The beautiful brick building stood like a rock, and the door opened as they approached it to reveal a smiling Doctor Herman Bryenton. “Welcome. Good to see you again, Clare Bothwell.”
Taylor had forgotten she’d used an alias, and grinned sheepishly at Mrs. Hayes, who’d lifted an inquisitive eyebrow at her.
“You too, Doctor. Thank you for meeting us. How’s Trevor?” Taylor asked. It was obvious Mrs. Hayes hadn’t been here in a long time, because Bryenton was avoiding making eye contact. Trevor’s mom was shifting from side to side, clearly nervous about the whole situation. Taylor tried to look at it from her perspective. Her son had grown increasingly paranoid and delusional over the course of a few months leading up to the final attack. She had no idea his fears were substantiated until Taylor had called her with an explanation.
“Trevor is doing remarkably well. Whatever you did when you visited helped dramatically, and by Sunday, he was asking to leave his room. I daresay his affliction is a thing of the past, or at least in regression.” The doctor led them in, but Taylor hung back, letting Mrs. Hayes go to Trevor alone.
She waited outside, basking in the sun, and thought about the future. Classes started again in two days, and Taylor was renewed and energized. Since she was eight years old, she’d spent every day hiding from the dark, walking under streetlights, and being afraid of venturing around a corner. Now that feeling was behind her, and she was sure of herself. She could do or be anything.
As scared as she’d been, Taylor knew that heading to Red Creek a week ago had been her destiny, the single best decision she’d ever made.
_______________
Paul knelt by Stevie’s side as his son slept soundly. The kid was so resilient. His dad had attacked them a few days before, and he understood so quickly that it hadn’t been Paul. Terri had decided he was old enough to know the entire truth, and he’d sat there in the hospital the next day, listening eagerly as they shed light about Red Creek, the shadow, and the Smiths.
He’d hugged Paul fiercely and told him he didn’t blame him at all. Paul leaned over now, kissed Stevie on the head, and softly closed the door. He peered in on Terri, who was also sleeping, and made his way to the office at the end of the hall. His laptop was open, and he relaxed into the plush leather chair, leaning back with his fingers intertwined behind his head.
His shoulder ached, but the bullet had exited cleanly. The one in his thigh was worse, but they’d managed to remove it easily and had patched him up, almost as good as new. He’d been a witness to the terrible creature’s essence; he understood its motivation and drive, and Paul was glad for it. He used that energy to push into his latest book, knowing that his success hadn’t been caused by the Anbieter. The Provider. It had come from himself.
No matter what the family curse, or bond, or deal was, Paul Alenn had made it in the business because of hard work, not the Smiths, and he’d be damned if that sickly creature hiding underground in the orchard had anything to do with it.
The document was open, and his fingers found the keyboard, typing fluidly and effortlessly as he continued writing his book. It was going to be unlike anything he’d ever written before, and Paul couldn’t wait to share the story with the world.
The End
About the Author
Nathan Hystad writes science fiction, horror, and thriller novels.
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Gone Girl meets X-files in this Sci-Fi Thriller
Cloud Lake is a hotspot for UFO sightings.
Jessica Carver may have encountered one the night she disappeared.
This is her story.
Reporter Eva Heart is sent to Cloud Lake to write an exposé on flying saucer sightings, a subject she is extremely familiar with.
Nearly twenty years ago, Eva, then known as Jessica Carver, went missing, only to appear a week later, confused and frightened. A man went to jail for the crime.
Now Eva must face demons from her past as she meets both old and new friends along the way. Will her real identity be exposed? Can history truly repeat itself?
Join Jessica as she discovers the truth about her childhood in Lights Over Cloud Lake, the newest novel from the author of the best-selling Survivors series.
LIGHTS OVER CLOUD LAKE
