Page 20 of A Million Stars and Shadows

“Her fear of a hopeless loveless future summoned me. Her hatred towards you and your future child fueled us,” a deep voice said out of her mouth. The creature lunged at me as I jumped out of the way.

I pulled off my cross pendant, wrapping it around my fist and blocked Billy’s claws reaching towards my belly.

“I must destroy you and the new human,” the creature hissed.

“No!” I yelled out and side-stepped another swipe from the creature.

I didn’t want to hurt Billy, but I couldn’t let the Monster kill me and my baby. With a quick jump, I punched Billy’s face as hard as I could, “Get back to hell you ugly stupid witch!” I slapped her a few more times, yelling, “In Jesus’ name, I order your butt back to the ugly farm now!” It was the first name I could think of, remembering my mother Maura and Grandmother Shelby’s teachings of faith growing up. Everything is possible through God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

A loud scream shook the elevator as Billy’s mouth opened wide and a stream of black tar-like substance oozed out of her. When the substance evaporated into the air, Billy’s body collapsed to the floor of the elevator.

I ran over to her and tried waking up her unconscious body. “Billy?” I shook her. “Billy? Wake up!” I took her pulse and practically fell back.

Billy was dead.

NINE

JANA

The elevator opened at the lobby floor where Billy was heading. It was the floor two stops before my Engineering floor.

I was not ready for what met me.

Two of the passengers lunged toward me. Growling and hunkered over, their eyes had turned black and pupil-less. “What’s going on?” I yelled. I tapped my communication device by my side to call Thomas. “Thomas! They’re Monsters. Lobby area. I’m surrounded.”

Thomas answered back, “I’m almost there. Get back into the elevator and go to another floor.”

“But what about you?” I asked, kicking out to the two passengers to push them back before I closed the elevator doors.

“I’m in the staircase. I’m tracking you. Take care of yourself, Jana. I’ll find you.”

As the doors closed, I pressed the button for the Engineering floor. My tablet was still beeping. Something was wrong and it didn’t register on the screen what. I tapped my device to talk to Thomas. “Thomas, Engineering floor. Must check out the Red Alert there.”

Thomas didn’t answer.

I pressed the device again and said, “Thomas? Thomas?”

He didn’t answer. I tapped my device again, “Dr. Herbert? Where are you?”

The voice sounded like it was coming through a tunnel, as Dr. Herbert answered my call. “Jana! The Monsters! The Captain’s Deck. One of them attacked a crewmember, and then the rest. I ran.”

“Keep yourself safe, Dr. Herbert. Fight your fears.”

“I’m trying, but seeing the Monster materialize into physical beings was terrifying. On Earth, they were just invisible or black mist, but now…”

“They’re taking the form of people they possess. They’re inhabiting people’s bodies. Don’t let them take over yours,” I said, just as the elevator reached the Engineering floor.

“Oh, no,” Dr. Herbert’s voice called out in terror. “One’s in here with me. Thought I was safe in my medical quarter but… oh no…”

“I’ll get over there now! Where’s Thomas?” I asked.

“No, don’t come. Keep yourself safe. Thomas went to find you. Both of you stay alive. Your baby is the future. Stay alive.” There was an earth-shattering scream before a deathly silence followed.

I knew Dr. Herbert was gone. Who else? Thomas?

EVIE

“Mom,” I said. “Reading your journal and everything you’ve been through with Dad on Red Genesis just makes me remember how brave you are. I really miss you,” I sighed.

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