The Archangel

By Lisa Greco Filali

A girl with a gift. A handsome stranger, a father, the boy next door; all with something to hide. A serial killer. The ultimate battle between good and evil over one soul. Who will win?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Crown of Life Media
• Release date: Mar 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781792334603

Book preview

The Archangel

The Archangel

Lisa Greco Filali

Copywrite 2019 Crown of Life Media

ISBN: 978-1-7923-3460-3

Chapter One

There’s something inexpressibly charming about a summer storm in upstate New York; most of the time they move in very quickly and without much warning, usually late in the afternoon.  Black clouds cover the sky like a fluffy, down pillow, followed by streaks of lightning that illuminate the entire sky and thunder loud enough to shake the ground.  When the rain begins to fall, it marches across the horizon like an army of soldiers in endless waves, soaking everything in its path and rapidly creating small rivers that flow over the street, empty onto the shoulder and gather in ponds atop the ground, making driving tricky at best.  All the foliage turns bright green, creating a lush landscape and a wafting fragrance indescribable to any who haven’t experienced it.

Here, where life is still uncomplicated and moves at an easier pace, nearly everything out of doors comes to a halt.  Climate control is unnecessary in the warmer months of the year, so windows are open and the sound of families preparing and gathering for dinner can be heard up and down the picturesque little streets that populate so many of the smaller towns.  Echoing in between are the giggles of the few children who dare to play in the rain, until forced inside by concerned mothers.

In the more rural part of the Adirondack Mountains is a string of small towns, linked by a small interstate that is more local highway than throughway and serves mostly as a connection to the progress and services enjoyed by the rest of the world, but not yet available here.  From the west, a gradual rise leads into the little town of Star Lake from almost nowhere. 

Creeping slowly up that rise as though with shoulders hunched against the onslaught of water, a shiny black, late model Lexus RX10 with an out of state license plate looked out of place in the rural environment.  Alone on the road, its headlights did little to pierce the gloom, as the rapidly pulsing wiper blades struggled in vain to keep the windshield clear.  Like the famed little engine, it persevered cautiously but moved forward just the same.

Inside, his black Oakley shades pushed up into casually soft-spiked, ebony hair, the driver was hopelessly attempting to see beyond the blanket of water.  A vintage, brown leather aviator jacket bunched around his shoulders as he hunched forward over the wheel, his lean legs moving nonstop with his Nikes alternating between the accelerator and the brake.  He glanced over at the passenger seat and sighed.

Face turned toward the window, the black cap was pulled low, making it impossible to see if the passenger’s eyes were open or closed.  Hair, stalk straight and as black as the driver’s spilled from beneath the hat onto the shoulders of a faded, denim jacket that covered everything but the skinny jeans that topped well-worn, black Converse high tops.  A soft sort of whimper-moan slipped from beneath the hat.

Hey, you okay?  The driver asked, clearly concerned.

No answer.

Light as bright as any sunny summer day you’ve ever seen --- magnified a thousand times --- permeated everything, making it impossible to focus on any single object for long.  While the sky was an indescribable shade of blue, it was completely clear and yet the source of the brilliancy was not in it.  More vivid than a CG movie scene and looking almost as unreal, verdant foliage, similar to but not exactly like anything on earth, surrounded a flourishing field full of wildflowers in magnificent bloom.

From the center of the field, a stunningly ethereal figure with willowy arms, covered by flowing white bell sleeves was beckoning.  Clad in a flowing, full-length gown the same color as the sleeves, but with a woven pattern of silver thread and gold filigree ornaments from the bodice to the waist, it floated closer as though by camera zoom.  Clear now that the figure was feminine, her azure eyes were kind and clear, set in a face that seemed to glow with inner radiance, as did the warm smile she gave so easily.  Wavy strands of almost white blond fell to her waist, billowing in what appeared to be a breeze though none could be felt.

I have prayed for you.  She declared.  This light affliction is not to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in you.  Yet a little while and you shall see.  Be strong and of a good courage for nothing shall by any means hurt you.

