Prologue
“DON’T GO,” SHE cried, racing toward a small bridge surrounded by thick woodland. “Stay away from there!”
The long dark peach dress she wore blew around her legs. Sea salt stung her eyes.
“Go back,” a familiar masculine voice roared in response. “I do not want ye here, lassie!”
Why did it seem like he was behind her and ahead of her all at once? Warm white light beckoned to her beyond the bridge. Called to her like it always did. She had to go over it.
Needed to reach the end.
Usually, the bridge grew further and further away the harder she ran, but this time it didn’t, and she, at last, reached the first planks.
She would make it over.
“Do not go,” he pleaded again, right behind her now rather than on the other side of the bridge. Somewhere within the lush forest at her back. “Ye need not be here.” His voice grew more insistent. Guttural. “Turn back now.”
She stopped and glanced back, but no one was there. The forest was empty. Eerily quiet.
But not what lay ahead over the bridge.
A place she knew she should not go but flew toward anyway. She barely saw the stream trickling beneath the bridge. Hardly saw the animals leaping over the water on either side.
All she could do was run toward him and away from him all at once.
Toward a bright beginning and a horrible ending.
Close.
Closer.
She made it to the other side and kept going. The path grew steep, but she refused to slow down. Had to warn him. Save him. From what, though, when he was safely behind her? Or was he up ahead? She started sliding and would have plummeted over a looming drop had a strong arm not grabbed around her waist.
Saved her even though it was too late.
A daunting roar filled her ears moments before a wall of water slammed into her, and she screamed in agony.
Chapter One
North Salem, New Hampshire
