The Sphere Chronicles: A Holding Kate Series Book by LaDonna Cole Page A

and went crashing into the thicket, thorns snagging my clothes and hair. Mel was next to me in an instant. “Get up!”
    She paused at the look of panic on my face. “It is yours.” She said and ancient sadness crossed her features. “What is it?” She slashed at the vine tangled around my feet and stole quick glances over her shoulder.
    “It…It…it’s my….” I croaked out in despair.
    ROOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRR!
    The beast bellowed when he caught our scent.
    “Get up! Go!” Mel urged.
    I scrambled to my feet just as the beast crashed through the wall of branches and vines. We froze staring at the hideous creature as long talons scraped the ground at his sides and black gunk oozed from his mouth and eyes. Yellow fangs pressed into the matted fur of his face. His eyes held deadly intent and seething malice. His breath rose in green fumes around him.
    “What is it?” Mel’s voice whimpered.
    “It’s my,” I shuddered. “It’s my daddy!”
     

 
     
     

     
    “IN ONE TENTH of a mile, your destination is on the left…recalculating…recalculating.” Mom glared down at the GPS. It was blinking off and on and the circular arrow was clocking. She thumped it.
    “What is wrong with this thing? We must be out of range.”
    “Mom, I think we’re here.” I pointed to the maroon covered bridge and the sign plastered above it that said Welcome to Heartwork Village, a place and time set apart.
    “Oh, yeah, this must be it.” She turned the car into the drive and we bumped across the wooden slats.
    As we neared the center of the old bridge, I glanced to my right to look at the creek bed. The hair on my arms bolted straight and I felt a strange popping sensation in my chest.
    “Weird,” I muttered rubbing my arms.
    “Oh, I think it is quaint,” Mom purred in disagreement, scanning the narrow lane ahead of us.
    We pulled into a blacktop parking lot where several vehicles were already lined in rows and mom’s keys rattled as she turned off the car. Listening to the engine ticking, we sat for a moment, then mom turned to me, eyes welling with tears.
    “It shouldn’t be long, Katie Lynn. I am sure they will see what a good girl you are and you will be released early.”
    I just nodded and turned my eyes away when her lip quivered. I didn’t want to take the chance that I would start crying too, not the best impression to make in a center full of delinquents. I needed to be tough to make it through the summer.
    Besides, mom was sad enough for the both of us. She had been for several months.
    “They say after five weeks we can visit during family week.” Mom plunged into her large purse and emerged with a crinkled tissue. She dabbed her cheeks and blew her nose. “Maybe Grammy and Pops will come too, wouldn’t that be nice?”
    “Yeah, sure, Mom.” I swallowed back the panic that rose to choke me and ground my teeth together, fighting the urge to beg her to take me home.
    “Please be good, darling.” She pulled me into an awkward embrace and kissed the top of my head. Enveloped in her signature perfume, the scent of fresh air and sunshine, I threw my arms around her neck and deeply breathed in the familiar fragrance, committing it to memory.
    “I will be an angel, Mom.” I whispered my wavering promise and kissed her wet cheek.
    We stepped out of the car into the sweltering heat and heaved my suitcases out of the trunk. I stole glances around the parking lot at the collection of misfits emerging from various vehicles.
    “Hi! You must be Katie Lynn.” A perky co-ed with curly red hair approached as she checked something on her clipboard. “My name is Kim Stevens. I’ll be your escort to orientation.”
    Kim beamed, her willowy frame swayed slightly as she introduced herself. I lifted a corner of my lips in a half grimace, half smile. It was all I could muster up. She didn’t seem to mind.
    “Let me get some help with your luggage.” She turned and called, “Dirk, over here!” She swirled her