Author's note: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed and chosen my stories and me for Favorites. This is the start of the last story in the trilogy that started with "Aftershock" and continued in "Repercussions." Since this story will refer to events in those stories, folks might want to read those first. This trilogy is AU, totally diverging from Ashes to Ashes series three. I hope it's enjoyed.

Face the Strange

Chapter 1

Herald

The first time she had the dream, she was nine years old. Just before her tenth birthday. Until that dream, she'd never really been afraid of the dark. The dream changed that – a little.

She could feel the air turn cold as she walked further into the dark. Someone was behind her. A rough hand was on her shoulder, pushing her forward. Terrified, she kept walking, trying not to stumble. Something was pressed to her back, and she knew it was a gun.

Cold. She was so cold. But the icy feeling came from inside. The man was going to shoot her. She thought about her mother. Any minute now her mum would be there to help her.

She could see a little now. And in the dim light, she saw someone. A man wearing a black coat stood there. Suddenly she knew she'd be all right. And even though she was still a little scared, she also felt safe.

The man behind her stopped and jerked her back a step. He must have seen the other man, too. The grip on her shoulder relaxed. Pulling away, she ran back the way they'd come in, knowing her mum would be there waiting for her. Behind her, there was a gunshot. She kept running for the light, not looking back.

TBC...