Chapter 1
   Jessie rested on a red vinyl-covered stool at the lunch counter of the Easley Diner with a fresh plate of hot, steaming veggies and a glass of sweet iced tea before her. A vague curling mist suddenly crept along the edges of her vision. Oh, no, not again. She closed her eyes, waiting.

   The mist moved over her, growing thicker and darker, slowly consuming all of the light, every sound, and even the warmth from the air. Nothing was left except the thick gray fog and the cold emptiness it created. The tiniest glimmer of light appeared in the center. It spun closer and closer as if she were looking down into the top of a silent tornado. The circle of light grew larger and then images began to appear in the vortex. Fingers of mist curled around the edges of the images. They gradually became clearer like pictures on an old tube-type television screen warming up. At last, the black and white images grew clear and sharp, developing color and sound.

   A blond-haired, little girl with an angelic face played on the front walkway of a white frame house with green shutters. She wore faded jeans and a pink tee shirt. The sudden blare of a car horn came from the street and the little girl’s head turned toward it. Grinning, she dropped her handmade Raggedy Ann doll and ran to the waiting car. She eagerly reached through the open window with an outstretched hand.
   Then, a man, dressed in black, opened the rear door of the car and jumped out. He grabbed the child and pressed his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming. The man scurried into the backseat of the dark blue car with the child held in his arms.

   The images faded into the light and then whirled away, becoming smaller and more distant until they disappeared into a thick, clammy fog. The dense fog slowly dispersed, leaving a gentle mist. It, too, drifted away as if blown by a gentle breeze.

Jessica opened her eyes. “No, please!” she whispered. “I have to see what happened.” She pressed her fingers to her aching temples, unable to force the images to return. Shivering and weak, Jessie focused on her surroundings and began to hear real sounds around her.

   The gray-haired man behind the counter scraped dishes, conversation hummed at nearby tables, and the waitress carried a tray rattling with dirty dishes. Jessie glanced over her shoulder at the rest of the diner’s customers. No one appeared to be staring at her or notice she had zoned out.

   She wanted to get up and leave, but she felt terrified her legs might not hold her. With trembling hands, Jessie picked up her glass and sipped the sweet, cold tea. The cool beverage seemed to help and she continued sipping, beginning to feel a bit stronger.
   Maybe I can make it home, now. Putting money on the counter for her uneaten lunch, Jessie made her way to the door. Head aching and slightly dizzy, she reached her small, yellow Mustang and managed the short drive home.
                                                    *****
   Jessica took a deep, relieved breath as she parked her car in the drive of her rental house near the outskirts of Easley, South Carolina. The lack of traffic and other noise on the narrow street comforted her as she walked up the front steps. The house felt like the haven she so desperately needed. She thought of the summer evenings she intended to spend relaxing on the old-fashioned, front porch.