“The community center exploded!” Vera sat upright.

“We thought it was a gas leak.”

“You never considered the alternative? That it was intentional? Or demonic?”

“Of course we did, but the report said an employee made a mistake. It said he was grieving a dying child and was distracted. It made sense. Accidents happen.”

“Mom, think of the timing!”

“Months had gone by before the explosion, and in our experience, demons don’t patiently wait around for months. We thought if anything was let loose, we would feel the effects immediately. Not to mention, there’s no reason this inhuman spirit would even stay in Roaring Creek. It could have gone halfway around the world, for all we knew. Contrary to what you may think, we do not know everything about how the demonic plane works.”

Vera groaned, all her blood, all her sanity, plunging from her head. The room, the world, tilted.

“I can’t believe this…,” she murmured, trying to form words. “This thing, it isn’t just infecting Maxwell’s mom. I think it’s infecting the whole town. The shrine, all the deaths, the overdoses, the car accidents, Mom!” she yelped. “What if it’s all because of us?”

“Honey, you’re reaching. Calm down….”

“You don’t know that! You’re not here! You’re never here. Something is wrong in Roaring Creek. I can feel it, like this dread I can’t shake. And now you’re saying it started with a cult, which is exactly what Maxwell and I were saying last night. I think I know how it’s spreading, and if I’m right, it’s infecting so many people.” Tears leaked without warning, cutting tracks down her cheeks. “How can all these people be possessed?”

“They’re not. Not all of them. It’s not that powerful. In Chicago, I think only the leader was truly overtaken by the inhuman spirit; the rest were just under the influence, so to speak, like they were drunk or hypnotized.”

“Hypnotized by a demon!” Vera shot back, her breath hiccupping as tears fell. “Maxwell’s mom—it’s not mind control or hypnosis, it’s possession. It’s affecting her whole body, her face. She spoke in his father’s voice; there was smoke coming out of her. I’m not sure how much longer her body can take it.”

“Vera.” Her mom’s tone was suddenly stern. “We will be home as soon as we can. Two days, maximum. Do you hear me? I’m coming. In the meantime, you must stay away—”

“You’ve got to be kidding me! You expect me to ignore what’s happening? I can help her.” Vera had to help her.

“No! Absolutely not.” Her words may as well have been aimed at a toddler reaching for the stove. “My gift, it’s nothing like you’re experiencing. I’ve always had it, as far back as my oldest memories.”

“But some of my dreams are true—the hurricane, that was real. I know, I lived it.”

“Which is what makes it a normal dream, but the other ones…Honey, what you’re describing is completely different from me.”

And different was wrong. Vera stared at the floor, her mother painting a white line through the room; Vera was on the other side. Her jaw tensed.