The passenger jerked upright; eyes open wide.

You okay? The driver asked again, alarmed now.

Adjusting the hat, making visible eyes the color of glowing amber, an unmistakably female voice answered.  Yeah.  It was just a dream.

Bad?

No, not really.  She hesitated, staring intently into the rain.  "I was dreaming about her."

Glancing over, but unable to keep his eyes from the windshield for long, his tone was low as he moved uncomfortably in his seat.  Your mom?

She nodded, and then changed the subject.  Where are we?

Almost there.

Where?

Star Lake.

Leaning forward, she peered out the window and squinted.  How can you tell?  Doesn’t look like there’s anything here.

He chuckled.  There isn’t much.

She rolled her eyes.  Oh, good.

Well, after everything … As though catching himself, he affected a positive tenor.  I think it’s just what we need.

With a resigned sigh, she shrugged, slumping back against the seat.  Yeah, whatever.

Alex …

Look Dad, there’s no changing what’s happened.  It’s all over and I’m fine now.  She stared at him pointedly.  "I just don’t see why we had to move two thousand miles away to some nowhere place.  And to one that gets cold."

Don’t you?  He returned.  Besides, I spent a few summers up here.  It’s nice and quiet.

Letting out a groan, she turned back to the window.  Just then, she spotted something that grabbed her attention.  Leaning forward just a little, she sat up a little straighter.

Beside the road, he appeared to be walking, but not moving at the same time.  His lean frame was covered by a black coat, fastened from the collar, fitting close along square shoulders to the waist, where it flared just slightly from the hips all the way down to several inches past his knees.  His pants and shoes were also dark colored, his hands seemingly invisible.  It would have been nearly impossible to see him at all if it weren’t for the platinum blonde hair managing to stay spiked in typical eighties throwback style and despite the rain and almost eerily pale, translucent skin.  Though his eyes weren’t visible, oddly shaded by vintage Ray Bans, somehow, she was sure he was staring right at her.

Who would have thought…a guy who looked like that in a place like this?  Transfixed, she asked.  Is he hitching? 

Who?

Warily, she looked over at the driver, and then pointed.  That guy.

What guy?  He glanced in the direction she indicated.

Turning back again, she could no longer see him.

Instead something dark seemed to spiral into the sky.  As it ascended, the rain seemed to stop but only on her side of the car.  Like the bellows of an old pipe organ, it heaved and puffed, expanding with every breath.  Eyes, glowing with crimson and ochre flames dancing around pupils of liquid green, glared down from a mask that alternately seemed like a cold, black hole or a writhing swarm of grotesque life, and was topped with six grey-green horns, gnarled, twisted and covered in hair.  As its body seemed to fill the heavens, it took on the appearance of a cape beneath which hundreds of small creature-beings hissed, slithered and distorted, staring at her with terrifying ferocity and gnashing their teeth.

Suddenly, the mask burst through the windshield, bringing those red orbs just inches from her own as the fathomless blackness pulled at her soul.  Startled, she jerked back against the seat, but there was no escaping the foul, sulfurous exhale from its gaping maw.

You’re not welcome here.  It hissed.

Unafraid, she stared defiantly into the oozing green but didn’t speak.

Get oooouuuuttt!!  It bellowed.

Unmoved, she remained silent.

Frustrated, it spewed a stream of obscenities that appeared like black phlegm and flowed from its mouth toward her face.  If you don’t leave now, I’ll destroy you.

Feeling only a wave of heat against her skin, her gaze stayed fixed.

Screaming again, it retreated and was instantly back in the sky.  A chorus of jeering howls seemed to reverberate everywhere at once, shaking the car and echoing through her mind, threatening to drive her mad until she wanted to plug her ears.  Instead, she willed herself to keep still until they disappeared.

What is it?  The driver asked.  Did you see something?

Shaking her head, she forced her voice to remain calm as she smiled.  No.  It must have been the rain.

