Read Online And Then Came A Lion (Lions and Lambs Book 1) by Cecilia Marie Pulliam - Free Book Online

and I bet it’ll scare you as much as it scares me, if you even believe me.”
    “Try me.”
    What would it hurt? If he didn’t believe her, nothing would change, but if he did maybe he could help sort out all of her feelings.
    “All right. It all started with a dream…”
    He didn’t say a word during her narrative, and she had to give him credit, not once did he grimace, smile, or look skeptical.
    “And this started recently?”
    “Yes.”
    “And others can corroborate these premonitions with actual occurrences?”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Yes.”
    “Just trying to clarify. To be honest, this is beyond my expertise. I can assist with the trauma of the attack and the related issues, but you will need to discuss your psychic experiences with a specialist in that field.” He reached into his drawer and fished out a card. “I can recommend someone…”
    ***
    Rachel set the steaming mug on the table and sat opposite Susannah. “So, he concurred it is a psychic phenomenon, at least the premonitions?”
    Susannah nodded.
    “Are you going to call the specialist?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know. It was bad enough talking to the counselor.”
    “Are you going back to address your other issues?”
    “You mean the nightmares and panic attacks?”
    “Yes, and the other related issues.”
    “I still debating.”
    “I see.”
    “It’s hard to talk about, Rachel. And, I don’t want to remember any of it, except that the child is safe. But, I want my life back. I want the chance to have a family and I don’t want any more dreams.”
    “Understandable. Maybe you’d prefer to talk our pastor. At the very least, he could offer prayers.”
    “You and I can pray, won’t that count?”
    “Of course it does.”
    They joined hands and bowed their heads.
    Rachel led the prayer. “Lord, bring your peace and protection to Susannah. Show her the way to heal, forgive, and move on. And, protect the children. Keep them safe from all evil. Amen.”
    Susannah raised her head. “Amen.”
    “Now what is your plan?”
    “I have absolutely no idea.”
    ***
    The nightmare began with Susannah trapped in a tree by a horde of snarling bears. The animals circled, stood on hind legs, and stretched upward. At twice the size of the largest Kodiak bear, they couldn’t climb, but even so, her perch near the top of the tree barely kept her out of their reach. One particularly huge animal repeatedly slammed his full weight against the trunk. The tree shook, swayed, and threatened to snap. Her feet wobbled, almost slipping on the thin branch. Susannah tightened her grip and prayed.
    The many animals merged into one. The massive creature rose to an incredible height. It glared at her through red pig-eyes and opened a cavernous mouth.
    Susannah snapped on the bedside lamp and looked at her clock, three in the morning. Unwilling to face the possibility of another dream, she slipped out from under the covers, tiptoed out of the room, and down the stairs to the kitchen. She filled a glass with water, drank, and refilled the glass. From the kitchen, she went to the den, sat in her chair and picked up her book. She read until she could no longer focus on the page, turned out the light, and went upstairs. With each step, she prayed for sleep, a black void she could sink into until morning.

Chapter Seven
     
    Susannah studied her reflection closely. Over the course of the last few months, the bruises disappeared, the post-op pain was gone, but not the nightmares. They were intensifying. She had survived each encounter with the monstrous creature so far, but with each dream, the violence escalated. If she failed to win, what would happen then?
    She turned away from the mirror. Part of her did want help, but another wanted drugs, anything to make it all go away. Another part wanted to run, but that wouldn’t work either. She couldn’t run from herself.
    So, that left her with only one choice, more counseling. She went downstairs and dialed her