“PART 2: I woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee and the low murmur of voices. The ceiling fan above me spun lazily, casting moving shadows across the wood-paneled walls. For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. The bed was soft, the sheets smelled like lavender, and there was…
“PART 2: The sunlight hit Elena’s face like a baptism. She blinked against the brightness, her hand still gripping the white leather vest Gabriel had draped over her shoulders moments before. The roar of 70 engines swelled around her, vibrating through her ribcage, rattling her teeth. It wasn’t just sound—it was a living thing,…
“The envelope sat on the sticky table like a grenade with the pin pulled. My rag slipped from my fingers and hit the floor with a wet slap. I didn’t even notice. Eleanor was still shuffling toward the door, her walker scraping that familiar rhythm against the linoleum. Marcus had her arm now. His…
“I sat on Flint’s bike, my arms stretched wide, the wind roaring past my ears. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid. The engine hummed beneath me like a heartbeat, and I could feel the heat of the sun on my face—warm, golden, alive. I leaned forward and pressed my cheek…
“The sound of 40 Harleys idling on my quiet street was still vibrating through my chest when Sophie tugged my sleeve again. “Daddy? Is that God answering our prayer?” I couldn’t speak. My throat had closed up like a fist. I just stared at the wall of chrome and leather stretching from Mrs. Patterson’s…
“PART 2: The pastor’s voice trembled as he began. “”Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Walter Doyle.”” I sat in the front row, my hands gripping the funeral program so tightly the paper began to tear. The words blurred in front of me, but I didn’t need to…
“PART 2: I stared at Pastor John, the detonator in his hand, and felt the weight of every second pressing down on my chest. Emily’s fingers dug into my arm, her breathing shallow and rapid. Behind me, the Iron Saints stood frozen, their eyes locked on the device that could turn us all into…
“PART 2: I set my tea down and watched Daniel’s face do something I hadn’t seen in forty years of teaching Sunday school—it flickered. That smooth, rehearsed smile of his wavered at the edges, like a cheap painting left out in the rain. “I’m sorry,” Daniel said, turning to Iron Bear with that practiced…
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