. Bear let out a terrible snarl again, and Bella's pulse jumped.
Bella's stomach dropped as a white face appeared in the moonlight. She was pale as death under the mud that coated her. She was disheveled, her nails jagged as she reached her hands up as if to swat at Bella.
She looks as if she's just crawled from the grave.
Bella's heart shrank in fear. She didn't believe in the revenants, but the scent of decay on this woman was unmistakable.
The dead were walking, and they had found her at last.