Heart pounding so loud it threatened to burst through her chest, she quickened her pace, grasping her store bag with the books inside in one hand, ready to swing if needed., and her keys in the other, ends protruding between her fingers the way she’d heard from a friend years ago who’d taken a self defense class. This was silly, she told herself. It wasn’t as though she’d actually seen anyone or heard anything. She just had the eerie feeling that someone was following her.
Spying her car close in front, she focused on it as she passed the others that were parked on the street along the walk. Almost there, she breathed, startled when she caught a glimpse of movement in her peripheral vision. Glancing that way, she nearly screamed when she collided with something in front of her.
“Are you all right, miss?” The stranger asked.
Catching her breath, she looked up at him and nodded unable to speak.
“What has you so fearful?” His tone soothing, he smiled, perfect teeth in a perfect face, features chiseled like a men’s magazine ad.
Feeling foolish, she didn’t know how to respond; particularly to the specter before her.
In dark dress slacks, a crisp white button down shirt and sport jacket, his hair perfectly combed, his angular features, most noticeably the subdued, intelligent eyes and just the right degree of stubble, he was the classic definition of handsome.
“I’m just being silly.” She hedged. “I’ve just been at a book signing. The author’s topic is… interesting.”
His brows lifted. “You mean the aliens?”
She felt her face color. “You? I mean, I…”
He chuckled reassuringly. “Yes, I’m interested in that sort of thing also.”
Now she exhaled the breath she didn’t even realize she’d been holding. “Were you at the reading?”
“Of course.” He nodded.
Wonder at how she could have missed seeing him there flashed across her mind.
“I stayed out of the way in the back.” He explained.
How did he know what she was thinking?
“Can I see you safely to your car?” He offered and added in a conspiratorial tone, leaning toward her just enough not to be threatening. “You never know who might be lurking about.”
For a moment, she didn’t know what to do. It gave her a chill but he seemed harmless enough. How could she graciously refuse? She started toward the car, relieved when he walked alongside her without getting too close.
When they arrived at her car, he stepped back and watched as she rounded behind the trunk and unlocked the driver’s side door.
Relieved that he remained on the sidewalk, she smiled as she opened the door and tossed her package across to the passenger seat. Looking toward him again, she said. “Thank you. I really don’t know why I was acting so foolishly.”
“You can’t be too careful.” He assured. “Good night, then.”
“Good night.” As she drove away, she couldn’t resist a backward glance.
He stood there staring after her.
It gave her just a moment’s pause then she chided herself. As attractive as he was, why didn’t she even ask his name? Find some way of forming a connection for something more later perhaps? Well, no use wondering about it now. She’d made it safely to her car and was on her way home.
By the time she got home, she had all but forgotten the handsome stranger. She had aassured herself that she hadn’t been in any real danger and since she’d more assuredly never see him again, conveniently wiped it from her memory. Besides, she was anxious to get into the books she’d purchased at tonight’s reading.
Entering the little house she rented, she set her purse on the small table in the entry way, turned the hall light off and took the bag she held to her chair in the corner and turned the light on beside it. She pushed the books aside that were also on the table to make room for the one she took from the bag. The others she left inside and set the bag on the floor in front.
The house was dark and quiet and for a moment, she felt a quiver of uneasiness. Silly, she thought. In her own house, and in this neighborhood, she was perfectly safe. Brushing the discomfiture aside, she ran a hand over the cover of the book as she contemplated a moment before opening it.
Funny, she thought, that she should be reading about aliens, AI and UFOs or UAPs as they were more often called these days. She had never been given to wild imaginations, fantasies or what many people considered conspiracy theories.
Her sister, the religious nut, had talked for years about what she called “the last days” and the weird things that could happen any time. Such things were silly, she’d reasoned. Lately though, it seemed that everywhere she turned, people were talking about it — the alien aspect, at least, not the “rapture” as her sister called it, beasts, marks and whatever —; at work, online and even the government was giving some credence to the concept.
She didn’t like to seem out of touch with current events so she’d started investigating on her own. Quickly, it had captured her interest. So many of the accounts, some of the reports from people visiting locations and what they’d seen were so credible, she wanted to know all she could about it.
Her fascination had only increased as she poured over the information in the books she read until very late in the evening. The idea that ancient civilizations had existed on earth with knowledge and technology that even now surpassed anything in the scientific and artistic realms captivated her so that she could hardly sleep.
