Eden had to keep fighting. She had to figure out some way to control the powerful visions. If she couldn’t, if she gave into the darkness this time, Eden knew she may never find her way back.
It was only by the grace of God that she was able to remain conscious as she tapped into the mental strength and control she’d been practicing for the past two years. As hard as it was, she forced her eyes to remain open when the man known as The Liberator entered the dark and musty room.
“I was hoping you’d be awake.”
Working to control her heaving breaths, Eden committed to memory every detail she could as the killer came toward her. If by some miracle she found a way to escape, she wanted to be able to give Alex as many details as she could.
Still dressed in the same jeans, T-shirt, and ballcap he’d been wearing at the club, she approximated his height to be just under six-three. He was leaner than Alex, but clearly still strong enough to overpower her and all the other victims.
His hair was a bit on the longer side—its dark waves curled around his ears and at the nape of his neck—and his square jaw was clean-shaven, making him look much younger than Eden expected.
“Hello, Josiah.” She was proud of how steady her voice sounded.
The man smiled. “You are the real thing.”
“Not everyone thinks so.”
Josiah frowned. “Those reporters were wrong to doubt you. Even back then, I knew you were like me.”
The hell I am.“I’m nothing like you,” Eden bit out.
Grinning, he moved closer to her. “We’re more alike than you think. I see things about people, too. I can see their pasts and feel their emotions. I can tell if they’re happy with their lives or are in search of something more.”
With no way out of the restraints, Eden knew her only chance was to keep him talking long enough for someone to find her.
“That’s why you killed those women, isn’t it? And why you call yourself The Liberator. You thought they needed to be freed.”
This seemed to please him. “They did need freeing.”
“Those women had lives. People who cared about them.”
“Those women were miserable! They were treated like outcasts by almost everyone they knew, including their families.”
“Not Chloe Howard. Her parents loved her.”
“Her parents ignored who she really was and forced her to do the same. They pretended as if her gift didn’t exist.”
“But they still accepted her as their daughter.”
“They accepted the daughter they wanted her to be. Not the daughter she was. I saw it in her eyes when she stood by while her mother gave that fake, scripted speech of hers.” Josiah used a gloved finger to brush some hair from her forehead. “It was the same look I saw in your eyes the day those reporters attacked you on live television.”
“They didn’t attack me. They attacked the validity of my gift.”
“Same thing.” He shrugged. “Your gift is who you are.”
“No, Josiah. My gift is something I can do. I’m more than my ability. So were those women.” Eden swallowed and took a chance. “So was Mary Grace.”
Pain flashed behind his wild eyes. “Don’t talk about my sister.”
“Why not?” Eden licked her dry lips. “She’s the reason for all this.”
“Mary Grace has nothing to do with this.”
“She has everything to do with this, Josiah.” Eden waited a bit before adding, “The police found the notes you left with the bodies. When I touched one, it was like I was in the barn that day with you and your sister. I saw how your father treated her.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, Josiah.” Eden purposely laced her voice with disappointment. “You know I do.”
