Yes, I had. Hanging onto a metal ladder in a hot engine room with a vampire below me and a hatch slammed shut in my face. I knew exactly how it felt. “If we don’t make it out, then every single mortal trapped in this realm is as good as dead. I have to get back to the real world.” It was a new feeling, seeing such anger directed at me from my wife. It hurt a lot worse than my physical injuries. “You’ve got to trust—”

“Shut up.” Julie held up a hand. “I’ve got something on the radio. John? Are you okay?”

I picked it up in my headset. The voice of the Nachtmar was deep, thick, hoarse, and every bit as chilling as his physical presence. “You will not escape me that easily, Chosen…For I know what you are now. I can see the chains of destiny you wear. I will take your chains. I will taste your fear and I will grow strong. My essence lingers upon you. There is no escape for you.”

If he concentrated his energies on me, then he wouldn’t be able to expend them against the other Hunters. “Come and get me, alp.”

“A word. There are many words. That is the wrong word.” The Nachtmar hissed. “Your learned humans were fools. They believed I am less than I am. They did not capture me as they captured my children. They did not take me from this place. I allowed them to take me from this place. They did not use me. I used them. I am king here. I have been and always will be. They did not give me thought. I have tasted the fear of Chosen before. I took their words and made them mine. I took their words and told new stories. When dogs feasted upon the bodies in the streets of Bactria, I was there. The harvesters of flesh allowed me to harvest their dreams. I am and always will be. This is my finest vessel yet, and I will not allow you to take him from me until the superior vessel is ripe.”

I was developing a rapidly sinking feeling that this thing wasn’t an ordinary alp.

“I have travelled the dark paths of your mind world. Many of your paths are closed to me by the Others. Your mind is a cage. It contains stories that only wish to be told, but humans fear the freedom of the words. I will break through your mind cage. I will taste your fear. I will take your words and tell your story. I will take your chains. You will become a harvester of the flesh on my behalf. In my name. For I am and always will be.”

The chopper shook as we were buffeted with winds that were stupidly dangerous to be flying in. “Skippy, are you seeing anything up there that looks like Earth yet?”

“Pretty lights,” Skippy answered over the rattling and squealing warning sirens.