Who were they? Where did they come from? What had they wanted and where had they gone? With so little sleep, she did something she rarely ever did: she stopped at a local coffee shop on her way to work. She would need assistance to stay focused through the workday.
It felt like sleepwalking, she was so groggy. It irritated. She’d had nights before when she’d stayed up later than she should reading or binge watching something on T. She knew better but here she was So distracted, she collided with a customer as she stepped inside. Her embarrassment made her face color as she gasped. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry!”
The laughter came deep and rich. “Seems we’re destined to run into each other.”
Inhaling sharply, she realized it was the same man she’d run into – literally – the night before. Perplexed, she frowned but didn’t speak.
“Can I get you some coffee?” He offered politely.
“I should be buying you one.” She murmured sheepishly, grateful as she observed that his hadn’t spilled.
“Nonsense.” He assured. “No harm done. Let me get it. You look like you could use it. Why don’t you have a seat?”
Her discomfort increased. She must look terrible and he could have stepped from the pages of a magazine.
“Come on.” He urged, guiding her to a table by the window. “Have a cup with me.”
“I don’t have time.” She apologized. “To sit, I mean. I have to get to work.”
“Don’t be silly.” He assured. “There’s plenty of time.”
About to argue, she glanced at her phone. What?! She puzzled. How had she miscalculated her time? Could she really have slept another hour?
“I’ll be right back.” He assured. “You look like a latte, double shot of espresso. Am I right?”
Mouth agape, she nodded. How in the world…? She watched as he headed to the counter where there was a short queue. Exhausted as she was, she stared out the window in a daze.
“Here you are.” He declared, extending the large cup toward her.
Gratefully, she took it; today would require a generous boost of caffeine. Lifting it slowly to her lips, she murmured. “Thank you.”
“I was hoping to run into you again. Not literally, of course…” His charming grin seemed to light his whole countenance.”
“You were?” She muttered sleepily. What was wrong with her? Faced with this gorgeous, clearly interested man, why couldn’t she pull herself together?
He nodded. “I saw that you bought an autographed copy of the book after the reading. I was curious to know what you thought of it.”
“The reading was okay.” She replied, pondering.
A vague disappointment flitted across his face and he sat back a little.
“But when I got home, I started reading the book. I couldn’t put it down.” Taking another sip of her coffee, soothing and comforting, she languished a moment.
“Really? Why?”
“Fascinating stuff.” She smiled genuinely, feeling some invigoration now. “Hence the sleepwalk. And the need for caffeine.”
Obviously intrigued now, he sat forward and leaned in. “What captivated you?”
Interesting terminology, she thought, but dismissed it. Taking a another sip of coffee and a breath, she pondered. “Well, for instance, all the evidence around the earth of ancient civilizations, the technology they had and what they built. I mean, where did they come from? And what happened to them?”
He nodded, smiling. “What else?”
“Well, what about all the reports that people have seen — and even been abducted by — aliens. Where were they taken and what did they want?” She paused. “I mean, I used to think that people who claimed those things were loopy.”
“And now?”
“I never knew the facts of some of the odd findings related to some of these sights. And, I mean, even the government is talking about it now. It can’t be all fantasy, right?”
“Right.” His expression appeared pleased. “So what do you think now?”
She thought for a moment. “I’m not sure what to think.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
With a frown, she replied. “Do about it?”
“Don’t you want to know for sure?”
“How is that possible?”
Taking a sip of his own coffee, he just regarded her intently.
It gave her an odd feeling. She looked at her phone thinking it had to be getting late. She was stunned to see they’d only been talking a few minutes. There was still plenty of time to get to work. A chill ran up her spine. She couldn’t decide if it was fatigue, intrigue at how attractive he was or something else. Taking a sip of her own coffee, the silence became awkward. She broke it. “Well, listen, I’ve got to get to work.”
He just continued to watch.
She rose from her seat.
“I’m sure we’ll see each other again.”
It was her turn to stare as another chill raced up her spine.
With a dazzling grin, he answered her unspoken question. “People of like interests always do.”
Relieved, she nodded with a smile and rushed out, eagerly suddenly for the comfort of her cubicle.
Her energy had increased as the day went on and she’d thought little of the two random encounters with the handsome stranger, though she chuckled at her own foolishness. She still didn’t know his name.