With furtive glances, he observed as closely as he could and still drive but was unsuccessful in reading her countenance.  Best to just let it go, he decided.

Purposely pressing her face against the window, she stared blankly out at the passing blur of green without seeing a thing and waited for her stomach to settle. Her hands, jammed into the pockets of her jacket, were clenched into fists so tight the nails were cutting into her palms.  Her heart threatened to come through her chest as she forced herself to breathe deep and even.  Slowly, she could feel the inner trembling begin to subside.  Oh no, she thought, not again …

Chapter Two

From between curtains that weren’t quite closed, vivid sunlight like a laser beam aimed directly for the bed.  Lively chirping back and forth like a conversation between birds at several locations declared that it was probably still early; but the distant purr of a motor, probably a lawn mower, announced that it was late enough that people were stirring.

Squeezing her eyes tight, but still unable to block out the sun, she pulled the comforter over her head and tried to decide whether she should get up.  For one brief, glorious moment, she forgot where she was but then reality flooded in like last night’s rain.  Heaving an angry sigh, she threw the covers back and sat up.  There’d be no going back to sleep now.

Although the rain had quit before they reached the house, it had succeeded in drenching the area so completely that there had been no chance to even look around last night.  Scott’s Point, the road they’d taken to get here, was a wooded area, the tall trees interspersed with a variety of bushes, all of which were native to the area but alien to her.  Most of the dwellings looked like little lake houses and cottages, set at odd angles to each other, some close together and others sitting by themselves, away from everything else.  Theirs was one of these, sitting to the left of the apex of the point but still overlooking the lake, if one could call it that as small as it was and for which she assumed the town was named.  Unlike the rest of the structures in the area, their house was obviously built much later with its modern architecture of wood and stone, banks of windows, and a lanai that ran halfway around the building.

Her room had a full row of windows making up the wall that faced the lake and split only by a pair of French doors that opened onto the lanai, probably the single most attractive feature of the room, she reasoned: a private entrance.  A walk-in closet took up the wall across from her queen-size bed, except for the door in the corner that led out into the house.  On the fourth wall were her vanity, a small dresser and in the corner an old fashioned, full length oval mirror which she had promptly draped with scarves, belts and other assorted accessories.  While her father had assured her it was the nicest of the four bedrooms, right now, she couldn’t have cared less, though she padded across the carpet and pulled the curtains open, allowing the sun to stream in.  Squinting momentarily until her eyes adjusted, she took in the landscape as she opened the windows to let in some fresh air.  No air conditioning here; there was no need, but it got stuffy with no circulation.

A long sloping path on the right was large enough to drive a car on and led from the front of the house around the side and down to the lake, where there was a small boathouse, a long dock with a diving board attached to the end and a large slide that ran out over the lake.  Several other docks were visible at intervals along the other side of the lake, probably half a mile across, including a large structure directly across from theirs that appeared to be some type of public place --- maybe a country club or something.

She opened the doors and stepped out onto the lanai, which wasn’t enclosed but was covered by slanted overhanging eaves from the roof.  There was nothing but a single rail that ran around the length of it, and as she peered over the edge, she stepped back quickly.  It dropped straight down about thirty feet before it met the sloping ground, which was nicely shaded by several lofty trees, probably maple.  Definitely not palm trees, she mused, irritably. 

From around the corner to the right, she heard voices.  Male.  Maybe her dad had the TV on.  But then she heard a voice that sounded like his.  Curious now, she walked around to where another set of windows and a glass door led from a sort of patio, sitting a couple of steps up, that held a grill, a small picnic table, a padded chaise and a couple of matching patio chairs, into the kitchen.  The door was open, but no one was outside, so she went in.

Sitting at the bar next to the door that led outside, a young man by the looks of him was leaning over an empty plate, his back to her.  Her father stood on the other side, leaning against it, a cup of coffee in his hand.

Good morning, her dad greeted.

