Chapter 2
San Juan Capistrano, California - 2022
The shrill wail of sirens pierced through the fog clouding Halona's mind. It was the first jarring clue that something was seriously wrong. A jumble of panicked voices crashed over her next, each urgent cry yanking her further from the blissful darkness.
"...worker found her right over here," a worried man's voice cut through the commotion. The crunch of gravel told her people were closing in fast.
"We called 9-1-1 straight away," a woman added, her tone tight with fear.
Beeps and whirrs of medical equipment needled through Halona's mental fog. Bright lights flickered at the edges of her blurred vision, cold and harsh even through squeezed-shut eyelids.
"She live around here?" A new, authoritative voice barked - a cop, Halona realized slowly.
"No, no, we've never seen her before," the man replied.
"I-I just got home from the grocery store like, half an hour ago tops." The woman explained in a breathless rush.
More crunching gravel as the officer took notes. "Need both your names for the report."
"Michael Cross. This is my wife, Jenna."
"Copy that," the cop responded flatly. "We'll be circling back shortly."
An uneasy silence fell, broken only by Jenna's shaky breathing nearby. Summoning every ounce of effort, Halona forced her eyes open, squinting against the floodlights' glare.
She was on a stretcher, surrounded by chaos. Navy-clad EMS workers swarmed at the fringes, their faces a blur of nervous glances her way. Voices sounded underwater.
Nothing about the scene seemed familiar. Halona's brow furrowed as her confused gaze swept across the unfamiliar yard and vehicles. Where was she? And why couldn't she remember how she'd ended up here?
"Ma'am? Can you hear me?" A paramedic leaned into view, concern etched on his face.
Halona tried to speak, but her throat felt raw. She managed a weak nod instead.
"Good, that's good," he said soothingly. "We're going to take care of you, okay? Just try to stay calm."
As they loaded her into the ambulance, Halona's mind raced. Fragments of memories flashed by - her children's laughter, the smell of the warm spray of the ocean mixed with apple blossoms, Buck's warm smile. But how had she gotten from there to here?
The ambulance doors slammed shut, jarring her once again back to reality, as they sped off into the night. Halona closed her eyes, fighting rising panic. Something was very wrong, and she had no idea how to make it right.