Chapter15: Predatory

That night, Jaxx slept with the ease of a babe, undaunted by harrowing dreams or frightening premonitions. The void that she had so desperately fought to escape on the astral plane now welcomed her with a warm embrace, and it was at last peaceful inside her mind.

It was only when something slipped over her head that she snapped upright in the bed, a flailing mess of limbs and blankets.

Unable to see, she took a blind swing in the darkness and heard someone groan and then stumble backward.

Her hands tore at the hood obscuring her vision and she saw in the streams of light from her window, Richard doubled over at the side of her bed.

“What the h*ll, Richard?”

“Ow, G*d…” he groaned and then stood upright.

“You have about three seconds to tell me what’s going on?”

“Ritual…” he grimaced and rubbed the spot where her fist had connected. “Hazing.”

Jaxx blinked as she threw the covers off herself and swung her legs off the edge of the bed. She stood up and threw a hand into the air.