Half mumbling a reply, she was peering curiously at the stranger’s back.

Turning to her, he grinned.  Hey.

Without speaking, she frowned.  Dressed in baggy cotton pants, bright red with a drawstring waist and a black cami, and with her hair unbrushed, she certainly wasn’t prepared to meet anyone.

This is Drew.  Her dad said.  He lives near here.

What are you doing here so early?  She asked.

Unfazed, he shrugged.  "It’s not that early.  Your dad and I eat breakfast together a lot."

Why?

Alex!  The elder’s tone was reprimanding.

What?  You didn’t tell me about him.  Who is he and why is he here at the crack of dawn?

Your dad lets me help out at the store sometimes.

Don’t you have any friends?

Probably more friends than you.  Unintimidated, his green eyes were steady with just a hint of mischief.

Well, in this hick town, that’s probably not saying much.

Maybe.  He shrugged as he stood up.  Matter-of-factly, he added.  Your dad pays me.  So sometimes we ride together to the store. 

She stood her ground.  There was no way she was going to be put down by this average looking, average dressing, though taller than her kid, who hung out with her dad for crying out loud.

Without paying her any further attention, he turned to her father.  Corey, I’ll see you later, man.  Disappearing through the door that led into the house, he was gone.

It irritated her that he was more comfortable in her house than she was.

That was rude.  Corey admonished.

Why didn’t you tell me about him?  Not an ounce of remorse.

I know how you are about meeting new people.

So you let me find out about him with my hair unbrushed and in what I wear to bed?  Thanks.

Okay, that’s fair.  He took a sip of his coffee.  But I didn’t expect you to be up yet and I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject.  You’d be prejudiced against anyone I introduced you to.  Especially if you think I like them.  I was hoping you and Drew might be friends.

No offense, Dad, but I doubt I’ll be good friends with any kid that works at the store and hangs out with you.

He chuckled.  Drew doesn’t hang out with me.  But his mom’s a real piece of work, so he comes and eats over here a lot.  He’s a good kid.

Whatever.  She shrugged as she moved around the corner of the bar.  After rummaging through several cabinets, she located a mug, some cereal and a bowl.  Heavily setting them down on the bar, the spoon clattered in the bowl.  From the pot on the counter, she poured a cup of coffee.

Little young for that aren’t you?  He observed, as she took Drew’s seat and spooned several heaps of sugar into the mug.

I learned to appreciate it.  She looked at him defiantly.  Sometimes it was the only way to stay awake.

Chagrined, he backed off.  Draining his coffee cup, he took it to the sink.  I’ve gotta get down to the store.  You gonna be okay here all day?

What kind of trouble could I possibly get into in this place?

His knowing look, with just a hint of sarcasm, was the only response.

Okay, okay.  With a mouth full of cereal, she added.  All that’s over, remember?

He nodded and his tone was sincere.  Right.  I’ll see you later, okay?

Mouth full, her response was indistinct.  After yesterday, all she could do was hope it really was over.

Unsearchable blackness was pulling at her, dragging her deeper and deeper to someplace she couldn’t see.  For that matter, she couldn’t see her hand right in front of her face.  A sensation much like sinking to the bottom of a pool surrounded her, but there was no water or wetness; fighting against it was futile, as her limbs seemed to get weaker with the effort.

From an indeterminate source came a sound so distorted she couldn’t make out what it was at first.  As she continued falling, struggling to breathe, it came clearer though still like filtering through water or a voice distortion box.

I’m going to take you down.  You’ll belong to me.  Just wait and see.  I’ve got you.

An eerie, shrieking laughter exploded around her, deafening in its intensity and followed by screams unlike anything she’d ever heard and therefore impossible to verbalize.  From every direction, sudden bursts of light appeared and faded, but not natural light, more like the kind of light given off by medieval torches in underground passages.  Amid each burst were scenes so pitiable and frightening, she could feel her skin crawling and her limbs starting to shake.  People, most of them young women and girls, dressed in tattered, dirty gowns that exposed diseased, decaying flesh beneath were writhing in such torment, it made her want to vomit.  Unable at first to see the source of their torture, due to the blackness that surrounded them, suddenly, the shadows shifted, and the realization came that whatever was causing their torment was contained there.