With Thai takeout, she arrived home, anxious to dive in again to the fascinating subject she’d explored the previous night.
She barely touched her food as she eagerly grabbed her tablet and began searching some of the links referenced in the book. Fascinated by the archaeological dig at Gobleki Tepe and in South America, she felt intrigued as she wondered if the mythology she’d been so fascinated with in high school could be real.
Could there really be creatures part human and part something else, like centaurs, satyrs and such? What about dragons and fairies? How cool would that be? Might there still be such beings, as some believed in other places around the world?
Once again, it got late. This time, having been up too late the night before, her head began to ache. As she turned out the lights and prepared to turn in, she noticed a bright light coming from her front window. With a frown, she lifted a slat of the shade to find the source.
Hmmm, she wondered. How did her outside light get on? She almost never used it and couldn’t imagine why she would have turned it on. Too tired to give it much thought, she turned it out and made her way to the bedroom. Exhausted, she slept without dreaming.
Driving by the coffee shop, she had a brief thought of going in, hoping perhaps to find the handsome stranger there but already pushing her arrival time, she thought better of it.
The day seemed long but when nearly over, her phone went off with a text alert. She picked it up and groaned inwardly.
Hey, Thinking about you Wanna get dinner? Her sister, Mallory.
As much as she wanted to get home to her reading and research, she decided. Why not? She almost enjoyed baiting her sister with her agnosticism. Now, with what she was learning, she might have a real case to make.
Her eyes scanned the area where the high top tables were when she entered the restaurant, despite knowing her sister would never sit in the trendy area, since that’s where the bar was. Maybe, she hoped, she’d arrived first and could provoke her sister by taking a table there.
She sighed as something caught her peripheral vision. Of course, there sat her sister in one of the stodgy boots where all the families sat. Already there were several tables with young kids. Hoping her sister didn’t see the eye roll, she forced a smile as she made her way over.
“Hey!” Mallory greeted cheerfully, getting up to hug her.
Barely squeezing back, she quickly disengaged, slid into the opposite side of the booth and replied. “Hey.”
“Haven’t seen you for a while.” Mallory went on as though she hadn’t noticed. “What’s up?”
She shrugged and then decided to jump right in as they waited for wait staff to approach. “I went to a book signing the other night.”
“Yeah?” Mallory never feigned interest but usually tried to remain neutral.
“Anyone I would have heard of?”
As the tired-looking girl set menus in front of them and gave her spiel, she replied with the author’s name. “He’s just written a new book.”
“AI, aliens and UAPs or something, right?” Mallory ventured cautiously, her gaze focused on the laminated sheet in front of her.
Surprised, she looked up. “Yeah. You know it?”
“I haven’t read it. Have you?”
“I’ve been reading it since the signing. How do you know about it?”
Taking a sip of her water, she shrugged. “A lot of interest in that kind of thing these days.”
Unhunh. She thought. Here we go.
“I didn’t know you were into it at all.”
Nodding as she perused her own menu, she answered. “Well, like you said, a lot of people talking about stuff like that. And, you know I’ve always had a thing for mythology and whatever.”
“Mmm.” Was her reply as she came to a decision and set her menu on the edge of the table.
“Ok. What?” Might as well get any unpleasantness over.
Mallory shook her head. “Nothing. I’ve been looking into some of that myself.”
She couldn’t hide her surprise but waited until they’d given the server their order before responding. “Really.”
“Yeah. It has to do with end time prophecy.” Mallory could see the veil go up behind her eyes. “I won’t bore you with it, but there’s a lot of truth in those reports.”
Now she grinned. “Unhunh. Kind of disproves your whole ideology, doesn’t it?”
“No. On the contrary, it actually proves it.”
“How so?”
“Do you really want to hear it? It’s right there in the bible if you dig a little.”
“Mmm. Well, maybe not.”
Her sister nodded. “If you get curious, just let me know.”
Fat chance, she thought.
They finished their meal with light, menial conversation and parted pleasantly; a welcome change.
Just as she made her way to the door, something caught her eye.
It was the stranger; alone at one of the high top tables.
She considered going over but thought better of it. A guy like him could hardly be alone.
He spotted her just as she was turning for the door. With a broad smile, he lifted a hand inconspicuously and beckoned her to join him.
