The Witness

By Christine Kingsbury

Lucy is sure she's being followed from the sky - the airplanes simply appear with too much frequency to be a coincidence. And then, of course, there is the demon that haunts her dreams. A master in the art of seduction, he manipulates her by day and barters for her soul by night. Will she ever be free? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing
• Release date: Nov 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480957985

Book preview

dedicated to the saints, witnesses for

Him of what they have seen and heard.

Acts 22:15

Chapter 1

The sound of an airplane roused the children’s curiosity. They were spellbound as they watched it fly overhead and out of sight. Lucy threw an armful of leaves into the air to regain their attention.

Come on guys. Let’s fill these bags with leaves, Lucy said.

Can I have the Frankenstein one? Greg wanted to know.

I guess so, Lucy replied. Jules, you don’t mind, do you? With several short, brisk strokes of her rake, Lucy quickly gathered the leaves into a fresh pile.

It’s okay, Mom. I like the pumpkin one anyway, Jules replied, jumping into the mound of leaves Lucy was working on.

Okay, sweetie. That’s enough playing around, Lucy laughed. Now help me pick them up.

Jules knelt down to gather an armful of leaves and put them into the Halloween bags. Greg helped by kicking the leaves closer to his sister.

Stop it! she yelled when Greg poked at her with a stick. Jules attempted to swat her brother away with her hand, but he only laughed.

En garde! Lucy waved a long stick in the air as if preparing for a sword fight. Greg turned to meet his mother’s challenge.

"I want one, too," Jules complained. She jumped as high as she could in an attempt to grab the makeshift sword away from her mother.

There’re plenty of sticks out here. Come on. Let’s go for a walk and find one for you, Lucy suggested.

Jules and Greg followed their mother into the woods where it was much cooler, reminding them that summer was over and the seasons were in flux.

This one looks good, Lucy offered.

The stick was the perfect size for her daughter who, now able to retaliate for the injustice bestowed upon her earlier, immediately began to jab at Greg. A lady never forgets, Lucy mused.

En garde! Jules mimicked her mother.

The rat-a-tat-tat sound of sticks hitting one another was carried away on the breeze.

Race you to the pond! Lucy said with a smile.

She darted ahead of the children but glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were following. Lucy moved as if she was ready to race them, but took only short, quick steps so that they could catch up.

When they reached the pond and the woods opened up into a clearing, Greg immediately pounced upon his sister in a vicious sword fight. Falling dramatically to the ground Jules pretended to be wounded and on the verge of death.  

I think she’s dead, Lucy gasped as she knelt by her daughter to check for a pulse. Jules giggled, causing Lucy and Greg to laugh as well.

When a plane flew overhead, they stopped what they were doing to watch it fly by.

What do you think? Are we ready to head back?

Is Daddy home? Greg asked.

He might be, Lucy said. The children exchanged a glance before racing back to the house to check for their father.

John was just getting out of his truck when he saw his five-year-old son running toward him. He quickly knelt to catch Greg in his arms and lift him up.

Daddy, we saw an airplane, Greg informed his father. His cheeks were pink from the cool air as he wrapped his arms around his father’s neck and gave him a hug.

Is that right? Was it cool? John asked with exaggerated excitement.

Yeah, it was cool, Greg emphatically replied. John hugged Greg before putting him down.

I think Mommy and Jules went inside. Let’s go upstairs and see.

Okay. Come on, Daddy! Greg pulled on his father’s hand.

Hi there, Lucy kissed her husband when he appeared from the basement. I’m making hot cocoa. Do you want some?

I do! Greg said.

None for me, thanks, John smiled.

Guess what, Lucy said. Without waiting for John to answer she continued. I heard back from Allmerica today. I got the job!

Hey, that’s great! Congratulations, John said. When do you start?

Wednesday, she replied. I’m honestly excited about going back to work. The only problem I can foresee is the mandatory overtime.

How much overtime is required? John asked.

An hour a day, she replied with a shrug. I know it doesn’t sound like a lot, but I think I might get tired of it real fast.

Well, the kids are older now, John reasoned. They’ll be okay. And the extra money will be nice, he added.

True, Lucy agreed, although she still had misgivings about taking on so much at once. It was certainly going to be a rigorous schedule.

Good luck today, Lucy, John said when the big day arrived.  

Thanks, Lucy smiled nervously.