THE EDGE OF ETERNITY

IT WAS A FOREST THAT WAS UNFAMILIAR TO LEAH.  Of course, she hadn’t ventured into too many forests, but this one was different. It wasn’t quite right. It was pitch black dark, and on top of that it was foggy, and she was unable to see anything but a few trees in her path. She was dressed heavily because it was cold, and the layers of clothing made it difficult for her to run. Hot breath from her mouth spewed forth in little puffs as she ran. Her lungs burned for air. She had no idea how long she’d been running or what she was running for. Someone was chasing her. She knew that much. She couldn’t stop to rest, not now. There was no time.

Then a clearing. And moonlight. Something was visible in the distance as Leah tore the last branch away from her face to get into the clearing. It was a fire! Maybe some campers that would help her. Maybe God was watching over her.

But maybe not. Suddenly, Leah felt nothing but falling. She had tripped. On what, she didn’t know. The cold mud seeped through some of her layers and through her gloves as she tried to push herself up. She was gasping for breath. She tried to scream. Nothing.

She managed to turn over and she a dark figure approaching. His face was undistinguishable. He had a club of some kind – a baseball bat.

Terrified, she scrambled to get a few feet farther, but it was all for naught. She felt the piercing of aluminum in her back and she fell to the ground again. There was no more energy left after the blow.

Her last image was that of a man standing before the taunting ground around the fire. They were chanting something, something she didn’t recognize. It was in a foreign language. That man who stood before the crowd was--so familiar, but so hard to make out at this distance. His hands were tied around his back, and he had been severely beaten. Blood tattered his shirt and blue jeans. A man holding an automatic weapon stood before him. Then, and only then, did she recognize just who it was.

Daniel Parks.

She tried screaming again. Maybe it would be a diversion for him. It was so much of a blur that she wasn’t confidant that she could speak if she’d wanted to.

The three shot burst from the gun made her jump out of her skin. It rang in her head and nearly rivaled the pain of the blow from the bat. Daniel was lying on the ground. She turned just in time to see the baseball bat hurtling towards her face.

And then there was nothing.

LEAH’S SHEETS WERE SOAKED WITH sweat when she awoke with a startle. She rubbed her forehead and tried to slow her breathing. It was 4:10 in the morning.

She was safe now, back in her room at Freed. It was raining outside heavily, and she heard hollow thunder every few seconds. The rain would have usually knocked her right out, but not tonight.

Across the room, Julia was still fast asleep. Leah tried to wake her, but she wouldn’t rise.

“Julia, Julia,” she whispered as loud as she could.

“What?” she groggily said. “Is there a fire?”

“No,” Leah said. “I just need to talk to you.”

Julia sighed and looked at the clock, trying no to open her eyes too much.

“Can it wait three hours?” she asked.

Leah compromised and sighed. “Yeah, it can.”

“We’ve got a long day of Christmas shopping ahead of us tomorrow,” she said, turning back over. “Or today, rather.”

Leah yawned and pulled the covers back over her. She eyed her cell phone that was on it’s charger on her nightstand. She was tempted to call Daniel right now. But he was on vacation for Thanksgiving at home in Alabama. Leah decided not to disturb him.

She would not sleep anymore tonight.

And she would tell Matt of this first thing in the morning.

MATT WEAVER AWOKE WITH THE knock on the door.

“This better be good,” he muttered to himself, rising form bed. He had planed to get up at about 10. At least no earlier than nine if he could help it. But 7:15 was ungodly.

He ran his hands through his shaggy blond hair as he opened the door. Standing there was Rylan, his tall, lanky, dark-haired and soft spoken neighbor from down the hall.