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Back When She Returned Save as PDF
Chapters (48)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT
  3. CONTENTS
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. ONE
  6. TWO
  7. THREE
  8. FOUR
  9. FIVE
  10. SIX
  11. SEVEN
  12. EIGHT
  13. NINE
  14. TEN
  15. ELEVEN
  16. TWELVE
  17. THIRTEEN
  18. FOURTEEN
  19. FIFTEEN
  20. SIXTEEN
  21. SEVENTEEN
  22. EIGHTEEN
  23. NINETEEN
  24. TWENTY
  25. TWENTY-ONE
  26. TWENTY-TWO
  27. TWENTY-THREE
  28. TWENTY-FOUR
  29. TWENTY-FIVE
  30. TWENTY-SIX
  31. TWENTY-SEVEN
  32. TWENTY-EIGHT
  33. TWENTY-NINE
  34. THIRTY
  35. THIRTY-ONE
  36. THIRTY-TWO
  37. THIRTY-THREE
  38. THIRTY-FOUR
  39. THIRTY-FIVE
  40. THIRTY-SIX
  41. THIRTY-SEVEN
  42. THIRTY-EIGHT
  43. THIRTY-NINE
  44. FORTY
  45. FORTY-ONE
  46. FORTY-TWO
  47. FORTY-THREE
  48. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“Unless one is born again, they cannot see the kingdom.” Abner nodded at Keith. Abner got on his knees and pressed his forearms onto Will. “The labor pains of this transformation are beginning. Behold, I make all things new!” he shouted. He moved around Will’s body, pressing on different spots with his forearms. I couldn’t hear what he was chanting underneath his breath. Keith joined Will on the floor next to Abner. Will’s body writhed underneath them. How could he breathe?

“Everyone, come,” Abner ordered. We swarmed Will’s body—pushing, pressing, prodding. “Press harder. You’re not pressing hard enough. Let him feel the labor pains. The struggle. Come, everyone. You have to work harder.”

Everything moved quickly. Arms were everywhere. A sea of bodies moved around me.

“Renounce your old life,” Abner called out, and we all followed.

“Renounce your old life!” we chanted louder.

Everyone pushed and moved like an angry mob at a rock concert. They pulled me along.

“Find the light. Move toward the opening. Leave your darkness behind.” Margo’s voice rose above all the others.

Willow gripped my hand. I looked down. Her face was pale, and her eyelashes were matted together with tears. I gripped her hand tightly and didn’t let go.

“I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe,” Will cried.

“You’re almost there. This is the transition. Keep going. Keep going.” Abner motioned to all of us again.

“You can do it!” we cheered.

His body twisted and flipped. Suddenly, his arm shot through the black sheet, tearing a hole in it. Everyone screamed and clapped like someone had just scored the winning touchdown at the Super Bowl. Margo rushed forward to help get him out, but Abner shoved her away. “Stay back. He must do this alone.”

His other arm came out. Then, like some kind of beast, he pulled his body through. The sheet tore. He flung off the other coverings. He got to his knees. Vomit covered him.

“Welcome to the kingdom,” Abner announced.

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FOUR

ABBI

NOW

My stomach jumped with nerves as I tapped on Mom’s door. I was more nervous tonight than I’d been the first time I’d knocked on her door, because I’d brought my violin. She’d picked up the violin in high school, and she’d played through most of college. Dad said playing music made her happier than anything else, and he wasn’t exaggerating. Watching her old recital tapes was one of my favorite things to do. Dad had put them on CDs for me after I’d almost worn out the old tapes. I loved watching her play. Her eyes danced along with the music, and she had a way of making the violin sound like it was weeping with joy.