Hesitating only a moment, she walked casually toward his table. “Hello.”
“Hello.” He smiled broadly. “Join me?”
“Are you here alone?” It seemed forward but she was curious and wanted to be sure.
“Yes. I just happened to stop in. I’m having an aperitif. Would you like one?”
“A glass of wine?” She climbed onto the stool across from him. “Sure.”
“Let me go to the bar and get it.” He rose. “My server is slow and not very attentive.”
She nodded, watching as he went. This time, she told herself, she would at least get his name.
“How goes your study?” He asked as he set her glass on a coaster in front of her.
“Intriguing.” She offered, taking a sip of the deep red liquid. It was sweet; just the way she liked it.
“How so?” He probed, sitting forward slightly.
“I’ve always been fascinated by mythology. People are saying it may not be the fantasy they’ve always made it out to be.”
Gazing into his own glass, he probed. “And what do you think/”
“I’d like to believe it was true…” she hesitated.
“But?” The gaze was piercing, straight into her eyes.
“Well, there’s really no proof now is there? I mean, there are the unexplained phenomena of ancient sites and everything, but gods and goddesses? Coming to earth and you know, whatever…”
Never taking his eyes from hers, he urged. “And if there was… proof?”
She shrugged. “My sister says there is. In the bible.”
Eyes widening slightly, it was impossible to read his countenance. “You believe such things? The bible?”
With a shrug, she wasn’t sure of his position and didn’t want to put him off. “Not really. What about you?”
“There is something to be said for its accounts.”
Squirming slightly, she hoped she wasn’t about to get a sermon.
“But they aren’t entirely accurate.” He seemed to gauge her reaction.
Relaxing, she took another sip of her drink.
It seemed to satisfy him.
She woke so groggy, the room in shadow and seeming to swirl all around her.
There appeared to be shadowy figures moving about the room, in and out, around and back.
While everything within her trembled with fear, she couldn’t make her limbs move. It looked like her room and felt like her own bed but it was so dark she couldn’t be sure. Unable to gather her thoughts, the only thing that registered was that she didn’t remember driving home and…
She still didn’t know his name.
Her day had been excruciating. Relieved when she woke up alone, fully dressed and in her own bed, she’d nevertheless suffered an almost debilitating headache but couldn’t bring herself to call off work, so she trudged it out, grateful beyond words when it was over.
Uncertain thoughts had plagued her all day. With no memory of anything past the first sip of wine, she couldn’t help wondering what had happened. Had she made a fool of herself in front of him? How had she made it home? Her car had been in the driveway. Had she driven in the impaired condition she must have been in? There was no damage, thankfully, but it disturbed her all the same.
Then there was the smoky lens that seemed to cover her eyes; as if someone had dropped a dirty filter over her them. Everything seemed darker and duller than usual. What was that about?
When she finally made it home, she couldn’t bring herself to do anything but flop on the couch. The thought of food not only sickened her but just seemed too much effort to put forth. A warm cup of milk and honey, she reasoned, and early to bed.
Just about to drag herself to the kitchen, there came a knock at the door. She groaned. Please, not Mallory, who was the only person who ever stopped by unannounced. She didn’t think she could face a conversation with her sister just now but with her car in the drive, there would be no pretending she wasn’t home and her sister would no doubt track her down the next day to find out what was happening.’
As she forced her eyes to focus on what lay beyond the peephole in the door, she inhaled sharply. What was he doing here and how had he found her? For a moment she stood stunned, unsure of what to do. She didn’t want to blow him off and risk never seeing him again but she hesitated to confront him in the state she was in.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and peered around from behind.
“Hello, Avery.” He greeted with a smile.
“How did you…?” Wrinkled brow showing her confusion.
“I had to look at your license to make sure you got home safely.”
Mouth open, she nodded.
“I just wanted to make sure.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” She shook her head, mustering a bit more energy. “Do you want to come in?”
“Maybe another time.” He said. “I can see you’re tired but I just wanted to…”
“It’s okay.” She assured, with more enthusiasm than she felt.
“No.” He shook his head resolutely and turned to go.”
“Wait!” She blurted.
He turned back slightly.
“Maybe we could…” she hemmed. She’d never been very good at this kind of thing. Probably why she was still single
“All right.” He said with a smile “Why don’t we meet for coffee tomorrow? At that same coffee shop.”
