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  He stood up and extended his hand. Avalon grabbed and gave it a hard shake. That's the Avalon that he was looking for!

  Two hours later, Avalon sat in her cramped flat. She was on the phone pleading with her lab buddy Samantha Hutchens for help.

  "Come on,” she pleaded. This shouldn't take but two weeks tops.” Avalon really didn't know how long it could take.

  "I wish I could, really. But I promised mom to take over her shop this summer.”

  Avalon sighed, "I understand. How long is her physical therapy?”

  “At least three more weeks.”

  “Tell her I send my best, she’s in my prayers.”

  "Thank you. Listen Ava, you got the archaeology end covered. You just need someone with a specific scientific expertise. I know the perfect person.”

  “I have to trust that person.”

  "You can trust this one. Silas McGee."

  "What a name.”

  Sam laughed, "He’s great. Silas was an assistant for

  Dr. Worthington’s unexplained phenomenon project last spring. It was in the news.”

  Avalon felt a shock to her back like a bolt of lightning struck her. The horror of last spring still startled her to this day. The event haunted her in the nightmares.

  "I was in..uh..Prague doing some research at the time. I honestly didn't know."

  "Okay. Worthington’s project was to see if, and how, a person's spirit or inner energy can actually change his or her genetic makeup."

  "That's quite a project.”

  "You know it. Well, I have a plane to catch. I’ll contact him now and tell him to give you a call immediately.”

  “Thanks big time. Talk soon.” Avalon hung up the phone.

  All that excitement made her stomach growl. She looked at her smartphone. It was 8:00pm. She could use some dinner.

  Moments later, Avalon was sitting in a crowded pub just off campus. All of the day's excitement made her as hungry as a bear. She was at the bar sipping on a lemonade. She was a non-drinker. The fish and chips that was brought to her were a welcomed sight. She ate heartily.

  Students piled in trying to find a seat anywhere. Some of them came by to say hello to Avalon. Her phone vibrated on the table. She picked up. "Hello.”

  A laid back Scottish accent answered back, "Hello! Avalon Mesa.”

  "Yes.”

  "It’s Silas. It's pretty loud!"

  "Hey! I’m at Liam's Pub.”

  "Ahhh! The post-exam crowd. Can you meet me tomorrow at Elsie’s Garden at 11am?"

  "Sure. How about near the fountain?"

  "Sounds good. See you then."

  Chapter 2

  Elsie's garden was an array of quaint bushes sprinkled with lilies and heather. Avalon often walked the winding cobblestone path of this quaint floral sanctuary. The chirping birds and aromatic smell of the flowers were calming. The pressures of the day just fell to the side, for a brief time. Avalon noticed a lanky guy with scruffy brown hair and black-rimmed glasses. His plain blue t-shirt and cargo pants exposed a tattoo of lightning on his left leg.

  He spotted Avalon. Waving his hand, he yelled, “Avalon!”

  “You must be Silas,” she called back.

  As he approached Avalon, the Silas extended his hand.

  “Well Ms. Mesa, I hear you have quite a project on your hands.”

  “It's a big one alright,” Avalon shook his hand with a firm grip.

  Silas looked around with caution. “Well from what Sam told me, we definitely need privacy. I have a small workshop a few blocks from here."

  "Great. Let’s go.”

  The two made the five minute trek to Silas’ workshop. The unassuming building connected to an abandoned storage facility. They entered into the shop, a barren loft with minimal furniture. In the corner was a desktop computer set up. On the opposite side, we see two cushion-bottom chairs and an old raggedy coffee table. The table was covered by a large paper, design plans.

  Avalon pointed to the table, “Is this for you?”

  Silas lit up, “Yes! I am building my own lab.”

  “That is nice,” congratulated Avalon. “I wish you the best with that.”

  With a proud grinned, Silas motioned for Avalon to take a seat. She sat down at the coffee table. "Would you like some water, juice, or coffee?"

  "Thanks. Do you have apple juice?"

  "Apple coming up!" Silas went over to the mini-fridge on the other side of the room. He came back with the bottled drink.

  As he sat down with his new partner, Avalon pulled out the folder from her backpack. She briefed him on their mission. Silas grew more excited the more she revealed. This was an opportunity of a lifetime!

  “I admit that I am skeptical about the Apostle Paul theory,” said Silas. “I am, however, familiar with people who experienced physical changes after a supernatural encounter.”

