A loud screeching hurled at us, blowing a gust of glacial air that pressed us against the wall. I turned my head into Mase's with my eyes screwed shut, and he wrapped his arms around me as if to take me away from the horror.
A rotten stink radiated off of the ghostly thing, so thick my stomach rolled. It gave a low snarl then sniffed like it was testing the air. It sniffed again, this time much closer. If it had been alive, I'd feel its breath on my cheek. Quivers racked through my body, though I tried to stand still for fear any movement would help it detect me.
I ran my tongue over the metal, hoping, wishing, praying that it would be enough to change my energy. Go. Away.
A loud footstep boomed away from us. And another and another down the hallway and to the left. Randolph's door banged closed in front of us, making us both jump, then with our arms locked tight around each other, we ran as fast as we could into the safety of the dining room and slammed the door behind us.