Page 6 of Warrior's Purpose

2 Summer Break

Abby

“I know an unknown vessel was sighted the same time Providence went down. I want answers, and don’t give me any of that bullshit about foreign training exercises in international waters, Frank. You and I both know it wasn’t the Russians or Chinese,” her father barked into the cell phone.

Abby’s heart ached as she stared out the car window, watching as they crossed the causeway, heading toward her parents’ home.

Maybe I should’ve stayed in my apartment on campus.

It was going to be rough spending the next few weeks at home. Providence had been missing for almost a year, and her father still searched tirelessly for what happened. He refused to believe Providence went down with the plane, or got tangled in her parachute. At first she had also been hopeful. If anyone could find her sister, it was their dad. Nothing occupied the skies around Cocoa Beach without him knowing about it. But as the months passed, her hope had waned, leaving behind a dull ache.

Her father hung up the phone with an exacerbated growl as they pulled onto Sunset Drive. Streetlights illuminated the neighborhood occupied mainly by Air Force personnel. It looked the same as when she’d left for school. It wasn’t as dull as some cookie-cutter ranch homes, but it still lacked the character of the neighborhoods around Gainesville.

I don’t know why they paint the stucco in such lurid colors. The closer she got to the beach, the more fluorescent the homes became.

“I’m glad you’re going to be home, but you could’ve visited your nana with Mom if you wanted to,” her father said.

“I might, but I wanted to see you, too.”

“I know you girls are worried about me, but I promise I’m not wallowing in misery.”

Uh huh. She rolled her eyes as her dad parked in the driveway.

“Providence knew the risks.”

“It doesn’t add up, Peanut,” he replied with a shake of his head.

Abby groaned at the nickname her family insisted on calling her.

“All right,” she replied with a resigned sigh. There was no point arguing with the man.

“I’m going to gather the trash and haul it to the curb. Do you still have your key?”

“Yep.”

She grabbed her backpack, which was stuffed full of clothes instead of books for once, then headed inside. She passed through the dim foyer into the living room and flipped on a lamp by the couch.

“Do not be frightened.”

Abby paused as she was about to dump her backpack on the floor. Her gaze flew to the giant lurking in the shadows of her living room.

“We’re not here to harm you.”

She spun to see another of the behemoths blocking her exit from the room.

Her heart rate sped up, and her breath came out in gasping pants, as she looked from one giant intruder to the other. They both wore hooded sweatshirts obscuring their faces. She opened her mouth.

“Please do not scream, little female,” one of the intruders instructed.

She wouldn’t have been nearly as frightened if it weren’t for the growling sounds they made.

“Easy, female. I would never harm you,” the one by the door assured her.

The growling sound came from his mouth, but the words he spoke came from somewhere near his wrist. The man’s hands were hidden in the pocket of the sweatshirt, and she wondered if he had a gun. The man wouldn’t need it; he could subdue his victims with his size alone.

“This is not who we came here to see,” the man by the television said to the other giant.

“No, but she looks strikingly familiar to Providence. Look at her flame-colored hair,” the one by the door replied.

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