Take me away, Cassie prayed. Take me away. Take me away.

Jeanne put a hand on her shoulder.

Take me away.

"You don't want him to shoot you like he did Pauley? He'll do it. You have to mind him or-"

"She doesn't seem to believe you," the man said softly. "I think she needs another example."

"What do you-"

Jeanne's head exploded.

Cassie screamed as brain matter splattered her chest. She crouched on the floor, her gaze on Jeanne's ruined face.

Take me away.

"Stop screaming."

Take me away.

"Stand up." He reached down and jerked her to her feet. "You shouldn't mind my getting rid of her. She insulted your friend the Wind Dancer, and she was a Judas. Once a Judas, always a Judas. Do you know what a Judas is, little girl?"

Take me away. Take me away. Take me away.

It was happening. He was fading, as if he were at the end of a long tunnel.

"But I won't do that to you if you don't cause me problems. Just do what I tell you and it will-What the shit!"

Gunshots.

He let go of her and ran out into the hall.

She sank back down on the floor next to Jeanne. Blood. Death. Judas. She wasn't afraid any longer. She was going away. She was the one in the tunnel now and the darkness didn't frighten her. As long as she stayed in the tunnel, nothing could touch her and she'd be safe. With every moment she was moving deeper into that darkness.

"Cassie?"

A man was kneeling before her. No mask. Dark eyes like her daddy. "I'm Michael Travis. The bad people have gone away. You're safe now. I'm going to touch you and check to make sure you're not hurt. Is that okay?"

She didn't answer. She didn't have to be afraid any longer. He'd made the monsters go away. Soon he would go away too, but it didn't matter what happened outside the tunnel.