Pandora's Daughter

'Perhaps.' She took a deep breath. 'I'd better go and talk to him. Go back to the quarry, Megan.'

Megan shook her head.

'Do as I tell you,' her mother said sharply. 'This is my business. You know the cave on the other side of the hill? Go inside and stay there until I come for you.'

'I'm going with you.'

'You're not going with me. Get up the hill to that cave. Now.'

Megan still hesitated.

'Listen, Megan, it's going to be fine. I just have to talk to him and I don't want an audience.' She started down the hill. Her voice lashed like a whip. 'Get going!'

'Okay, but if you don't come in twenty minutes, I'm coming after you.' Megan turned and started back up the hill at a run.

It wasn't right.

No matter what her mother said, something was very wrong.

KILL THE BASTARD.

Neal Grady's knife sliced across the man's throat and the blood spurted. He pushed him away and let him drop to the ground.

He didn't give him another glance as he tore across the road and through the stand of trees.

He was too late.

Grady cursed as he half slid, half ran down the shale incline toward the woman lying crumpled at the bottom of the slope.

Dead?

Not yet, but close. Very close.

He knelt down bedside her and could feel his eyes sting. 'Sarah, dammit.'

Sarah slowly opened her eyes. 'Hello, Neal. I'm glad… you're here. But you… shouldn't curse a dying woman.'

'Shut up. Save your strength. Maybe there's something I can do.'

She shook her head. 'Not for me. You know better. But Megan… I tried to run and keep him away from her. But he saw her. He… saw her. He'll go after her.'

'No, he won't,' he said grimly. 'I was too late for you but not for him. I cut the son of a bitch's throat.'

'Good. Megan will… I'm getting cold, Neal. I can't die yet. I have to tell you-'

'God, you're such a fool, Sarah,' he said unsteadily. 'I told you to leave here six months ago. You should have run. You should have hidden Megan away.'

'I felt safe. I thought you were wrong. I didn't want to pull Megan away again. I've tried so hard to let her have a normal life. Not like mine. Not like yours.' She inhaled sharply. 'Everything is getting… hazy. I didn't expect it to be like this. I'm… frightened. You can help me, can't you?'

He nodded. 'I can help you.'

'I thought you could. Could I… touch you?'

'Yes.' He lay down beside her and gathered her close. 'Just relax, Sarah.'

'I can't relax. Not yet. Megan. You have to help Megan.'

'For God's sake, you didn't even prepare her. You lied to her. I don't know if I can do anything for her.' Try.

'I can't promise you. You know what's going to happen once you leave her.'

'Try,' she repeated. 'Please, Neal.'

'No promises.' He gently stroked her cheek. 'I'll see what I can do.'

'I know you will. She's strong, Neal. Much stronger than I am. She has a chance… You'll take care of her. You… like her. You like… my Megan.'

'Yes. Now be quiet and rest.'

She was silent for only a moment. 'Neal, I'm… not a Pandora.'

'You are,' he whispered. 'But it doesn't matter now. Hold on to me. I'll help you through it.'

'I was hoping you would.' She nestled closer. 'Yes, help me…'

She let him take control. Warmth replacing coldness, light floods the darkness, glittering sanity instead of a world of madness.

'Thank you, Neal,' she whispered.

'Shh, just let go…'

MEGAN SCREAMED.

Neal stiffened as the agonized sound tore through him.

Dammit, Sarah had just drifted away from him and Megan was already feeling the release.

Pain.

He gently pushed Sarah away from him and sat up.

Another jolt of agony.

He had to get to her before she tore herself apart.

Before she tore him apart.

Find her.

Where are you, Megan?

More pain.

Mindless panic and agony.

Find her.

Help her.

Find her.

MAMA!

Megan huddled against the wall of the cave as pain tore through her.

Not Pandora. Not Pandora. Not Pandora.

Voices. Babble. Screams.

Not Mama's voice. Where are you, Mama?

Gone.

But the voices weren't gone. They assaulted her, beat her, stabbed her.

Go away. Go away. Go away.

Help me, Mama.

No, Mama.

Gone.

Panic seared through her. She was alone with the voices that were tearing at her, killing her.

She screamed again. Help me.

'There's only one way I can help you, Megan.'

A man was standing in the entrance of the cave. Dark, slim, tall. Was it the same man whom her mother had gone down to see?

Mama had gone and not come back.

Gone.

No, it wasn't that stranger. It was Neal Grady. Relief surged through her. Neal would help her.

Neal standing behind someone. The gleam of steel as his knife sliced across a throat. Blood spurting…

Murder.

Mama? Mama's throat?

No!

She instinctively launched herself at his knees and brought him down.

Another wave of voices struck her and she crumpled in agony.

'Stop fighting me,' he said hoarsely. 'I'm not going to hurt you.'

She bit his wrist.

'My God, Sarah was right. You're much stronger than she ever was.'