Infestation: A Small Town Nightmare Read Free Page A

dark, auburn hair and long, shapely legs to match. Just hours
before Raven had sauntered to the dock, Tommy had broken the news
that he and Raven's relationship had run its course. It was
over.
    Sitting at the dock was where she
sometimes went to think before Tommy came into her life. Didn't
seem like she had to do much 'thinking' during their whirlwind
romance, but now she was back to basics—wetting the ground with her
tears.
    Raven stood for a few moments looking
out at the water that glistened beautifully in the moonlight. The
thought that she had never learned to swim scurried through her
mind, but only for a second. Though sad, she knew that she would
pick herself up like she always did and move on with her life. She
turned around and headed for the yellow bicycle she had parked
against a nearby tree when something snapped inside. Raven felt it
hit her like a ton of bricks. Stopping suddenly, she turned her
head abruptly towards the water with widened eyes and dilated
pupils, then shifted her body in alignment. Slowly walking back
towards the dock, she kept her gaze on the body of water ahead. On
arriving at the edge of the platform, in an unbroken daze, she
calmly walked off the pavement landing feet first into the sea. She
plummeted quickly toward the bottom, making no attempt to retreat
to the safety of the dock.

 
    III
     
     
     
    "Oh, my goodness!" Marie exclaimed
after turning the page. "That's the young lady from the
bookstore!"
     
    Amy leaned over the kitchen table to
have a look. "Who?" She asked.
    "She was at the book signing the other
day. I could never forget her purple hair—not a sight we see around
here every day."
    "This says she was found drowned at
the docks yesterday," Amy noted, squinting her eyes in order to
read the fine print. "She was fully clad; autopsy to be performed,
but they speculate that it might be another suicide."
    Sadly, Marie said: "She looked so
happy when I saw… her." At that instant, a vision flashed before
her.
    "Mom?" Amy perceived that something
had happened. "What's the matter?"
    Marie's eyes darted across the
room.
    "What is it?"
    "She was in a daze when she walked
overboard—just like I saw those people in my dream. This girl
didn't kill herself." She eyed the photograph again.
    "Are you sure, Mom?"
    Marie nodded. "They've got it all
wrong. Her family mustn't believe for a moment that she committed
suicide because it's not true—with or without the autopsy, it
doesn't matter. Finish your breakfast honey. I have to go out for a
while; I'll be back soon." She got up to leave.
    "Where are you going?" Amy
asked.
    "To see this girl's relatives. I must
speak with someone close to her."
    Amy stared with uncertainty. It was
completely out of character for her mother to inject herself into
outside matters even though privy to information that most people
didn't have. Amy stood up after her. "You always said that you
wouldn't put yourself out there because of what people might think,
Mom. Are you sure you want to go to these people and tell them
things they may not understand?" Amy's concern was
obvious.
    Marie looked at her lovingly.
"Sweetheart, when I finally worked up the nerve to submit that book
for publication, I had already put myself out there. I don't too
much care what anyone thinks anymore; I'm done being a slave to
other people's opinions.
    "That a Mom!" Amy smiled, proudly
giving Marie a gentle nudge at the arm. "Okay, I'm coming with
you."
    The expression on Marie's face
revealed what she was thinking.
    "I was also 'put out there' when you
wrote your book, remember?" Amy noted. "The difference between us,
Mom, is that I never cared what anyone thought of you. Nothing they
could ever say or think can cause me to look at you any differently
than I do now. You're the most wonderful person I know and I'm so
proud to be your daughter."
    Marie pulled her close. "I feel the
same way about you, sweetheart. Let's get dressed!"
     
    The neighborhood was lined off