by A. R. Wise
They turned left, and Alma mentioned that they could rest at the scenic overlook that peered down on the hydroelectric dam. She felt like it would be an appropriate place to ruminate on what they’d been through, and Jacker was panting hard enough that they were all concerned he might pass out if they didn’t rest soon.
Night was giving itself slowly over to dawn, and the emerging light revealed that the area was beset by more than just smoke. Heavy, cold fog blanketed the area, masking the woods that surrounded them.
Alma led them to the parking lot of the scenic overlook and Jacker sat heavily upon a rock near the entrance. He panted and scratched at his shaggy hair. Rachel stayed beside him, and only glanced back at Widowsfield once as she toyed with the wedding ring she was still wearing, certainly wondering if she should just take it off for good.
Paul walked with Alma as she crossed the lot. They approached the broken, rusted railing where Alma’s mother had driven their car off the cliff in an attempt to murder her daughter. She looked down, but the fog was too thick to see the water below. Alma walked to the edge and sat down with her legs dangling over the side. Paul sat beside her and held her hand.
“It’s all over,” said Alma. “I can’t believe it’s finally over.”
“Are you okay?” asked Paul.
Alma smiled and leaned over to peck him on the cheek. “Better now that I’m with you.”
Paul put his arm around Alma’s shoulder and pulled her close. Together, they watched the bloom of sunrise burn away the fog.
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
And so ends the Widowsfield trilogy, with the bloom of sunrise burning away the fog.
In the Author’s Notes of my books, I usually like to look back and reflect on the book’s plot, and discuss some of the themes and hidden information that I tried to weave into it. However, this time I’m going to shut my mouth and let the story do that work for me. In this particular book, I feel like any puzzlement someone might have after finishing the final page is part of the fun, and I don’t want to steal that away.
I tried hard to make sure that the most pertinent questions about the Widowsfield mystery were answered, and any new question that might be burning their way through the fog in the reader’s head once the book is over can be answered within the text of the book itself. I’m being super vague here on purpose, because putting the puzzle pieces together about Widowsfield was part of the fun.
My hope is that some readers walk away from this book pleased, but then pause a few days later and say, “Wait a minute!” If that happens, and a reader starts tearing through the book a second time, picking up on clues that they didn’t see the first time, then I’ll feel like the book was a resounding success.
The original inspiration for the 314 series came from reading urban myths about The Philadelphia Experiment. The myths about the green fog and bodies fused to the walls was just too rich a subject not to tinker with. Take all those old stories about the USS Eldridge however you want, but I tried to incorporate a lot of true events and figures into this book. Major Leslie Groves (later on he became a general) was a real person, and headed up the Manhattan Project with Oppenheimer. The USS Eldridge was really sold to Greece and turned into the Leon, and it actually did get scrapped in 1996, but not before disappearing mysteriously for a little while. There are also areas where it would appear from above that a ship had been built on dry land for some unexplainable reason. And Einstein’s birthday is really March 14th. Sticking these little nuggets of truth into a work of fiction helps to make it all feel so much more intense and real, at least to me.
After finishing this trilogy, I’m going to be working on the final book in the Deadlocked series, so this time in my life has suddenly become dramatically transitional. To wave goodbye to Alma and Paul, and then to have to go and wave goodbye to the characters of Deadlocked, is at times depressing, but oddly joyous. With the 314 trilogy, I’m extremely happy with the ending. It stays true to the story, and can be fodder for discussion for people for a long time. That’s exactly what I want, because these books have always been a puzzle for the reader to try and decipher.
Once I close the book on the final Deadlocked, I’m going to be continuing with the Bathory series, but there’s a good chance that I’ll be delving into something else as well, and starting a whole new world to rip into. Hopefully the 314 series has been a good enough read that you’ll follow along with me on the next journeys, to wherever horrific places it takes us.
Please come in visit me at arwisebooks.com, and on the ARWise fan page on Facebook. I also try my best to respond to everyone that emails me over at [email protected], although I have to warn you, there are certain answers to puzzles in the 314 series that I don’t want to divulge to anyone because it might take the fun out of debates people have.
Finally, you shouldn’t be shocked if your ever reading a book of mine in the future and run across a shadowy organization known simple as, The Accord.
SPECIAL THANKS!!!
Before I take off, I want to give special thanks to a few people. First off, thanks to Lauren Patrick, who helped create the cover for this book. I think that the cover she did for this book is beyond my favorite cover of any that have ever graced my books. I find it eerie, gorgeous, and absolutely haunting. Lauren, I think you’re insanely talented, and I hope hope hope HOPE we do more covers together in the future.
Also, thanks to my wonderful beta readers, who put up with my insane get-the-book-done time schedules right before a book gets released. I promise ladies, one of these days I’m going to try to be calm and relaxed when a book is about to be put out!
And finally, to all of the fans that have stuck with me through my various books. I’m in your debt, and I’ll do everything I can to continue putting out books that curl your toes and make you a little more anxious when flipping off the light before bed.
After all, who knows what might be watching from the walls?