Born at Midnight (Shadow Falls #1)(75)

-the person she had been. Soldier Dude. Blood streamed down his face. He reached inside his uniform and pul ed out a letter. He brought it to his lips and with his last breath, he kissed the envelope.

Kylie's heart ached for the loss. She didn't know him, but she cared. Cared that he had died. Cared that he had died trying to save someone. The woman sat up, looked at the dead soldier, and started screaming again, and so did Kylie. When she woke up, she was stil screaming, standing with her back against the kitchen wal in her cabin. Miranda and Del a, dressed in their pajamas, stood in front of her, staring.

Kylie let go of her tension and felt herself slide down the wal . Her throat felt raw, her heart raced.

"She's having a night terror," Miranda said from far away.

Kylie wanted to believe it, but no. She'd never remembered the others. This time she remembered. Somehow she knew that this had been more than just a dream. This was how Soldier Dude had died.

* * *

Kylie sat there for a good ten minutes, assuring Del a and Miranda she was fine. When they final y went back to bed, Kylie returned to her bedroom. Realizing she couldn't sleep, she got dressed and went to see Holiday. The camp leader had told Kylie if she ever needed her, night or day, she could come to her cabin. Kylie was about to find out if Holiday real y meant it.

Moving down the path toward Holiday's cabin, Kylie couldn't help but notice how the night seemed void of noise. Not a bird, not even the shuffle of a raccoon. In her mind, she heard the woman's screams again and saw the soldier take his last breath. Tears dampened Kylie's face. She brushed them away, not wanting to be crying when she got to Holiday's cabin.

Suddenly, the dark silence shattered. Kylie heard arguing in the woods. The voices were gone just as quick as they'd begun, though. The hairs rose on the back of her neck. She ignored the fear of the unknown and focused on what she knew. The soldier was dead. He'd died trying to save someone. She kept walking. Holiday's cabin was only another five minutes away.

She took another step, and that's when she felt someone move into place behind her.

That's when she felt the hand grab her arm and jerk her back.

"You shouldn't be out now," the eerily familiar voice snarled.

Chapter Thirty-three

Kylie swung around. It felt as if her heart jumped up and slammed against her tonsils. As soon as she saw it was Sky, Kylie breathed a sigh of relief.

"You scared me," she said.

When Sky's hold tightened, Kylie's relief started to vanish. "I ... I need to speak to Holiday. She said if I needed her, I could come. It didn't matter what time."

Sky continued to stare, but her grip final y lightened. "What do you need to see her about?"

"I had another bad dream. Only I remembered this one. The ghost was there."

Sky dropped her hold and then stepped back as if she wanted no part of Kylie's ghost. "Do you know which cabin is hers?"

Kylie nodded. Sky motioned for Kylie to continue, and she did. Even so, Kylie felt Sky watching her as she took each step. Kylie wasn't sure why and then it final y hit her that Sky probably thought Kylie was going to or coming from a hookup with a boy. Kylie stopped in front of Holiday's cabin door and knocked. A few seconds later, the camp leader, wearing a big night shirt, opened the door.

"Kylie?" Layers of concern fil ed Holiday's voice. "Is everything okay?"

The distress in Holiday's voice opened up Kylie's floodgates again. Tears formed in her eyes and her throat grew tighter. "No." Kylie shook her head side to side. "It's not okay."

Holiday pul ed Kylie inside and wrapped her in a solid hug. Kylie al owed herself to be held by someone who seemed to understand. When the hug ended, Kylie told her, "I think I know what the ghost wants from me."

* * *

When the sun rose, Kylie stil sat on Holiday's sofa, going over and over the dream. The camp leader confirmed what Kylie had suspected. It hadn't been a normal night terror, but an out-of-body experience. The ghost had brought Kylie into his last memories. Holiday agreed that Kylie could be right, that the ghost might have been accused of committing the crime he'd died trying to stop, and now he wanted someone to let the world know he wasn't the vil ain. Nevertheless, Holiday also said that it was seldom that easy.

"Do you think he's going to try to do this again?" Kylie asked, hugging her knees. While she wouldn't deny that she had a newfound respect for the man, even found her heart grieving for him, she didn't want to do this again. Every time she remembered that woman's screams, remembered pul ing the trigger to kil the woman's attacker, she felt sick.

Holiday squeezed Kylie's hand. "I don't think ghosts realize it's as hard as it is on us. They can be relentless at times."

Kylie shook her head. "I can't do this, Holiday. I'm not brave enough." Her insides started shaking again. Holiday sighed. "You're doing fine. And I'm here whenever you need me, Kylie. Why don't you go to your cabin and get some sleep? Take the day off and just rest."

"What if it happens again?"

Holiday reached for a pad of paper. "I'm giving you my cel number and if you need me, I'm just a phone cal away."

Isn't that what her father had said? But another hug from Holiday and Kylie almost believed her.

* * *