Serenemo: Turning Dark

By Natalie J. Geerman

Essie had always felt she was a little different from her peers in Serenemo. Typical girl talk just wasnt her thing. However, could her being different actually serve a higher purpose? When tragedy strikes her childhood friend Nathan and he abandons Serenemo, Essie takes it upon her to find him and bring him back home. With courage and determination, Essie starts her journey through the dangerous Southern Forest on her way to The Heartless Society, not aware of what lies ahead.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781973605485

Natalie J. Geerman

As a high school teacher, Natalie daily interacts with teenagers. She enjoys their sincerity, energy and passion. In this book, Natalie knows how to captivate the reader’s attention in a creative and entertaining manner. She challenges the reader’s to think about loss, purpose and friendship. Having to deal with loss herself, she offers some great insight.

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Copyright © 2017 Natalie J. Geerman.

Artist Credit: Levy Geerman

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0549-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0548-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017915432

WestBow Press rev. date: 10/28/2017

This story was written for my students, who amaze me every day.

It is

dedicated first to

The one who inspires me—I am who I am—

and second to

my family and friends who dared to dream with me.

Let me introduce you to a place where people live in perfect harmony—a place where even the colors are friends and join together to make the perfect blend. It is a place far from what we know, where even the wind is so soft, it refreshes your soul!

Contents

Chapter 1     Serenemo

Chapter 2     A Time for Family

Chapter 3     The Gathering

Chapter 4     An Unpredictable Night

Chapter 5     Mourning Day

Chapter 6     The Library

Chapter 7     The Rescue Mission

Chapter 8     The Adventure Continues

Chapter 9     An Unpleasant Visitor

Chapter 10   One Step Too Close

Chapter 11   The Heartless Society

Chapter 12   Pork Chops

Chapter 13   The Tree Home

Chapter 14   A Crude Awakening

Chapter 15   PRISONER

Chapter 16   An Untimely Reunion

Chapter 17   An Unexpected Ally

Chapter 18   The North Star

Chapter 19   The Aftermath

Chapter 20   The Talk

Chapter 21   Back to the Light

To my readers

CHAPTER 1

Serenemo

As Essie walked after Tabitha and Joana, she enjoyed the scenery and breathed in the fresh air. The smell of the wet soil beneath her and the sound of leaves in the trees moving back and forth as the wind passed softly through the branches were quite relaxing. In the distance, some kind of bird was singing, but it was hard to distinguish its species. The path through the forest was straight and easy to hike. Essie had been here many times before to collect berries and flowers with colors so amazing that she stared at them in awe.

What are you going to wear to the annual dance? Tabitha asked Joana.

I am not sure, but I will probably ask my mother to sew me a long blue dress with ribbon bows on the sleeves. Do you remember the dress I wore last year?

Of course. How can I forget? You looked astonishing, Tabitha answered, full of excitement.

As the two girls continued chatting about dresses and flower hairpieces, Essie purposely slowed her pace so that the distance between her and the girls grew with each passing step.

The last thing she wanted to talk about was dresses and dances. She had never liked these superficial conversations; to her, there were more meaningful and exiting topics.

Why can’t they talk about conserving our beautiful nature or traveling to an unknown place? It is always about the same things, she murmured, frowning. Oh yes, don’t forget boys and marriage!

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to get married. She just didn’t want to talk about it all the time. To her, it seemed that getting married was their only purpose in life.

The distance between them continued to grow, and by now Essie could hear only whispers of what the girls were saying. Tabitha and Joana were so caught up in their conversation that they did not even notice Essie lagged far behind. This might be my chance, she thought.

Slowly and skillfully, she maneuvered herself behind a big oak tree to hide from the talkative girls. Lowering herself to the muddy ground, she sat patiently, waiting for the moment when Tabitha and Joana were far enough that she could make her escape.

She felt a little bad for wanting to get away from them. They had all known each other for as long as she could remember, but somehow, she always felt different. Essie wanted her life to have more meaning, even if it would be much easier if she just could fit in. But she didn’t.

Essie struggled with her thoughts as she watched some ants carry a piece of wood ten times bigger than their own bodies. If Mom was still alive, she probably would know the right thing to say, she said, almost whispering.

Growing up with only a man in the house had a lot more impact on Essie than she was willing to admit. As a little girl, she followed her dad around, admiring everything he did—cutting lumber, building houses, making new pathways, and repairing everything he could get his hands on. He used to carry her on his back and take her with him almost everywhere he went. Some of the older women in the village thought it was improper, but she loved it. She would not have wanted it any other way.

When the coast was clear,