The further she sank, the worse the visions became and the louder and more anguished the screaming.  Falling faster now, she felt a heat rising from the pit that threatened to char her own flesh and for the first time that she could ever remember, she felt real fear.

Suddenly, from above her, there was a dazzling burst so intense, it threatened to blind her.  Squeezing her eyes shut tight, it still pierced all her defenses, and in vain she attempted to further shield them with her arms.  Unlike the spectral bronze flashes that had tormented her senses as she fell, causing her to recoil, this shone white and true as the center of the sun, compelling her to behold its beauty.

Unable to resist, her eyes slowly opened, and she gasped.

Radiant beams emanated from all around him.  Garments whiter than any laundry could make them, ebbed and flowed around him in billowing, incandescent streams.  His eyes were clear as glass, his countenance blazing power as his hand brandished the coolest sword she’d ever seen.

Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate the elect from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Something she couldn’t see, rich and comforting, wrapped around her and began drawing her upward. 

He held his sword out menacingly.

Like a speeding bullet, she rose faster and faster as if being hurled from a cannon but to where she hadn’t a clue.  All at once, she did burst forth with a sensation of falling and then landing somewhere soft.

She opened her eyes to find herself on the couch in the living room of their house, the television still on.  Stifled in the heavy oppression that lingered in the atmosphere, she grabbed the remote and powered the TV off.  At this moment, she would have given almost anything for the short walk to the beach from their condo in Florida; looked like the lake would have to do.  She went into her room and from the night table next to her bed, retrieved an expensive Nikon.  She slipped the strap over her head, made sure it was loaded and placed an extra roll of film in her pocket.

Taking the front door out, she looked around.  The area was more rustic and friendlier looking in the daylight.  Their drive was circular with a small, non-running fountain in the center that was badly in need of cleaning out, filled as it was with foliage and grassy tufts of earth.  The road out was a curb-less two lanes, barely wide enough for two cars to pass each other and shouldered by a narrow expanse of sand and earth.   She noticed the road leading away to the left, where a small string of shabby, non-descript houses sat facing the lake but too far back, with the road ran in front, to overlook it.  Making her way down the slope path to the dock, she kicked off her flip flops, sat down and stuck her feet in the water.  Not like the ocean for sure, but clean, clear and refreshing.

Taking a deep breath, she peered through the viewfinder, aiming her camera at different vistas, snapped a couple of shots and pondered.  Why was this all coming back suddenly?  It had been months since she’d ‘seen’ anything or had dreams like this.  What was up?

Beyond some trees that were the end of the sloping hill across from the row of houses she’d seen and that curved outward toward the middle of the lake a buzzing began, as a motorboat rounded the point and made its way into the inlet.  Moving rapidly, it wasn’t long before it passed her dock, tooled around the end of the bay and started back.

From her vantage point, it was impossible to tell who might be in it.  Sure that Drew was probably at the store with her dad, and since she didn’t know anyone else here, it unnerved her when it slowed to a cruising speed as it approached.  Two boys, her age, maybe younger, were trying to look cool in the front seats.

The driver, a red head with no shirt, very thin and with as much tan as someone with his complexion could manage, fair-skinned and freckled as he was, lifted his head in greeting.

His friend, dishwater blonde, better built and very tan, with aviators hiding his eyes, and yet looking very strait-laced with his simple haircut and plain colored tee shirt, smiled.  Hey.

Tempted to shut them down with a withering stare, she resisted.  Until she got a handle on things here, there was no point in making any enemies.  Hey.

You must be Lexi.  The driver said.

Before she could check herself, she blurted.  How did you know…?

He grinned.  We’re friends of Drew’s.  I’m Adam and this is Josh.

