The Light Bringer Book Excerpt #8

"There has to be evil so that good can

prove its purity above it."– Buddha

As Alan pulled up in front of the rundown apartment he noticed a beat-up Chevy parked out front. Calling in the plates, he confirmed that it was indeed Mary's car.  He approached the front door and was about to knock when he discovered that it was slightly ajar.

He pushed it open and called out, "Hello, anyone here?"

No response.

He called in once again, "Police officer, anyone here? Everyone okay?"

Again, no response.

Drawing his gun, he held it down at his side and stepped through the threshold of the doorway. His heart began to pound faster.  He peered around the corner into a small living room where he saw a couch, TV, and a coffee table littered with food, beer cans and newspaper.  As he moved closer he noticed remnants of a burnt, crystallized substance in an ashtray, along with a syringe and a clear glass tube with a charred end.  He made his way into the kitchen, which was in the same state of disarray as the living room.  He turned and entered a small hallway. Pointing his gun straight in front of him, he once again called out, "Police officer, anyone here?"

There was no reply.

He headed to the end of the hallway, where a bedroom door stood open. Alan entered and observed a man and woman lying on the bed.

"Hello," he called out to them. "Police officer. Is everyone okay?"

Neither of them moved nor responded. He made his way over to the woman and placed two fingers on her neck to locate a pulse. As his fingers made contact with her skin, he drew his hand back quickly. Her neck felt like a block of ice. He once again attempted to find a pulse, shocked by how cold her body was.  Unable to locate any signs of life, he quickly turned his attention to the man's body. His skin was freezing also.

Alan's adrenaline rose. Something's wrong, he thought.

"Something's very wrong," he said aloud.