Avery had hoped for more but she would take what she could get for now. “Ok. I’ll see you there. Around 8?”
“8 it is.” He replied firmly, then turned and walked away.
She closed the door and leaned against it, relieved there’d been no mention of any embarrassment from the night before. Coffee. It was something.
Oh my gosh! She realized; she still hadn’t asked his name! What was wrong with her?
Deciding to forego the milk and honey, as she was now more exhausted even than before, she cleaned up and fell into bed, expecting to crash and sleep through until morning.
How wrong she was. In what she reasoned could only have been a nightmare, she slept fitfully, waking intermittently to the ghastliest sounds and smells she could have imagined. Her room swam as shadowy figures moved about in surreal dusky half-light, items moving in mid-air in the room and dropping suddenly back to their places.
She woke drained and today would have called off work, as her head throbbed and body ached except that she had a date with the handsome stranger, who was looking like he would become more than that before long.
The morning had gone by in a blur. She barely remembered her meeting with the stranger, except that he seemed to talk animatedly and she’d responded, although more subdued than usual.
Recollection of what they talked about and whether or not she had asked his name eluded her. Nothing made sense until she was attempting to leave.
“Avery,” he said, moving close behind her.
She turned.
At that point, he’d put a hand on her shoulder. “Take it easy, today, hunh?”
With a little grin, she nodded. Immediately, as she stepped outside, her head cleared and her energy seemed to return. She’d seen ministry as a child growing up in church but never experienced anything miraculous, until now. Was he…? Did he…? Maybe she would talk to Mallory later.
She decided not to call Mallory but instead to go into her books and research to see if there was any explanation to what she’d been experiencing. What she found set her thinking ablaze.
Could it be she was being visited by aliens? Certainly, strange manifestations and presences could occur with such encounters. She could think of times in her young life as a child when she had strange dreams or experienced fearful feelings in the dark. Why now? What did they want from her?
Still pondering when she turned in, sleep didn’t come easily. Fitful, she couldn’t shake the feeling that somehow this wasn’t just an overactive imagination run wild.
Was it possible she had been chosen by them for something but hadn’t been open to it until now? Could it be that her destiny was now in full swing? It was something she’d struggled with since her teenage years.
She decided to do her best to understand and to cooperate with it if that was the case.
Groggy and frustrated, she turned over again, fighting the dream that kept her from sleeping peacefully. It had to be a dream because her eyes couldn’t seem to make sense of the murky figures gliding around her bed.
Their faces indistinct, it proved impossible to tell if they were grays, the green figures so often portrayed in comics or human in countenance. In the dim light filtering through the curtain, their movements were shadowed.
Could they be aliens invading her dreams? Why wouldn’t they speak? What did they want?
Paralyzed both with a kind of fear mixed with wonder, try as she might, she couldn’t speak nor force her limbs into motion. Suddenly, she began to rise from the bed, floating as if suspended but with no one and nothing lifting her; at least nothing she could see.
Perhaps they would now reveal what it was they had sought her out for. She closed her eyes to calm her mind and everything went black.
She woke tired, her mind foggy, frustrated that she couldn’t remember anything that happened. Had she been taken? Why hadn’t they revealed themselves to her or let her know what they wanted?
Stumbling and fumbling through the day, she felt short-tempered and eager to get home and perhaps get more clarity on what had happened the night before.
A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she pulled into her parking spot next to the all familiar car already there. With a sigh, she got out of her own and approached the front door.
Seated casually, earbuds in and with a book open, she seemed oblivious to her sister’s approach. She must have felt the weight on the step and looked up with a hesitant smile.
“What’s up, Mal?” She asked bracing for some unwanted barrage. Her sister never just stopped by unannounced for no reason.
“Can we talk?” An unusual tone in her voice, her face appeared plaintive.
Apprehensive now, she felt sure she didn’t want to hear what was coming. “Mal…”
Firmer now, she stood to her feet. “Avery.”
With a resigned sigh, she nodded as she unlocked the door. “Okay.”
Mallory followed her inside and shut the door behind her.
Avery set her things down and turned. “You want something to drink or something? Coffee?”
“No, thanks.” She replied. Her expression more serious than her sister could ever recall seeing, she declared. “I’ve been praying for you, Ave.”
