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 ...