A New Fear Read Online Free Page B

scream. She forced herself to remain motionless as the rats gathered around her.
    I have to maintain my strength. For Nicholas. I must remain strong.
    She shot out one hand and snatched one of the rats. It squirmed in her fist, squealing.
    Nora broke its neck with a sharp twist, and ripped off its head.
    The other rats scattered.
    The rat’s warm, thick blood oozed across Nora’s hand, thawing her icy fingers.
    She tilted her head back, fighting against her revulsion. Have to stay strong for Nicholas. Have to stay strong.
    Nora held the rat over her open mouth and squeezed tightly. Its blood dripped onto her tongue and rolled down her throat.
    The door to the cargo hold banged open. Light spilled in through the doorway.
    Nora tossed the rat away and wiped the sticky blood from her mouth. She picked Nicholas up and scooted behind a stack of wooden crates.
    Footsteps echoed through the hold. Nora watched the light from a lantern bounce across the floor and walls.
    The light moved closer and closer. The footsteps grew louder.
    Nora held her breath.
    Then the light moved away.
    All grew still. Silent.
    Where is the man? she wondered. Is he going to leave?
    Nora held her breath. Please leave! she thought. Please go away and leave us in peace.
    Nora strained to hear something that would give away the man’s location. But she heard nothing. Not even the scurrying of the rats.
    Nora’s heart thudded. She waited. Where is the man? Where is he?
    Cautiously, she inched forward and peered around the wooden crates.
    Large, rough hands grabbed her and yanked her to her feet.
    “I knew I heard more than rats moving around down here,” the man cried.
    Nora struggled to break free.
    “Do you know what we do with stowaways?” he demanded. Nora shook her head. “We throw them to the sharks!”
    The man narrowed his eyes and studied her. Nora’s thoughts raced. What is he going to do to me? I have to keep him away from Nicholas.
    “Give me that necklace you are wearing and I will not tell anyone you are here,” the man ordered.
    “But it was a gift from—”
    “I want it,” he snarled. “And one way or another, I will have it. You can give it to me or I will take it.”
    He wrapped his fingers around the silver chain.
    “No!” Nora shrieked. The amulet grew warm against her skin.
    “I want it!” he growled. He twisted the chain and gave it a hard jerk.
    The chain tightened around her neck and dug into her throat. She gasped for air. She struggled to squeeze her fingers underneath the chain. Air. She needed air.
    Darkness surrounded her. Her hands fell limply to her sides.
    Nicholas. Who would take care of Nicholas?
    From far away Nora heard the man utter a shrill scream of agony. The pressure around her throat eased.
    Damp, salty air rushed into her lungs. She forced her eyes open and looked at the man. If she had had the strength, she would have screamed.
    Rats swarmed over the man. They dropped on him from the rafters. They scurried up his pant legs. They crawled down the collar of his shirt.
    More rats jumped from the crates, fighting for a place on his twisting and thrashing body. The rats scratched and chewed until Nora could see pieces of the man’s white bones.
    Nora’s stomach twisted as she watched the rats. They ripped at the man with their claws and their sharp yellow teeth. One rat yanked away a chunk of the man’s earlobe. One pulled off a tiny piece of his eyelid.
    The man howled in agony—and one of the rats leapt into his mouth.
    The man fell to the floor. He curled himself into a tight ball. Nora heard him whimpering.
    Whimpering as the rats fed on his flesh.
    What if they are still hungry when they have finished? Nora thought.
    She positioned herself in front of Nicholas’s makeshift cradle and stared at the rats.
    They would have to get through her before they touched her baby.

Chapter 7

    H eavy footsteps pounded down the stairs.
    The door crashed open and men poured in. Sailors, shipmen,