Sighing loudly, she flopped into a chair. “Really, Mal. Is that it? You’ve been doing that as long as I can remember. At least since I stopped going to church.”
“This is serious, Ave. I need to warn you.”
“Come on. I’m tired and not in the mood for this.”
“Look, we had a guest speaker at church Wednesday night. He shared some things about the times we’re living in. There’s a reason for all the talk about aliens and stuff now. What you’re messing with is dangerous.”
“Really?” Struggling to maintain her composure, her tone revealed her impatience. “Checking out some reports and sitings of things not easily explained? So what?”
“Look. I know you don’t believe in the bible much, but what it foretells is clear. In the last days, things on earth will be like the days of Noah. There’s a seed war taking place between the pure seed of God’s people and His enemy.”
“Seed war? What the heck, Mal?”
“It’s what caused the flood. Angels that fell mixed with humans until the bloodline was so corrupted, it threatened to make the birth of the Messiah impossible. God let it go so long, there were only 8 people left – Noah and his family.”
“Right.” She didn’t attempt to hide her skepticism. “But what has that got to do with now?”
“It’s going to happen again — in a mass way. Fallen angels, transhumanism, aliens and advanced technology — it’s going to deceive a lot of people — to their eternal destruction.”
“What? I thought you believed in a merciful God who would take anyone who turned to Him.”
“He’s made the plan of salvation obvious. However, angels that fell were never offered redemption. Anything God did not create, including the offspring of humans with science, technology and/or fallen angels, is not redeemable.” She paused. “I always wondered about that verse in Revelation. People taking the mark that couldn’t repent and be saved.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“I think I’m supposed to warn you that if you keep messing around with it, as someone who doesn’t believe and isn’t part of God’s kingdom, you could be in danger.”
“Don’t worry, Mal. I’m not involved with fallen angels and have no plans to merge with technology.” Her deprecating tone revealed her disdain. “So if that’s it. I’m really tired.”
Mallory’s concern and disappointment showed. She nodded and turned to the door. “I’ll be praying for you, Ave.”
“I know.”
“Please. Be careful.” She turned. “Call on Jesus before it’s too late.”
“Good night, Mallory.”
Her sister hesitated and then was gone.
Always annoyed by her sister’s constant nagging and “warnings” about her future, Avery felt more exhausted than ever; so much so, she couldn’t focus to read and wishing to wipe Mallory’s doom and gloom from her thoughts, she flopped into bed; hoping for a decent night’s sleep.
This time when she woke, the headache or grogginess that had permeated her consciousness appeared to have dissipated. Senses on full alert, or so it seemed, her eyes darted about the room which was not where she’d fallen asleep.
Like every hospital movie or television show she’d ever seen, there were beeping machines with moving light lines. Walls a dull white, were only broken up by a door across from where she was laying. When she attempted to move, she found her arms and legs restrained, her stomach swollen.
“What…?” Her voice came out a plea. It troubled her.
Several figures, dressed like nurses or orderlies moved about the room but faced away from her.
“Where am I?” She demanded, struggling.
One turned toward her, loaded syringe in hand.
Eyes widening in fear, she peered into the face and as much as her limited mobility would allow, recoiled.
The eyes were deep kohl, in a face with no nose, a slit that must have served as a mouth and in a gray face like every space alien she’d ever seen. It did not speak but failed to inject her when she settled.
Suddenly, at the window of the door, Mallory’s face appeared. She pounded on the door, her screeching demands muffled.
“Mallory, help me!” She screamed. Trying to calm her nerves, she told herself. This is a dream. It has to be a dream.
From in front of one of the machines, one of the figures turned to her.
To Avery’s horror, the face was that of the stranger she’d met.
“What…? Who…?”
His smile seemed more malevolent now.
“Where am I? What am I doing here?”
“Isn’t it clear?” His voice eerily sultry. “You’re having a baby.”
“What? That’s not possible. I haven’t…”
“Don’t be obtuse. You’re just a host.”
“But… I didn’t…”
“We didn’t need your participation, only your openness and acceptance.”
She stared. This had to be a dream, didn’t it? It couldn’t really be happening. Mallory’s words raced into her mind. Was it now too late? Could she have become irredeemable? She didn’t know.
The stranger leaned close to her ear and with a low, menacing voice declared. “One thing’s for sure. It’s all real.”
Avery screamed.
Lisa Greco Filali 