Everybody knows...

If you don't mind your mother's words
A wicked wind will blow
... -The Shankhill Butchers


Prologue

Hornbeck Louisiana... Halloween Night 1986

Rain pelted the windshield of the baby blue 1966 Ford Mustang.

Inside the vehicle three children were enjoying their reward for a night out trick or treating...

"Mommy! Shane's trying to get out of his car seat again!" The four year old wasn't usually such a snitch, but her brother had pulled her hair earlier and she was out for vengeance.

The blonde woman in the drivers seat looked back at her son, "Shane Thomas! Don't you make me come back there!"

"He's still doing it!" called the youngest boy from the back seat.

"Mommy, I don't feel good..." the young girl said suddenly from the front seat.

"You ate too much candy."

The young girl groaned, "My tummy hurts."

"Lay down in the seat and take a nap, we're almost to grammas."

"The seat belt is in the way, can I take it off?"

The young girl gave her mother a pleading look, "Yes, go ahead."


It happened suddenly, and without any warning.

The tires lost their traction, sending the car into a hydroplaning spiral, straight into the opposite lane.

The car regained its traction, just as a massive truck came barreling around the bend.

Somehow, amongst the cries of the twin boys in the backseat, and the sound of crunching metal and shattering glass, Sarah Hewitt was still asleep.

She felt someone gently shake her awake, as the car crashed around her in slow motion.

Deep brown eyes opened to meet bright caramel colored ones.

Hey kiddo, I want you to watch me okay? No matter what, keep your eyes, on me.

Sarah felt her gaze drift over to the side, but the man was insistent, suddenly grasping her hand in his own.

Her gaze snapped immediately back to him, and he gave her a comforting grin.

Here we go kiddo... now when I say 'go' I want you to roll out of the seat okay?

The young girl nodded, completely focused on the mysterious stranger.

Her father had always told her not to talk to strangers, but she felt like she should know this one, somehow..

Go!

Sarah rolled, landing in the floorboard, as the sounds of shattering glass and twisting metal intensified all around her. Suddenly she was trapped, metal wrapping her into a small pocket of security.

She looked around frantically for the man from before, and suddenly felt a hand on her head, ruffling her blonde bangs.

It's alright kiddo, everything is gonna be okay...