Seething now, she all but hissed.  My name is Alex.

His cool shattered instantly.  But Drew said …

Dude, he doesn’t even know me.  No one’s called me Lexi since like, elementary school.  Not exactly true, but she wasn’t about to let these nerds know it.

Well hey, we hang out at the Dairy Treat most nights.  Pool and stuff.  You should come by sometime.

Right.  Like she would ever.

Unabashed, he started the boat, Guess we’ll see ya.

She just looked at them.  As they drove off, she could see Josh looking back at her until they were around the bend.

Now she was so angry, she could hardly see straight.  Who did Drew think he was, talking to his nerdy friends about her?  He didn’t even know her.  If these geeks thought she was going to hang out with them…  She started to laugh.  Whoa, if these were the ‘more friends than you’ he was talking about…  What a jerk!  Suddenly, she sobered. Oh, man, what if these were like, the coolest kids in this hick borough?  Was her dad kidding?  How would she survive?

Crunching behind her told her someone, or something, was coming.  Adrenaline pumping, she spun around to see Drew ambling down the path.  Seething again, she glared.  What do you want?

Man, what’s your problem?  He asked.

"My problem?"

Yeah.  Do you hate everybody --- or just me?

Just you.  What are you doing here?  Did my dad send you to check up on me?

No.  I thought you might be bored.  An appreciative look came over his face.  Cool camera.  You a photographer?

She shrugged, flattered, in spite of herself.  Kind of.

You any good?

Bristling, she huffed.  "Maybe.  I mean, I have sold a couple of shots.  Then with a shrug.  Just amateur stuff."

Very cool.  He nodded, visibly impressed.  I’d like to see some of your work sometime.

Without responding, she lifted the camera, playing with the angles.

Guess you’re not exactly bored.  Thought you might like to do something.

Snapping a couple of shots, she replied.  Your friends have already been by.

Nearly undetectable, something resembling alarm crossed his face, though he quickly masked it.  Who?

Curious, she thought.  What was that about?  A couple of geeky looking kids.

You mean Adam and Josh?  He relaxed, letting his breath out.

Yeah.  Totally hot, dude. 

For a minute, he couldn’t tell whether or not she was kidding.  Deciding to play it off, he teased.  Really?  Which one?  I can almost promise you I could hook you up.

She blanched, before she realized he was baiting her.  Defiantly, she threw back at him.  Hey, why not both of them?

His face became immediately serious.  That’s not funny.

Regretting it, she capitulated.  You’re right.  I’m sorry.  I was just mad because they acted like they knew me.  Like you’d been talking to them about me. 

He nodded, surprised but pleasantly so, that she’d given him that much.  I haven’t.  I just told them that Corey had a daughter named Lexi.

They’re not like, the cool kids in town, are they?

Hardly.  Grinning, he walked to the end of the dock and looked out toward the middle of the lake.  But they’re all right.

Well, nobody calls me Lexi anymore.

Turning, he grinned mischievously.  Nobody but me, maybe.  I like it.  It fits.

My friends call me Alex.

Yeah, but you hate me, remember?

Whatever.  She got up, slipped her flip flops on and turned toward the path.

You know, I haven’t said anything to Corey, but his bringing you here was probably a mistake.

Whirling, she gaped.

Look, I know what’s up.

Defiantly, she glared.  What do you know?

I know where you’ve been.  His tone was sympathetic but not in a patronizing way, as he looked intently at her.  You’re not crazy.

Chills ran up her spine and she wasn’t sure whether to be furious, or what.  What do you mean?

Lexi, I know some things about the spirit realm.  What you ‘see’ is real.

Wary, but intrigued, she stared.  What do you know about it?

Your dad told me that you have visions and dreams --- well, he didn’t exactly call it that --- and that people think you’re crazy.  That you’ve been…

Right now, the only vision she was having was the one where she ripped her dad apart for telling this kid all her business.  So much for getting away from it all, right?  But then…  You don’t think I’m crazy?

