The girl had practically surrendered herself, and he’d missed his chance to take her. She had been right there in front of him, an opportunity dropped directly in his lap, and he’d brushed it off like a crumb. Well, not exactly. He had frozen up, unable to move. Now she was gone, back into the house, and he was kicking himself for letting down the prophet.It had been so eerie, the way she had slipped out of the house into the night and scanned the empty yard with wide eyes as if she saw things Randall couldn’t see. From his hiding spot in the bushes, he had watched in fascination. The girl had fallen to her knees, crying and on the verge of hysteria, and with her hand covering her mouth to stifle the sobs, she slowly turned her head from side to side as if taking in a horrifying view. Randall only saw trees and cars and fireflies ahead of her, but the girl seemed to be focusing on empty patches of air, as if gazing at ghosts.Now’s my chance. I should go to her.But something about the way she watched the shadows under the plum tree made all his body hair stand on end.
