Free Dark Places of the Soul: Dark Soul Trilogy - Book 1 by Paul Donaldson Page B

terrified look on his face. The other seemed
calmer and in control of the situation.
    “ They’ve got this under
control,” James insisted, “let’s go see if we can help up there.”
He pointed to Noah Cote, the woman and the gray car.
    Noah was trying to free the driver’s side
door on the vehicle. As they moved closer the damage from impact
with the pick-up truck became obvious. Noah called out for help
without recognizing those he beckoned to. The woman at the gray
sedan turned toward James and Keri, a couple approaching from the
backdrop of hell. Keri sensed that she and her new friend were
recognized by the woman and somewhere in the background of her
thoughts the instant’s familiarity crept into the foreground.
     
    ***
     
    Lights of the emergency vehicles flashed
into the horizon of the approaching midday, heading south in
direction of New York’s capital city. Zachary’s body occupied the
back of one ambulance; Candice decided another chapter of life had
passed along with the shell of the man she didn’t really love. Her
bruises had been treated by a young and good looking paramedic. The
option was taken on her part not to submit to treatment at the
hospital. Zachary’s next of kin would be notified. She missed
joining the horde, making up his family, by a matter of months.
    Noah Cote had tried to be a comfort where no
comfort was needed. Any grief she possessed had little to do with
the loss of one man. What mattered most in the present spectrum of
things was the crumbling career Zachary had begun to raise from the
ashes.
    “ You know those two?”
Candice asked Noah, in reference to James and Keri.
    “ Met them this morning at
breakfast,” Noah answered.
    “ And that whole story
about coming together by fate… about dreams?”
    Noah had no response for her this time. He
had listened to the story she told about her own recurring
nightmares. This event had been visualized in her sleep often over
the last few months. James and Keri filled the roles of the two
apparitions walking from the world of damnation, emerging from the
fires of a hell she might deserve.
    “ I dreamt about this,” she
said, giving indication to the five vehicle accident, “and them. On
the flight out here I thought I was actually seeing a prophecy
unfold before my eyes. I witnessed Zachary’s death… so vividly… but
I had no power to change it. Then from the flames came two people…
I saw both of them coming to me.”
    As a minister, Noah knew grief took many
forms. It was obvious to him that Candice hid from the ruins of
reality in denial.
    “ Then you’re buying into
the story?” Noah asked.
    “ Is there an
option?”
    The young woman with curly blond hair, who
had introduced herself as Keri Jacobson, came over to Noah and
Candice. “They’ll be here soon t’ tow these vehicles away,” she
began, “James says we can head out in the camper.”
    Candice looked directly into the Keri’s
eyes; there was no doubt in any of the young woman’s actions.
    “ I believe you were sent
to me through providence.” Candice said with earnest. “I can only
hope it is a positive destiny you’re about to lead me… us to.”
Candice looked at Noah, seeking agreement through his expression.
“Zachary and I were heading up north to a lakeside side cabin he
owned. We should go there first. I have a Jeep… there. It would be
better transportation than a Winnebago.”

Chapter 11
     
     
     
     
    The lakeside property owned by the late
Zachary Wells consisted of a twelve acre parcel with at least five
hundred feet of water frontage. Keri knew little about tax
assessments, but she knew this piece of land with the ten room
contemporary house had to be in one of the upper brackets of the
taxed elite.
    The others were gathered inside. She had a
compelling urge to listen to the night settling on the lake, a
silent sound, a soul soothing peace. They had prepped the Jeep for
the morning, deciding to stay at the lake overnight. James