Free The Grace Series (Book 2): Tainted Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis Page B

an old china cabinet.  The sides and doors were warping from moisture and cold.  Pictures still hung on the wall, probably of whoever had lived here.  I briefly studied the faces of an older man and woman in one of the larger photos.  They were both void of smiles and from the faded sepia coloring I guessed the photo was quite old. We walked on carpeting that was worn from foot traffic.  We passed two open doors.  Peeking inside, I noted that both rooms were empty.  No furnishings.  It seemed so cold and impersonal compared to the cabin we had just left behind.
    At the back of the house, we were led to a doorway.  It looked like any other door you might find in a house, except that it was reinforced with sheet metal and looked beat-up. 
    “This will lead us below,” explained Nathan to Susan.  “Things look better down in the basement.”
    The house had looked like a single story from outside.  Tricky.
    Aldo reached forward and turned the knob, then swung the door wide.  Abbey went first, disappearing down a staircase into the abyss below.  Kelsey followed.
    “Abbey doesn’t like to be up here very much,” said Bill.  “None of us do, but she gets really antsy.”  He motioned us forward.  “The steps are steep, so do tread carefully.”
    Emilie went next.  I followed her, careful to walk slowly.  My eyes began to adjust to the dimness.  I could hear Boggs behind me.
    From above, Bill called down.  “When you get to the bottom of the stairs you’ll be turning left.  Walk down the hall and you’ll see the main room.”
    Once we had descended the stairs, Emilie reached back and found my hand.  The hallway was lit by a single candle sitting on a small end table off to one side. It seemed slightly warmer than the upper level of the home, but maybe it was just an illusion or wishful thinking.
    Before long we came to the end of the hall, and could hear the two sisters talking quietly.  Their voices were filled with excitement.  Emilie and I walked into what looked like a rec-room. It was furnished with a long sectional “L” shaped sofa, a couple of recliners, and a few bean bags scattered about.  Candles were lit at various points around the room.  The walls were covered in wainscot.  It felt homey, in its own way.  It reminded me just a bit of the basement in Boggs’ parent’s house, except all of the lower story windows here were covered with miscellaneous boards and broken down pieces of furniture.  Cases of bottled water and canned goods lined one wall.  A bar was located on the far right side in an alcove. Best of all was a wood stove off to our left.  I recalled Bill and Nathan mentioning a fireplace that they kept lit at nighttime only. Boggs, Gus, Susan, Nathan, Aldo, and Bill joined us. 
    “Jack’s securing the door.  He’ll be here soon,” said Nathan to whoever was listening.  “We’ll all sit down and talk then.”
    Boggs quietly walked up beside me, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.  I took great joy in his closeness.  “Zoe, you look tired.  Go sit down. Put your feet up,” he whispered.
    I nodded, and let him guide me to the big sofa.  I sat on the end that had a built in ottoman, and he lifted my feet onto the couch and slipped my shoes off for me.  Jack joined us, and everyone settled in.  These people that we had just met looked excited to hear our story, and we theirs. Boggs sat close beside me, holding my hand.
    We took turns telling our various tales, talking about our old lives, and our new.  As time ticked by the room grew colder.  Eventually young Abbey stood and walked to the wood stove. 
    “Is it ok now, Uncle Jack?” asked the timid preteen.
    Jack looked down at his wristwatch.  “Yup.  Go ahead.”  He smiled at her.
    The girl opened the door of the woodstove, and set to work with pieces of dry kindling and wadded up newspaper.  Before long her fire took on a life of its own, and she shut the little metal door.   When she