She could feel him over her. Light glinted off the knife as it descended. “Love me, Beauty.” The haunting words snaked out of the darkness. “No!” She screamed, fighting back at the grotesque features. She dug her fingers in, wanting to free herself from the demon. She felt rough skin and tried to pull back. “Love me, Beauty.” The voice came again demanding that she comply. “No!” she cried. “No, I love Mark.” Her mind caught on the name and formed a picture of the man who held her heart. She clung to it and used it to pull her free of the nightmare. *** Light filtered in around the curtain, giving a faint illumination to the room. There was nothing threatening in the unfamiliar surroundings as Mark’s scent helped wipe away the dredges of the dream. Mark − a smile made its way to her lips canceling the last tendrils of fear. She pictured him the night before tucking her in bed, lying beside her, his arm draped over her, sheltering her.
