“ Why don ’ t you close your eyes for a bit ? I ’ ll watch over her . You ’ ve been working so hard .”
Marcus nodded , not really understanding her meaning .
20
“ How much further do you think she has ?” Ms . Grigsby seemed to give that some thought .
“ Remember how I mentioned the devil would tempt those souls lost with things they trusted , people they knew .”
He nodded again , frowning , sleep ebbing closer .
“ Using anything to get them off course , so they wouldn ’ t be able to make it across the devil ’ s acre .”
The room seemed to roll for a brief moment . “ What are you talking about ?”
This time , the room turned in a wild spin and he was flat on his back , Sarah sleeping in a chair beside the bed . His eyes blinked wildly , trying to grasp what was happening .
“ That ’ s right , Marcus . You ’ ve been treading through the devil ’ s acre , but I ’ m sorry to tell you , you didn ’ t make it .”
The memory of the accident came to him , broken glass , blood and pain in a single brief thunderclap . As the devil stood next to him , slathered in charcoal mist , he realized Sarah was stirring .
He felt the room fade , gently falling into darkness . He wanted to see her smile one last time .