The moment Michael pushed her aside to create space, his thumb pressed the answer button. Linsy, seated right beside him, couldn't escape the desperate, trembling voice that spilled from the speaker.

"Michael, I'm so scared... Can you come? I think I saw Ceci again, ah..!"

A blood-curdling scream was followed by the abrupt, ominous sound of the call disconnecting.

As Michael pocketed his phone, his instructions to the driver were clipped and absolute. "Take me to the hospital first. Then, you ...