Infestation: A Small Town Nightmare by Tanya R. Taylor Page A

coffee.
     
    Suddenly, a horn honked
outside.
    "Oh, that's Sam. Gotta go. Mucho,
mucho love!" Amy grabbed a croissant from the pastry
dish.
    "That's all you're having for
breakfast?" Marie asked as Amy hurried off with her gray backpack
against her back.
    "It's all I need, Mom. I'm
fine…promise!"
    "I love you too, honey!" Marie said,
seconds before she heard the front door close shut.
    Dave smiled as he took a bite of his
croissant.
    Marie looked over at the ten-inch box
television sitting quietly on the counter. "You wanna switch it
on?"
    Dave got up and pressed the small,
round button beneath the screen. The model was an antiquated
version absent of a working remote.
     
    Instantly, the word Newsflash lit up the
screen: " A forty-three-year-old mother of
four was found floating in waters beneath the Trindset Bridge
during the early morning hours. The woman has been identified as
Tracey Winters of Claridgedale Heights. Events surrounding her
death are currently unknown, but relatives we spoke with close to
the woman claimed that she was deeply depressed. This is Aretha
Jackson reporting for AKRH news."
     
    "It's already started," Marie said,
staring at the television screen.
    Dave looked at her. "How do you know?
That report didn't reveal anything significant based on what you
dreamed."
    "You don’t understand." She leaned
forward slightly, gazing into his sea-blue eyes. "This is the
beginning of a series of events that would shake this town to its
core. That woman was the first victim—many more will
follow."

 
    II
     
     
    The long line of people at
Aaron's Bookstore had curled outside of the door. Marie was primly
seated behind a beautifully carved oak desk, scribbling her
signature along with some pleasantries on each copy of Miles of the Stone handed to her.
    "It's really a pleasure meeting you
today, Mrs. Adams," a middle-aged lady smiled as she handed Marie
her book.
    "Thank you and your name is?" Marie
asked, flipping the cover to the signature page.
    "It's Flora," The woman leaned in.
"Put something real nice there; will you?"
    Marie smiled back. "Sure."
    "Did you write any more books or is
this your first?"
    "It's my first," Marie confirmed,
autographing the copy.
    "I really want to say thank you, Mrs.
Adams, from the bottom of my heart."
    Marie glanced up.
    "After my son, Jeff, died, I didn't
think I could go on any longer." The woman had now captured Maries'
full attention. "Your book gave me the hope that one day, I will
see him again."
    "I'm so sorry…" Marie
started.
    "No… it's okay," Flora returned
quickly. "The things you are able to see and talk about are more
valuable than you'll ever know. I was on the verge of ending it all
when I came across your book displayed in the window of a
bookstore. I felt compelled to go in and have a look. Picking it up
that day absolutely saved my life. So again, I say thank you for
your great contribution to humanity."
    Marie was deeply moved. "I'm so happy
to hear that, ma'am, and I appreciate your kind words." She handed
her the book.
    "I'll be praying for you."
    Marie smiled with gratitude,
simultaneously observing how much longer the line had stretched
since she had last checked. Dave was sitting proudly at the right
corner of the room. He had winked at her just as the other customer
approached.
     
    "Would you mind autographing my book
for me?" A rather handsome man asked a couple of minutes later. He
had stepped forward after the teenage girl with the purple hair
walked off.
    "Steven…" Marie was shocked to see
him.
    "How are you?" He slowly handed her
the book.
    "I'm fine. How are you?" she
replied.
    "Doing well."
    "Betty?"
    "She's good."
    "We haven't seen you for a while," he
said. "I spoke with Amy a couple of days ago—was just checking on
you guys. She said you were out running some errands. Did she tell
you that I called?"
    "Yeah. She did." Marie had finished
signing and was handing the book back to him.
    "We all heard about your success—your
first