When the Shadows Come
Page 12
Carolina climbed out of the car and zipped up her sweater against the wind. She clutched the bouquet of red lilies and glanced at the man standing a few yards away from Mallory. He wore a black suit and a patient look on his face.
Mallory looked over her shoulder. “Hey, honey.”
“Hi.” Carolina touched the marble and laid the bouquet on the base. “This turned out beautiful.”
“Yeah. It really did.” Mallory licked her lips. “My parents were here.”
“When?”
“Not long ago.” With tears in her eyes, she looked at Carolina. “I’ve never seen my dad cry. My mom tried to comfort him, but he just dropped to his knees and bawled. It tore me up to see him like that.”
“I’m sorry.”
The man moved a step closer.
“This morning he was back by the mausoleum. He keeps getting closer. My time is running out. I’m not sure I’m ready.”
Carolina held her hand up.
Mallory put her hand up in a mirror’s image.
The energy bounced between their fingers like a blue and gold electrical current.
“If you weren’t ready, he wouldn’t be here.” Carolina wiped away the tear that slipped down her cheek. “I’m going to miss you.”
“Me too. For the first time, I know what it feels like to have a friend.”
“Same here. Thank you.”
“For what?” Mallory tilted her head to the side.
“For your kindness.” Carolina wiggled her fingers, keeping the energy flowing between them. “For your advice.” She watched the man move closer. “For your love.”
His eyes reflected the color of the sky, and his hair resembled corn silk. He smiled.
Daniel.
His name is Daniel.
He put his hand on top of the stone.
Mallory looked at him and back to Carolina. “I guess this is goodbye.”
Carolina smiled through her tears. “No. There are no goodbyes. Only see you laters. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Mallory’s hand touched Carolina’s and, for the first time, their fingers interlaced.
Carolina laughed and threw her arms around Mallory. They hugged each other for a moment. Carolina tried to hold onto Mallory but an invisible vacuum pulled her away.
“I love you, Carolina.”
Mallory slipped out of her embrace.
“I love you, too,” Carolina cried.
Daniel put an arm around Mallory and rubbed her shoulder as they walked away.
Carolina hugged herself and watched them begin to fade.
Mallory looked back and smiled. She blew a kiss to Carolina.
Daniel and Mallory vanished into thin air halfway across the cemetery.
Carolina sobbed, looking toward the car to find Nathan already crossing the landscape.
He put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. “It’ll be okay.”
“I know. We’ll all meet again someday. Energy never truly dies. It just changes form.”
“Exactly.”
She liked the feel of his arm around her shoulders. It felt comfortable. It felt right. Then he handed her a tissue.
Carolina wiped her eyes and dabbed at her nose.
“So, that sketch you did.” Nathan squeezed her shoulder lightly.
“Yeah?”
“Would you have any interest in a job as a forensic sketch artist? Pays pretty well.”
She put her hand on top of his and looked up at him. “Would that mean we get to work together again?”
“For sure.” He opened the car door for her.
Sliding into the passenger seat, Carolina smiled up at him. “Then, yes. I’m absolutely interested.”
The End
About the Author
Alyssa Breck is an award-winning author of horror, urban fantasy, paranormal romance and erotic fiction. She grew up reading Stephen King and V.C. Andrews. The Shining changed her life and sparked a love of all things scary, spooky and spine-chilling. Add some romance to that and she found her niche weaving paranormal and erotic romance stories.
Alyssa hangs her hat in the South with her family of humans and fur-babies.
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