A great wind blasted through the room. Everyone was tossed in a different direction by an invisible force they couldn’t stop. Pieces of furniture flew up against the walls; some smashed to splinters. The windows and TV screen cracked with a sharp noise; the light bulbs overhead exploded in showers of sparks.

Amy landed hard on her shoulder and grunted as pain shot through her. She scrambled to recover, though, and forced herself to sit back up. Miss Dola lay against one wall, groaning and trying to climb to her hands and knees. Dad was on the floor rubbing his head; Mom wasn’t moving.

In the center of the room, Rover stood over Katie, staring down at the little girl as she lay flat on her back. His body was all hot spot now, with lidless black eyes set in scabby, cracked sockets and drool pouring from between his exposed teeth. Katie looked up at him with her eyes wide and mouth hanging open, witnessing her beloved dog’s true face for the first time.

“G-g-good boy, Rover,” whispered Katie.

The dog lowered his head, and for the first time since they’d gotten him, Amy heard a growl come out of his mouth.

Chapter 26: Hellhound

Katie tried to crab-walk back, but Rover stepped forward and snarled at her from his horrible, infected-looking muzzle. Katie cried and threw her arm over her eyes.

Amy felt her sharp, unspeakable terror curdle into rage.

Her little sister, crying on the floor. This horrible dog, growling at them. After how many times Katie had stood up for it. After what it had done to her family.

She smelled herbs, and her eyes spied the cleanser bundle on the floor, still red and smoking at one end. It came to her at once, and in a dash she had the bundle of herbs in her hand and was on her feet.

“HEY, ROVER!” Amy shouted.

The dog swung his scabby muzzle to face her.

“BAD DOG!”

Without hesitation, she shoved the burning end of the herbs in his eye. Rover yelped and stumbled back, wiping at his face with one hairless leg. Amy took the opportunity to snatch Katie’s arm, pull her up, and run, the sound of Rover’s snarling and coughing ringing out behind them.

She ran to the front door, yanked it half-open—and it slammed. She ran to one of the windows, but it shut hard as she reached for it, pinching the tips of her fingers and making her cry out. Behind her, the snarling got louder. They needed to run, Amy thought, anywhere but here.