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"Johnny! No!"

The screaht Tess to a dead stop She waited, listening for another outburst, but the house was silent once again

Reaching for the flannel robe flung along the foot of the bed, she shrugged into the warm fabric, eased the door

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open, and hobbled froain her breath Clutching her aching midsection, she cautiously peeked around the corner

The living roo fire Pulsating red-gold light licked the floor and cast sinewy fingers into the darkness The furniture was a series of shadowy clumps, without form or substance

Tess frowned Easing away from the wall, she walked into the room

Like an apparition, Jack materialized in front of her Startled, Tess stumbled backward and hit the ith a thud He closed the distance between theht of his stare on her face, but she couldn't see his eyes

"What the hell are you doing here?" The question was spoken quietly, though so she'd ever heard "You know the rules"

Tess wished she could take even one step backward, but the wall had her trapped "II heard a noise"

"Go away" He spun away fro His id actions of ahimself to stay After a few moreat, boo noises only he could hear

"Jack, I?"

He spun back around and grabbed her by the shoulders, yanking her to hiasp of pain "Don't do this to h to play your gaht now"