End of Days by Frank Lauria Read Free Book Online Page B

his bed and opened it. After rummaging through some books, envelopes, and old documents, he found what he was looking for. An old, leather-bound Bible.
    As Jericho lifted the Bible, he discovered a cracked music box beneath it. Immediately he recognized it. It belonged to his daughter Amy. When he picked up the music box some photographs fluttered to the bed.
    A flood of emotion rushed over his brain as he studied the pictures. His daughter Amy, and Emily his wife, making sand castles at the beach. Happier days. He picked up the music box and wound the key.
    The tiny ballerina began to twirl as a tinkling melody floated through the quiet …
    *   *   *
    When Christine York arrived at her town house, she was exhausted.
    She locked the door behind her and hurried past the library, where she knew Mabel would be waiting for her.
    â€œChristine?” Mabel called as she passed. “Christine?”
    â€œI’ll be there in a sec…” Christine hurried upstairs to her room. She went to her phone and punched the speed dial. “Hello, is Dr. Abel in? It’s Christine York.”
    As usual Dr. Abel picked up immediately.
    â€œI had another one,” Christine said breathlessly.
    â€œHow long this time?”
    â€œI don’t know … twenty or thirty seconds. It was pretty frightening.”
    â€œChristine, listen to me,” Dr. Abel said patiently. “We’ve gone over this before.”
    Actually, Dr. Abel had been Christine’s spiritual advisor ever since he had baptized her in blood in a hospital morgue.
    At the time he had been known as Father Abel, head priest of Our Lady of Mercy Hospital. Now he was Dr. Abel, prominent psychiatrist with one special patient—his unholy godchild Christine York.
    â€œYou’re feeling stressed,” he said soothingly. “It’s perfectly natural to feel that way around the holidays. Understand … these dreams are your creation. There’s nothing real about them. You control them … they don’t control you. Take another Xanax to relieve your anxiety. Trust me…” He lowered his voice. “You’re fine.”
    Christine slowly exhaled. “You sure? Okay … okay, Xanax. I will, thank you.”
    â€œAnother vision?”
    Christine looked up and saw her mother standing in the doorway.
    â€œWhy didn’t you tell me?” Mabel Rand asked in a pained voice.
    â€œI didn’t want you to worry.”
    Mabel gave her a rueful smile. “I’m your mother. It’s my job to worry.” It was true. Mabel had been Christine’s guardian since the moment she’d been born. Nurse Rand—her title at the time—had served as her godmother in blood. When Christine’s parents were killed in a car accident, Mabel stepped in and adopted her.
    All in keeping with the Dark Destiny. Which is soon due, Mabel reflected. The signs were at hand.
    â€œNo big deal actually,” Christine told her, trying to minimize the trauma. “Just somebody in my subway car turned to porcelain and … shattered.” Her bravado dissolved in tears.
    Mabel drew her close, comforting her.
    â€œI’m so tired of this,” Christine sobbed, voice muffled inside Mabel’s embrace. “What’s wrong with me? Why do I see things? Why am I so different?”
    Mabel Rand knew, but couldn’t reveal the exciting truth. “You don’t know how special you are,” she crooned. That much was true. Christine had been chosen. “You’re better than everyone else … remember that.”
    â€œI don’t want to be better—or worse,” Christine said desperately. “I just want to be normal. With a normal life … and a boyfriend.” She began to sob again. “A real boyfriend … just like everybody else.”
    â€œYou’ll have to be patient…” Mabel said, rocking her gently.