Book Three: Chapter 51

Maybe she was dreaming? The whole world no longer seemed to make sense, not since last week when she had lost a day. She had heard of lucid dreaming before. Was it possible this was all a dream? In the distance, she heard her mother calling her. She was going to be late to school.

“Mom, I’m tired.” Beth’s words were nothing more than grunts.

“Beth! Get out!” Lily shouted, pulling at Beth. She shook Beth, slapping her across the face. The sting snapped Beth out of her trance, and she opened her eyes.

“You hit that guy...” Beth replied, her words barely coherent. “With the car.”

“And if we were lucky, we killed him. Hurry up!” Lily unbuckled Beth, pulling her across the driver’s seat. Part of the porch’s roof had collapsed on top of the car, shingles sliding out onto the grass. Beth staggered in small circles before a steady hand pushed on her lower back.

“Are those sticks?” Beth asked, staring at the large number of squiggly lines that were coming to the