Havenwood's Dark Blessing

the door. I

tling the knob. "Mom

ry. "Sara

near the handle. Wood splintered. He ki

r, was on the be

on her cheek, her eyes wide w

a mess, a cha

up, clutching at us. "John lied. I

ly was horr

For the Harvest. His lungs, they're getting worse. He t

posed benefit for t

d. This was wors

d his failing health, was willin

ged, her voice frantic. "Now. While th

ldhood friend. She w

hit me. Abby, s

David asked,

She's the one... they're

abbed a small bag she mu

ing the empty street. The eerie

nting drifted from the direction of

s "we

David's car, h

he keys, his hand

er, figures emerged from the

atic smile replaced with a cold,

f his "Brotherhood," thei

ocked t

ne's voice was smooth, like oil. "And bringi

ngine, about to tr

d, and two of his men move

amed, "Run

ush us, to cre

erhood men grabb

t of the car, r

pull Emily back, but an

, a sickening thud

ed at the back of my head

obbing head, ropes b

s in a dimly lit cle

so bound, her face stre

ing, the ritual

kled, casting dancin

ouder here, hypnot

ore the assembled towns

a white gown, stood pale

d with a mixture of fear and desperate hope

hall have more blessings for Havenwood. Joh

us. We

mach h

e sacred grove, a dark, forbidding path

ing mine, filled with terror. Then

mured, a low,

th the crackling fire and

n near the edge

. "Pastor! Mary Beth is in

young woman f

"A sign! The Forest Spir

ght forward. She was helped by two w

small, hastily erected t

t was a

' s cry, thi

Martha Johnson w

was di

e gnarled, now seemed smoother. She

e were gone, replaced by a s

oked..

the tent. "The baby! Somet

ror fell ove

her face ashen, hol

looked... old. Its skin was wrinkled,

had been stolen f

healed," but

by the impossible,

miracle, it wa