Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Paul glanced at the closed bedroom door, willing it to open. The rest of the team was at the diner, all but him, Cain, Sammy, and Kerry.

Cain shook his head. "She needs to get up. The depression will worsen-"

"Shut it," Sammy barked. "Kerry's in trouble and you're shrink-wrapping-"

"Helping," Cain ground out. "I'm trying to help. Depression is the hardest stage to snap out of and it can consume you." The look in his eyes said he knew all about it.

"She'd be safer in the hotel, anyway. If she saw that thing again..." Sammy trailed off and looked at Paul with the same helplessness he'd been battling.

The terror seized him anew. Seeing Kerry in that sinkhole, not knowing if she was alive or dead, had killed a part of him. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. The very idea of losing her ripped the beat from his heart. Worse, they were all helpless to stand by and do virtually nothing until this thing had its final say.