PETAR TOOK THE BED near the door; Jem got the window. The hotel's third floor wasn't high enough to discount a forced entry through the window, but the door still presented the endemic threat.

Not that he expected to be found, but just in case.

It was still barely five o'clock, but both were exhausted. Petar had been awake for nearly forty-eight hours, and something about this world seemed to hang extra heavy on his shoulders, pulling him into a deep, dream-filled sleep. He passed out at the exact moment that Special Agent Bill Brodham was pulled from the nightmare world of the Koschei's mind on the soft shoulder of a woodland road eighty miles to the northwest.

After about five minutes, Jem dropped into the realms of slumber beside him. The last ochre rays of light faded as the sun dipped to the other side of the world.

The room was silent but for the hushed breathing of the two forms curled under matching comforters.

Neither of them noticed the shadow pass over the window.

Neither of them heard the door creak softly on its hinges.

Thanks for reading my story! Please VOTE and let me know what you think of it so far, then check out Chapter 35!