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completely. The lids felt like they had been sewn together and I was tearing threads to get them to pull apart. but I did and then I turned my head and I looked at the giant.

It was Uncle Roy.

He had come full of his famous rage and power.

And I was never so happy to see him and feel it as I was at that moment.

Comforted, relieved and once again filled with a sense of security, I allowed my eyes to close. I wasn't afraid to fall asleep now.

Even though I didn't remember any of it, he got us both to the hospital. I woke first and saw him sitting by my bedside, his head bowed, his thick, powerful neck bulging,

"Uncle Roy," I whispered. "Uncle Roy?"

He lifted his head slowly and smiled. "Hey. Princess, how ya doin'?" he asked. I gazed around.

"Where am I?"

"In the hospital."

"Where's Harley?" I asked desperately. holding my breath, terrified of his response.

He stared at me a moment and then he jerked his head slightly to the right,

"He's in the next room. He was a lot worse off than you. He's still in a coma." he said.

"What did they do to us?"

"Doctor said something about poison mushrooms in something you two must've ate. Another day or so and I would most likely have been too late."

"Is he going, to be all right?"

"Yeah, they think so. They hope so," he added, to be a little more honest.

"How did you find us?" I asked.

"I searched Harley's room after you told Rain you were coming home and didn't. I found this guy's name and address and just set out. When I got there, I saw Harley's cycle behind the house. I spotted it before I knocked on the door. Good reconnaissance. My army training, I guess," he continued with a quick smile.

"Anyway, when that man told me Harley and you had left. I pushed my way in. Some weird woman was running a lit candle up and down this door in the hallway as if she was burning something away. I looked back at him and then at her. Something in his face told me I had better move quickly.

''Where are they?' I demanded. He looked like he was going to cry. I turned to the woman and repeated the question and she said. 'They're with the devil.'

"I tried the door and saw it was locked. I demanded the key and no one moved, so I stepped back and kicked it in. The old man just went into the living room and sat in a chair as if it was all no big deal. Just another day in hell or something.

"The rest you know now. Of course. I told it all to the police and they got them. That guy was Harley's grandfather," he said shaking his head. "His grandfather! Can you believe it?"

"We know who he was. At first, he pretended to be his father. His father was killed running from the police after he had committed a robbery."

"Yeah, the police filled me in on some of the family history."

"What about my mother and father. Uncle Roy?"

"They're on their way here. Should be here in a few hours."

"I've made such a mess of things."

"You? Why you?"

"I shouldn't have agreed to go along," I said. "Then he might not have gone."