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PROLOGUE

16 years earlier

"Take theo!"

Mary stared down at the two blond children that had been thrust into her ar at her ide blue eyes that were startlingly wise, and , for a one year old His small hands curled around his blanket as he watched his mother silently The other baby was just as quiet, her eyes wide and a shocking violet blue that also appeared far to knowing for her age Though Mary had never said anything, the age within the children’s eyes had always slightly unnerved her

Now it terrified her

She blinked in startled surprise at the man before her, the man that had just handed her the children, John He was her husband, but nohen it was too late, she realized that she didn’t know hiht sent a fresh wave of cold terror down her spine Goose pih the anxiety clutching at her chest

"Mary, you an to shake, clinging tighter to the children who had yet to make a sound "Take theainst the tears that filled her eyes and clogged her throat

Jessie, the girl’s htly out of the way as she stepped forward Her dark blue, alolden hair ild around her face "To my mother in Florida, she’ll knohat to do She’ll keep you safe"

"Safe fro the hysterical note in her voice, but her body hummed with panic and confusion

"She will fill you in," Derek, Jessie’s husband inforo Mary" Unlike Jessie and John, Derek was relatively cal her to take his daughter and flee to Florida Flee froo "If you stay, you will die They will die Now go!"

Mary gaped at hi, and her body cold with fear "I don’t understand," she cried "I don’t understand any of this!"

"I aet yourself, and the children, to safety," John insisted

"What about you? Why don’t you corab hold of his ar to him, to shake sorasp stopped her fro so

"We can’t, they will only follow us We will h Mary realized with heart wrenching certainty that Jessie was lying They would not beto realize that she would never see any of theo to the police," she whispered

"Are useless," Brent said sharply Mary’s gaze darted to the man that had been silent until that moment Mary didn’t know Brent well, he had never seemed to like her, or approve of her much, for some reason However, he had been friends with Jessie, Derek, and John for years, even though he was a good twenty years older than thee relationship, but they were extremely close, and often kept her in the dark as they whispered and spoke quietly with each other She had always resented their relationship, and her exclusion fro to hurt or anger her husband "If you involve theet the," John said softly, his body tensed, his face twisted with anger "Go!" he hissed, dropping a kiss quickly on her head before shoving her toward the door "Go now, before it’s too late!"

Mary stu her out the back door to the waiting car A car that she had not started, but it was running expectantly, and appeared to have bags shoved into the back "Wait!" Mary froze as Jessie snagged hold of her araze "Take care ofyou to keep Cassie alive!"

Mary stared back at the frantic woman she had considered her best friend Mary had never been er to her Mary ed a small nod; her mouth was dry with terror "I will," she vowed

Jessie released her; she took a step back as tears rolled down her cheeks Mary had no idea as happening, but their terror spurred her into action Fleeing down the back stairs, she hastily strapped the children into their car seats The children continued to watch her in eerie silence as she ju as she shifted the car into reverse and pulled out of the drive as callanced back at the house, the home she had shared with her husband and his friends People she now realized she knew nothing about Nor, she realized with bone shaking certainty, did she know her own son She glanced at the eerily silent children in the rearview irl was usually fussy in the car seat; she was iainst the straps Her son was usually fast asleep theintently at her With their blond hair, and wide unblinking eyes, Mary was suddenly reminded of the Children of The Corn A chill ran down her back as she gasped and choked on the tears that burned her eyes