"Are you absolutely mental?" Pearl yelled. The wind tossed her short,

brown hair into a little dance. She and David stood outside in

Darkwood Park. Birds called back and forth to each other and little

squirrels searched for food ignoring the two strange humans. Nature

simply went on in spite of them.

"Pearl, I have this under control. He's basically powerless. I

believe we can get into him, make him see-"

"Someone like that cannot change David. He can't live in the house,

he can't be out of jail! He's killing my father!" She sunk to her

knees.

The ground, wet from the previous night's rain soaked her jeans.

Weakness overcame her. "I know what you're thinking, and I know you're

right, I know I need to forgive him. But I can't. I can't! I can't!"

Josh watched from behind a tree as David knelt down and held Pearl as

she cried. He'd never seen her cry before. Pearl always acted so

tough-an ice queen. Inside his heart ached along with hers. He felt a

strange connection with Pearl, he always had, but especially now.

Wait, he thought. Her father's dead, isn't he? How can Xander be

killing her father if he's already dead? Pearl's words echoed in his

head; ...ask Darron... OK, so I will.