The Ossuary: Soul and Bone

Chapter 4

She woke with a start as cold hands grasped her wrists, pulling her to her feet. Confused, she looked around hurriedly. She was still in the forest.

"How long have I been out?" she wondered.

She could hear voices in the distance calling her name. It sounded like the entire village was out looking for her.

"I'm over here!" she shouted. "I'm here!"

"They can't hear you", said a familiar voice.

She turned, suddenly realizing the man from before was standing in front of her, his grip on her wrists still tight.

"What do you mean?" she shouted with bewilderment, pulling her wrists from him.

He had caught up to her, "this monster of death is going to take me", she thought to herself.

"I am hardly a monster", he said aloud. "...And as far as taking you, you have already come to me," he gestured to the ground where a thin, boney body lay.

"Did you just read my thoughts?" "I-is that me?" Ingrid said in shock, pointing toward the lifeless body on the ground.

She turned to confront the man as a wave of vertigo hit her body. She felt her knees waver, and then everything around her went black.