243 The Dark Rider and the Wild Hunt

"Where are you?" I yelled to the Dark Rider, marching through the alley behind the hospital in the pouring rain. "Or aren't you man enough to face me?"

"Jessica...." Michael warned in a sing-song voice, following close behind. "You're playing with fire."

But I ignored him, heading toward the park on the side of the hospital. "Dark Rider, where are you? Release Dakota! I'm here! I'm who you want! But let him go!"

Suddenly the rain came down harder as the wind began to swirl. All of a sudden, a dark, hooded figure road into the park on the far side but there were other riders with him. He was at the head of the pack. Women and men rode with him on horseback, letting him take the lead... and they were headed straight for us. Then I remembered what Dakota had said and instantly knew.