pulse was very weak and thready. Her body temperature was extremely low. He couldn’t believe she was still alive.

He sucked in a quick gasp when he saw the raw wound on her neck and the telltale marks of a vampire bite marring her smooth skin. Shit. Vampires in the Adirondacks? He looked around superstitiously even though he knew they were alone in the woods. That would explain the lack of color and tepid temperature of her little body.

“Honey, can you hear me? I need to get you to a hospital,” he said as he slowly tried to pull her out of the crevice. He was sure she had to be unconscious, but she was fighting him with what little strength she had left. “Please, you need to letme get you out of here.”

She either passed out or gave in to his steady pulling because in a moment she was out from between the rocks and in his arms. She looked to be twelve or thirteen years of age. Long brown hair hung limply from her head. It was matted with sticks and mud. She had crusted blood around her mouth and deep bruises on her face and arms. Her clothes were nothing but tatters, and he noticed that she was barefoot. Very carefully he laid her on the ground and pulled off his coat. He quickly wrapped it around her and hefted her little body back into his arms.

“Hang on, hon. I’m going to get you help as fast as I can,” he said to