Petrified Forest

Divide and conquer.

Drew quieted his mind and steadied his breathing, then reached out with The Knowing. He hoped that something as familiar as fear would be revealed by an obvious emotional tag, something he could identify and latch onto. Whether Drew could grapple with the man's fear and then take control, well, that was another matter.

Ignore everything but the emotions of the superstitious man.

All at once the jungle around him disappeared as though a dark shroud had been pulled over the trees, the bushes, and the rocks. The flames of the campfire turned pale, a stain of gray light in a void of utter darkness. The humid air, alive with the droning of insects, thickened, and the sound trailed away as though disappearing down a funnel. Beneath it all, a faint pounding like the beat of a distant bass drum floated on the wind.

The pounding quickened, closer now, each beat echoing. Bump - bump, bump - bump, bump - bump. The beats grew more intense until at last the sound resonated deep inside his head. A heart beat, racing faster and faster, until the beats joined in one continuous stream.

Diaz was aware of a presence invading his mind. The intrusion into his emotions whipped him into a state of panic.

But Drew had to delve further still.