Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Epilogue
Next in the Series
About the Author
Copyright (C) 2023 Marnie Cate
Layout design and Copyright (C) 2023 by Next Chapter
Published 2023 by Next Chapter
Edited by Graham (Fading Street Services)
Cover art by Lordan June Pinote
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author's permission.
In the honor of my Gram whose love and guidance were with me in each page.
And my sweet Lilli, you were not only my furry muse….
Acknowledgments
Thanks to J.M. Northup for her editorial support. From our collaboration, I
learned so much about not only writing but the editorial process.
Chapter
One
Smoke filled the skies, and the heat from the flames of the burning homes
and storefronts was unbearable. Main Street was empty. Stores that were
not ablaze had been ransacked.
The ice cream shop, once filled with happy customers, looked as if a tornado
blew through it. Broken tables, chairs, and meals littered the ground. My eyes fell on a silver name tag surrounded by ash. I cringed when I saw the burnt body
of a waitress underneath. Her badge was the only item not blackened or
damaged.
I forced myself to keep moving as I searched for anything or anyone familiar.
I continued to find only destruction. It was futile. I was alone.
Fighting back my tears, I looked to the sky and cried out, “Gram, I am not
strong enough!”
A blinding light surged through me, and I fell to my knees. My world went
dark. The next thing I knew, a hand gripped mine and dragged me. Stumbling and confused, I pulled against my captor.
"Stop fighting me," the familiar voice of my grandmother scolded.
Gram stopped long enough for me to confirm it was her.
"Where are you taking me?" I questioned.
"No time for talking."
Once again, we were moving quickly through the tree line. I no longer