No.  The spirit realm is real.  What you’re seeing are forces of good and evil --- they’re at war.

"Now you sound crazy.  Do you see things too?"

No, but I’ve read stuff.  My mom was into Wicca for a while.  I’ve got a ton of books.

She’s not anymore?

He shook his head, looking off into the distance with a pained expression.  Now she just parties a lot.

So, what else did my dad tell you about me?

Not much.  Just that there was some weirdness with some kids at your old school.  He hesitated.  And that your best friend…

Tears welled.  Yeah, well…

I’m sorry.

Me too.  She looked at him pointedly.  So why wasn’t it a good idea for us to come here?

There are things going on here.  He hedged.

What kinds of things?

Things that could be dangerous for someone like you.

Someone like me?  She couldn’t decide whether to be angry, to trust him or what.  Right now, there weren’t many options, so she went with it.

His look said, ‘you’re kidding me, right?’

"Okay, but dangerous?  How?"

I can’t say, exactly.  But there’s evil here.

Do you know how insane you sound?  Trying to make light, the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

Yes.  But I’m not.

Drew…

Just be careful, Lexi.

She nodded.  Crazy or not, she still couldn’t say, but judging by the experiences she’d had in the last couple of days, looked like her problems had followed her here.

Chapter Three

It was like living in some sort of bizarre time warp.  No movie theater.  No McDonalds.  No Walmart.  Cable TV had arrived sometime in the early nineties but there was no high-speed internet service and cell reception was nearly non-existent.  The place was practically prehistoric; who would believe people lived like this in 2011?

No wonder her dad’s video/game rental store was doing so well.  People here had almost nothing else to do and could now rent movies and games --- something they had never been able to do before.  He’d hired two other people, besides Drew, to work in the store and was already talking of opening another one in Cranberry Lake, a neighboring town just a few miles away.

Alex’s world had swerved into a surreal place she could never have imagined.  The only people she knew here were Drew and his friends.  They weren’t exactly the kind of people she was used to hanging with.  She had let Drew take her on a tour of the town, not much there though she’d managed to catch a few interesting shots.  Turned out Drew was very photogenic, despite his camera shyness.  Downtown Star Lake consisted of an old empty post office, a small store and gas station, a funeral home, a couple of bars, a dilapidated old store, abandoned, and an inn that no one ever seemed to stay at.

Further on, past the smallish Catholic church located maybe a quarter mile from the ‘heart’ of downtown, was another sort of ‘business’ section, consisting of another gas station, an old-fashioned hardware store and what was now her dad’s video store.  Seemed like the only things to do here were outdoor sports, something Alex had never been into, unless you counted walking on the beach after dark, bars if you were legal, and Corey’s video store.

Sitting over a cup of coffee, she was facing the prospect of another long day with nothing to do.

Corey came in, dressed casually in a pair of jeans and polo shirt.  Hey, I’m going to go look at some property in Cranberry Lake.  You want to come with me?

As fun as that sounds, Dad, really, she answered, sarcastically.  I think I’ll pass.

He nodded.  This was hard for her, he knew, but it seemed like maybe she was making friends with Drew, which he couldn’t have been happier about.  Different from her normal crowd, he was a good kid.  It couldn’t help but be good for her.  Okay, then.  I guess I’ll see you later.

Probably.  Since there’s nowhere for me to go.  No mistaking her acerbic tone.

No point in getting into it with her.  He let it go and headed for the door.

She knew she was pouting, which wasn’t really like her, but this place was beginning to get on her last nerves.  Bored beyond belief, there was no library and the television was pathetic at best.  What was a girl to do, especially when she didn’t know anyone?

Drew appeared in the doorway almost as quickly as Corey had disappeared.

At least this time she was dressed.

Hey, he offered.  What’s up?

Sighing, she shrugged.  Nothing.  What’s up with you?

Not much.  I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today.

What’d you have in mind?

"I don’t know.  You’ve got a pretty cool canoe