At least for the time being, because God only knows if either one of us is truly prepared to take on Boogerface.
EPILOGUE
Chelsea Hopper
Chelsea wakes up, having dreamed of fangs and smoke in her lungs, black fire and claws, people burning alive in a pool of yellow, foul-smelling water. The dreams are getting worse. Horrible, ghastly dreams that leave her legs shaky as she pushes herself up from her bed. It’s still dark out, but her nightlight illuminates the room and she’s relieved to see that she doesn’t have cloven hooves like in the nightmare.
She wants to be strong, is strong for her age. People tell her all the time.
She’s so tired, though.
And angry. The dreams fill her belly with hatred.
For her school, her teacher, and her principal.
Tania has been gone for a week now. She won’t be back for a long while.
Dylan’s mouth is wired shut. He looks so sad, so pathetic.
People feel sorry for him.
The entire school has turned against her.
Chelsea leaves her bedroom and drags her fingers along the wood paneling through the dark of night until she feels the opening of the bathroom, hoping she doesn’t wake her parents. She enters, shuts the door behind her, and turns on the lights above the sink.
In the mirror, it’s her.
Of course it is. It’s always her.
Her hair is blonde, hasn’t been burnt away. Her ears don’t rise into sharp points. Her fingers aren’t long, bony, and tipped with razor-sharp claws. Her skin is fine. It’s white, like it’s supposed to be, rather than gray and pockmarked with craters and blisters, oozing with pus.
She pulls open the front of her pajamas.
No gross parts have sprouted like those of a filthy, disgusting boy demon.
In a way, she’s disappointed.
Chelsea lifts her gaze and stares at the young girl looking back at her.
She opens her mouth, baring her teeth, spit glistening on her gums.
Chelsea hisses, tasting ashes in the back of her throat as the mirror splinters, shattering her reflection into a thousand jagged points.
She giggles.
Soon.
***
Dear Reader,
Thanks for reading The White Night! There were times during the writing process when I freaked myself out so much that I would have to get up and walk away from the keyboard. I know the story was intense, but I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope that you had many sweet, lovely, candy-filled dreams while reading this novel because I certainly didn’t during the creative process.
If you would like to be notified as soon as new Desmond Doane fiction becomes available, click here to sign up for the free, no obligations mailing list. There are plenty of benefits other than new release notifications, like free books and awesome giveaways, so be sure to join us!
Ford and Mike will be back soon in the third installment of this series. I won’t say it’ll be the final novel in the Graveyard: Classified collection, but you’ll definitely get some resolution to the storyline between these two paranormal warriors and (*ahem*) Boogerface.
If you’ve made it this far and have yet to notice, Desmond Doane is a pen name for my paranormal suspense novels. The bulk of my fiction has been written and published under my own name, Ernie Lindsey, and if you enjoy fast-paced mystery, thriller, and suspense books, I’d like to invite you to check out the rest of my work. Sara’s Game would be a great place to start if you’re looking for something else to read while you wait on Ford and Mike to return!
Independent authors such as myself rely on a host of people to make this work: editors, proofreaders, cover designers, and early readers. You all know who you are. Thank you. That said, this is a career that would not be possible without the encouragement of my patient and amazing wife. I wouldn’t be able to make up stories to tell you without her support.
It also wouldn’t be possible without you, friends, fans, and booklovers, who take the time to read what we authors create. If you’ve enjoyed this novel, and the series so far, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon. The little guys like me, who do so much work on our own, in addition to the writing, depend on reviews from readers to help spread the word. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be much—a couple of sentences can help sway a new reader’s opinion!
Thanks again for making it this far, and I’ll see you on the other side.
Ernie/Desmond
August 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
EPILOGUE
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
EPILOGUE
The White Night Page 23
