Love Drained, Life Reclaimed

been a year since Ava Lewis found her biological parents, and this trip was supposed to

er, sat in the passenger seat, tu

to love our old town. It's where

oked at Mr. and Mrs. Lewis in the back seat with

a said. "Thank you

patting her hand. "It's a special ga

hompsons, her loving adoptive parents, always wondering about the family she'd

ead, Mr. Lewis drove the car down a bumpy dirt road that led deeper into the woods. A knot of

uded cabin. It was old and dark

y announced, her voice

re vanished. Two large men appeared from behind the cabin. Be

t, trying to pull away. She loo

d there, their faces blank.

one, replaced by a cold, hard look. "Don't fight

agged her inside the cabin, the heavy wooden door slamming shut behin

the center of the room. They bound her

ing against her ribs. "Why are

, thin needle connected by a clear tube to a strange, o

rt open, exposing her chest. Ava fl

ting to her parents, who had followed them inside

picked up the long needle, its

ill," Britta

her eyes shut as Brittany brought the needle toward her chest. She felt a sharp, col

nsation from her chest, a slow, draining feeling that made her feel weak and dizzy. S

taking?" she whispered

oke, her voice calm

ecting your life force to this ancient family r

is couldn't be real. This was a nightmare. Sh

mother and I haven't been feeling well latel

y you completing this ritual can we regain our hea

bin. They weren't asking her, they were telling

eamed of having her parents back for so long. If this was what it took, i

making her feel colder and colder. She looked at the fac

, a tear rolling down

icker of triumph in h