Ghost Canyon (The John Decker Supernatural Thriller Series Book 7) by Anthony Strong (ebooks that read to you .TXT) 📕

don’t you think this is too easy, us just wandering up here and planting a bone to solve all our problems?” Fowler said, glancing around nervously. “In my experience, nothing’s ever this simple.”

“Honestly, it’s about time something was easy,” Decker replied. “I’m due one.”

“Not sure it works like that,” Fowler said. “I think we should—”

The screech that echoed down the canyon cut him off mid-sentence.

Decker stopped and glanced skyward, searching the heavens for any sign of the creature. “I guess that answers your question. Happy now?” he said to Fowler.

“Not in the least.” Fowler reached for his gun. “This is one instance where I would truly love to be wrong.”

“It could’ve been anything,” Robyn said hopefully. “Coyote or even an owl.”

“That wasn’t a coyote or an owl,” Barnes replied, drawing his own service weapon. “And I think we all know it.”

“I like my interpretation better,” Robyn said, her voice cracking as she tried to swallow the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.

“I hoped the protection symbol I drew at the mine entrance would hold the creature back,” Decker said. “It appears I was wrong.”

“Unless it found another way out,” Barnes said.

“It doesn’t matter.” Fowler turned and looked up the trail toward the gravesite. “Creature or not, we must get that bone up there.”

“Which is why we need to keep moving,” Decker said. He gathered the group together and nudged them forward. “Just keep walking, fast as you can, and be alert. Remember, it can fly.”

“How could I forget,” Barnes said, hurrying along beside Decker. “The image of that thing dropping out of the darkness and coming toward us is burned into my memory forever.”

“Maybe it doesn’t know we’re here,” Robyn said. “If we’re lucky, it will leave us alone.”

“I wouldn’t bank on it.” Fowler was bringing up the rear, craning his neck to watch their rear. “Like I said, nothing ever goes easy.”

As if to prove him right, another screech ripped the air, this one closer.

Fowler stopped. He motioned for the others to keep going and pointed his gun upward. “You guys make a run for it. I’ll see if I can distract the damned thing.”

“Don’t be a fool.” Decker turned back. He took a step toward Fowler, hoping to dissuade him from his foolhardy plan.

He never got a chance.

Before Decker could reach the defiant FBI agent, a black shape dropped from the sky. Wings beating the air. Red eyes blazing. Then all hell broke loose on the ground.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Robyn screamed. Bullets started flying as the two FBI agents opened fire upon the angry creature. Decker leaped forward and took Robyn’s arm, steering her further up the trail and out of harm’s way. By the time he turned back, the Baykok was blocking the path behind them. Then Decker realized something else. Agent Fowler had stopped firing his gun and now stood transfixed with the weapon held in front of him like some kind of deadly offering.

Barnes was backing up, aware that his bullets were useless against the supernatural entity. He reached out and caught hold of Fowler’s collar, tried to pull him backwards, but the senior agent merely shrugged off his partner’s grip and walked forward, toward the Baykok.

“Elton,” Barnes shouted, using Special Agent Fowler’s first name. “Don’t look at it. Keep your eyes down.”

But if Fowler heard the frantic plea, he ignored it. And all the while, the creature stood waiting for its victim.

“It’s no use,” Decker said, drawing level with Barnes. “He’s already under its influence. Take Robyn and get her to safety. I’ll do what I can here.”

“No.” Barnes shook his head. “You take Robyn and get to that grave. You have Shilah’s bone in your backpack. You need to bury it again. That’s the best way to help. I’ll get Fowler, and if I can’t, I’ll follow along after.”

Decker knew the FBI agent was right, even though he didn’t want to admit it. He hated leaving a man behind, let alone two. But there was no choice. He met the agent’s gaze, briefly, and then sprinted back to Robyn, who was standing in mute horror, her eyes wide.

“We can’t just leave them here,” Robyn said, her voice strained. “We have to help.”

“The best way we can do that is to get Shilah’s bone back in the ground.” Decker took her elbow and attempted to steer her further up the trail. “The faster we do that, the quicker we can banish that thing back to hell.”

“All right.” Robyn nodded and started back up the trail, away from the stricken FBI agents. “Let’s do it, then.”

Decker breathed a sigh of relief. He cast a quick glance backwards to see Special Agent Fowler standing before the creature, waiting for his death. Several steps behind, Barnes was standing with his gun leveled. Decker couldn’t tell if he was aiming at the creature, or at his partner, ready to put him out of his misery if the need arose. Decker didn’t wait around to find out. He hurried after Robyn, moving faster than he would’ve liked across the uneven surface. But he’d barely gone twenty feet when an angry shriek blasted through the night, accompanied by a whoosh of air above his head.

Decker ducked instinctively and twisted sideways just as razor-sharp claws reached for the bag on his shoulder. The Baykok had abandoned its pursuit of the FBI agents and was now focusing its attention on him.

“It knows you have the bone,” Barnes shouted from his rear. “It’s trying to stop you reaching that grave.”

“I see that,” Decker replied, dropping to the ground, and rolling to the side of the trail as the creature made a second pass. It swooped overhead and then disappeared back into the dark sky.

“Throw me the bag.” Robyn was gesturing wildly. “Quickly. I can run faster than you.”

“Not going to happen.” Decker scrambled up and looked around wildly, wondering from which direction the Baykok would attack next. “You won’t stand a chance. It will rip you to pieces.”

“Not if it can’t catch me,” Robyn