Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Rowan
Rowan missed his Kindle. He had his phone that he could read on, but it just wasn’t the same. His Kindle had become a type of security blanket. Though it didn’t really matter because he couldn’t concentrate to read anyway.
Fear was a part of his every waking moment, and nightmares had taken over his sleep, so he mostly just dozed.
He was now in his fourth motel, and they’d all become a blur of cheap paintings and uncomfortable beds.
He was still in the same clothes he’d worn to work last, and though the idea of trying to shop scared him, he was going to have to give in and buy some clothes.
This particular room was worse than the rest. It felt like the heater was spitting out dust, making him thirsty as hell.
Making sure he had everything on him—just in case—he left to get a soda from the machine he’d spotted in an alcove near the motel’s office.
His steps were slow and methodical, exhaustion pulling at every muscle.
He’d never been on the run like this before, but he couldn’t shake the need to keep moving.
He was also upset because he’d lost his job when he hadn’t shown up for work the second night.
He’d tried to explain it was an emergency, but Angler wouldn’t listen.
The chef had flat out fired him. Rowan had loved working there—well, loved the other people and the way he’d mostly had freedom to create unique desserts.
Finding another job like that one in his small town was going to be damn hard.
He would spend the rest of the evening looking at job postings on his phone.
He’d luckily had a charger in his car so that was one thing he could be thankful about.
These motels were eating into his meager savings, and he had no job.
What the fuck was he going to do?
Cold soda in hand, he started to step out of the small alcove but halted as the most rancid smell invaded his nose. It was worse than the garbage bins the day before trash day. And terrifyingly familiar.
Gaze darting around, he spotted the zombie creature lurching through the parking lot. It truly was a nightmarish creature with its visible bones and empty eye sockets. He seen it move fast, but this slow, creeping stagger made him shudder.
How had it found him?
He quickly stepped back, watching and waiting as it headed toward his room, then halted and veered his direction.
The alcove had two open ends, so he ran to the back of the motel and then past several rooms until he reached the side.
He nearly tripped over a fallen branch but caught himself against the wall.
His heart was pounding hard, fear giving him tunnel vision as he hurried around the side of the motel and ran to the front.
The zombie was just entering the alcove, so he ran to his car and peeled out of the motel’s parking lot.
His hands were sweating on the wheel despite the cold.
This time, he drove through two towns before he got yet another motel room.
What the fuck? What did that thing want and again, how had it found him?
Rowan collapsed on the bed, which was covered in a flower-print comforter, and stared at a water stain on the ceiling for what felt like hours. His eyes felt gritty and he was still thirsty, but now he was too afraid to leave the room for a drink.
He couldn’t just keep running forever.
What he needed to do was find those two paranormal men who’d saved him before. Maybe they knew what was going on. He doubted they’d been there accidentally—not at that time of night. It had been like they knew he was going to be attacked.
He sat up. Of course they’d known. That meant they’d know what this thing was and why it was after Rowan. So, that’s what he’d do. Running to different towns obviously wasn’t working because the zombie was somehow tracking him.
But first, he was going to try and get some sleep. Get a shower. Just in reverse order. Pushing off the bed, he dragged his feet to the bathroom and flipped on the light.
He looked like complete shit. Dark circles ringed his eyes, his face so unnaturally pale his freckles stood out like pins on a snowy map. His hair hadn’t been brushed in days, with a particularly bad tangle near his temple.
Letting out an exhausted breath, he stripped down and turned on the water to heat. He was about to take off the arm ring when goosebumps sprang up all over his body.
That’s when the smell came again.
Utter terror froze him for a moment before he grabbed his clothes. He didn’t take the time to put them on, just climbed through the window naked because he knew with everything in him that that thing was in the room. And just as his feet hit the ground, he heard a thump against the bathroom door.
Rowan didn’t give a shit who saw him as he ran naked to his car while he fished the keys out of the clothes in his hand.
He looked over his shoulder to see the door to the motel room opening, and he didn’t wait around.
He scrambled into his car and peeled out, tires screeching as he drove out of the parking lot fast.
Breaths heaving and his body shivering in the cold, he turned the heat on blast and just drove.
He didn’t pull over to get dressed until he was several miles away, and the whole time, he kept looking out the windows. Getting his pants on inside his small car was a real pain in the ass, but luckily no other cars were around. It was pretty late anyway.
His phone had dropped to the floor of the passenger side, so when it rang, he had to fish for it. Surprise went through him when he saw who was calling. His mother never called him.
“What’s wrong?” he answered, knowing it had to be really bad for her to break her husband’s rules.
“Rowan, are you okay? Did those bodyguards find you?”
“Bodyguards?”
“Two men came here and fought off this horrible creature that had bones showing through its skin. I can’t remember what they called it, but they were supposed to look for you because you have the arm ring that thing is after.”
“It’s after the arm ring?” He ran his fingers over his shirt where it covered the thin band of silver. “Why? It’s not worth anything.”
“I have no idea. Well, they said something about a treasure, but I was too upset to listen closely. Plus, they didn’t stick around long enough to explain. I told them where you worked so they could help you. I’ve been…worried.”
“That surprises me,” he muttered.
She was silent, and really, what could she say? She’d disowned him along with his father, and this was the first time they’d talked in over two years.
But now he knew his decision to go back and find those guys was the right one.
“Rowan? Did that thing come after you?”
“Yes, and it keeps coming after me. I’ve actually been on the run for days. Did they leave a card or something with their number?”
“No, but I remember they said they worked for a company out of Seattle called Protective Solutions. Maybe you could call there and get their contact information?”
A little bit of hope seeped into his heart. He just couldn’t go at this alone anymore, and he needed to know more. Sounded like these guys had answers. “Thanks, Mom. I’ve been at my wit’s end, so this helps a lot.”
“Just…stay safe.”
“I’m glad you called,” he said softly. “You better go before my father figures out you did.”
“He’s not home, so it’s okay. Take care, Rowan.”
She said goodbye, and Rowan glanced around outside the car before he looked up the number for Protective Solutions. He called, and the receptionist said she was putting him through to someone named Xavier.
Afraid to stay in one spot, he put the phone on speaker and started driving toward Canon Beach. The voice that came over the line was smooth and very deep.
“Rowan Forrest?”
“Yeah, you know who I am?”
“I do. I have two employees tearing apart the towns in your area looking for you. You’re in a lot of danger and would be much safer with them. Where are you?”
“Driving back home. I’ve been moving around but that thing keeps finding me. What is it?”
“It’s a draugr, a creature that was spelled to protect a treasure, and you have a part of that treasure. It will be relentless, will never stop coming after you, and Rowan, it will kill you. It has no other directive.”
“My mother told me it’s after the arm ring. What if I just leave it on the side of the road or something?”
“That could work, but it could still come after you. It would be better if you find my men and bring the ring here to Seattle. We have magical wards around the office, so the draugr can’t reach you here.”
“Okay. I’m willing to try anything at this point. I’m exhausted, and it just keeps coming.”
“As I said, it’s relentless. My men are currently back in Canon Beach, staying at the Holiday Inn—do you know where that is?”
“Yes. I’ll head there now.”
“Do not stop on the way. I’ll let them know you’re coming, and they’ll meet you in the parking lot.”
After he got off the phone, Rowan scrambled out of his coat, sweater, and shirt and ripped off the arm ring to drop it onto the passenger seat.
He was never putting that thing on again.
He shrugged back into his clothes, realizing he actually felt a little bit of relief.
He was so tired, he could barely see. It took everything he had to focus as he headed home.
The whole time, he held onto the hope that maybe these bodyguards could help him.