When Cole Pearson finds a great deal on a house, he can’t believe his luck. A new job, a new town, a new home…life couldn’t be better. His wife, Devyn, however, thinks it’s too good to be true.
No sooner than they move in, than objects begin to move from where they were placed, and Devyn quickly realizes the reason the price was so reasonable. Getting a dog to keep Devyn company, while he is out of the house, seems the answer to Devyn’s problem, or so Cole believes. Only the dog, like Devyn, doesn’t want to go in the house, and Devyn wants to leave.
But the house, as Cole is about to discover, is the least of their problems. And what lies ahead…in the dark…in the basement…is something Cole never expected.
Excerpt
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Prologue and part of Chapter One
Prologue
California, 2008
“Look out!”
Stumbling, Cole flew forward. “What the…?” Books lay scattered across the path behind him. A girl sprawled out on the pavement in their midst. “Sorry, I guess I shouldn’t make sudden stops.”
“It’s not your fault. I’m late, and…” The girl directed her blue eyes up at Cole and smiled sheepishly. “Not my best moment.”
He offered her his hand, and together they gathered her books into a pile.
“Devyn Collier.” She tucked her shoulder-length, brunette hair behind her ear and held a hand out at Cole.
He took it. “Cole Pearson.”
“I’m not always this clumsy. Really I’m not. I guess I’m flustered. This whole college thing, it’s just sinking in now. I’m actually here.” She shrugged. “Pathetic, I know.”
“No. I feel the same way. If it wasn’t for the scholarship one of my teachers recommended, I wouldn’t be here. There’s no way I could ever afford this. And there was no way I was taking out a loan. I know what it’s like to live from paycheck to paycheck. My mom worked two jobs to…” He laughed. “Sorry. You don’t need to hear all that.”
“No need to apologize. Believe me, I know.” She stood, and he handed her books to her.
“Got them?”
She nodded. “I may only be five foot six, but I can handle it. It’s the graceful part I have yet to master.”
“You have the same book. You wouldn’t happen to be on your way to Advanced Composition and Style, by any chance?”
“I’m going there now.” She grinned. “What are the odds?”
“Mathematical probability is not one of my classes, I’m afraid.” He hesitated. “Okay, now it’s my turn to feel pathetic. I don’t believe I just said that.”
She snickered. “You did that on purpose, so I wouldn’t feel alone in my humiliation.”
“Actually, no. I am that pathetic.”
“Looks like we’re both in good company.”
Chapter One
Fairfield, California 2020
“Cole, we can’t afford this.” Devyn sighed.
Cole slipped his arm around Devyn’s shoulders. “Mrs. Turner, what do you have in the way of rentals?”
The real estate agent flipped through her listings. “There is one more house I can show you.”
Cole frowned. “I thought this was the last one on the list.”
“There is…one more. We’ll have a look. If you’re interested, we can talk price.”
Devyn shrugged. “Can’t hurt.”
Cole nodded. “All right. Show it to us.”
Mrs. Turner drove them to the other side of town and parked in front of a two story house. “This is it.”
They all climbed from the car. On either side of the house, there were abandoned homes, their yards overgrown with weeds which had overtaken the dead grass.
“It was built in 1930, but the construction is sound. It’s been completely refurbished. A new coat of paint inside and out. New carpet, new kitchen and plumbing. The only part left in its original condition is the basement, but you won’t need it. You have more than enough space on the upper two floors.” She guided them through. Each room just as she described.
Cole dragged a hand over his face. “We can’t afford to buy this.”
Mrs. Turner pulled out a note pad and wrote on it. She tore the page off and handed it to Cole.
Cole stared. “Is this right?”
Devyn gaped. “Forgive me, Mrs. Turner, but what’s wrong with it?”
Cole chuckled. “Devyn.”
“I’m sorry, Cole, but when it’s half the price, and the house is twice the size, I have to ask. Why?”
“Devyn’s right, Mrs. Turner. Why is it so much less?”
“A lot of people lost their homes when the whole mortgage…This area never recovered. The bank is willing to unload it, just to get it off their books. As it is, it’s just sitting there, costing them money.”
Devyn squeezed Cole’s hand. “I don’t know.”
“Who knows when we’ll be able to afford a house like this again? We have to take advantage of these opportunities, when they come along.”
Devyn’s brow creased.
“It’ll be great. We can put in a lawn, and you can have a flower garden—like you’ve been talking about.”
“I’ll have to think about it.”
“What’s there to think about?”
“Have you seen this neighborhood?” She glanced out the window. “It gives me the creeps.”
“Once we fix up the yard, it will look a lot different. We can do it together. We’ve got all summer, before I start work. Trust me. This is our chance.”
Devyn let go of Cole’s hand. “We’ll have to think about it, Mrs. Turner.”
Mrs. Turner hugged her folders. “I understand. Take all the time you need, and let me know what you decide.” She drove them back to her office. “You’ve got my card?”
“Yes.” Cole waved, as he and Devyn climbed into their car. They stopped at a local diner and poked at the food on their plates. “I’m sorry, Devyn, but, since I can remember, I was always the kid who lived in the piece of crap house at the end of the street. The one kids threw rocks at. It was just me and my mom, and God knows she tried her best, working two jobs to keep us off the street. Everyone looked down their noses at us, like we weren’t good enough to grace their presence. I promised my mom I would get out of there and get married, and live a happy life with someone who loved me.”
“Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this before?”
Did you ever wonder what happened after the Archangel Michael through the demons out of heaven? Let one of them guide you through the origin of evil in the world.
