Chapter 40

The rocks slipped from her fingers and rolled to the soil. "Huh?" she said, hearing him for the first time.

Xander nodded his head vigorously. "Yes, it's an illusion. I almost fell for it too. Something in this place is not right." He stared at the trees, then back to her. "I'm sure you sense it like I do. There are no people or animals."

"You haven't seen anyone?" she asked.

Uncertainty displayed on his eyes. "I did. One. But I can't say that she's a person. She...