  “Was this in Worthington’s project?”

  “Yes. We examined a man who was cured from a blood disorder after an encounter during prayer with his priest and family.”

  “What happened?”

  “Well,” Silas sat back in his seat, stretched out his legs,

  “He said he saw a flash of light and felt a whirlwind around him.”

  “How does science explains this?”

  The junior scientist affirmed in an official tone. “We believe it was a shift in his genetic makeup.”

  Avalon rubbed her mouth. “A shift. You know, I have a family member with sickle cell. There is a genetic mutation.”

  “Right, the energy from such an encounter could—correct the mutation.”

  Avalon imagined the possibilities for her family, for many others. She began taking seriously what this could mean for the population on a personal level.

  Silas continued, “If the Apostle’s blood sample was taken at the transformation time, then may just find the answers you need.”

  “Your theory is that the blood could show the process of healing frozen in time.”

  “Exactly!”

  Silas’ relaxed posture hardened. “If we find any so-called breakthroughs, caused by his encounter, then that would cause a tremendous ripple effect globally."

  "This could turn the medical world on its head.”

  "And cause a huge backlash,” Silas warned.

  Avalon's face went grim. "True.” She knew more than most how it felt to experience a backlash—a threat to her life.

  Silas took off and wiped his glasses with his white handkerchief. “Well, I’m in.” Silas looked up with a sneaky grin.

  Chapter 3

  4:00 A.M. – Avalon’s Flat

  Avalon was paralyzed in a deep sleep. The nightmare was back.

  Nightmare

  She stood outside in Elsie’s Garden where she first saw Silas. Unlike that pleasant sunny day, everything now was in a grey haze. The skies were grey and the grass and flowers were grey. Everything was without any color or life. A stench began to rise in the air. It wasn't a particular smell, but a horrifying dread that penetrated the skin.

  Avalon had this feeling once before, it terrified her! She kept a brave face. No one was going to see fear in her.

  What danger was she in? She doesn't really know, but this sense of terror was there for a reason. Her spirit and soul were trying to warn her. Something meant her harm.

  The further she walked, the worse this stench became. It stopped her in her tracks at one point, but she continued on. She followed the winding path and past the zombie-grey lilies and the heather to the fountain. The fountain water was still spouting from the cherub.

  She looked into the pool of water, which was in the stone fountain below the cherub. The water was clear, no debris. Avalon sat down on the fountain’s stone edge. She dipped her hand in the water.

  The crisp cool liquid gave her a moment of comfort. The soft ripples had a hypnotic effect. That didn't last long. The ripples began to flow faster and, soon, violently. Gusts of wind began beating against Avalon’s back
and the water.

  None of the trees or flowers moved. Everything else stayed still, but the water and the violent ruffling of her hair and clothes. The chill stole Avalon’s breath. Her heart skipped a beat.

  She looked down in the water, it was now black. Someone brushed her neck—she jumped up. As she looked around, she saw no one. Avalon balled her hands into fists.

  She closed her eyes tight, hoping to wake up.

  When Avalon opened them again, she was in Prague—in a familiar alley. Prague was a beautiful city, but Avalon’s dream corrupted the city's enchanting scenes. The fairytale-like castles and cobblestone streets looked lifeless and abandoned. No one walked the streets today. Avalon was alone.

  What made this captivating place so terrifying for herAvalon’s nightmare began revealing the cause.

  Last year, she and a small group of her friends were in Prague to help a mutual friend. This wasn't a research project; they were staging a rescue of their friend Morgan Bannister.

  Most of the rescuers were students, or graduate assistants, to famed archaeologist and professor Dr. Geoffrey Carrington. They were a close-knit group and familiar with organizing high-risk stunts to retrieve artifacts worth millions and other missions. They were up-and-coming scientists, archaeologists, trackers, and spies—a few were at least two of these.

  Carrington didn't know about this particular mission. If he did, he would have barred them from stepping foot in Prague. If Avalon had known then what she knew now about the danger they were dealing with, then she would have chickened out.

  Avalon saw Morgan as a brilliant archaeologist with a cheeky sense of humor. If she knew who Morgan truly was, then she wouldn’t have worried about her ability to escape. Morgan’s best friend, and study partner, Taira Ming found out that she was about to be taken as a hostage—again.

  Yeah, that’s right, AGAIN!

  Morgan had been in Prague for a few months to assist the infamous Dr. Francisco Magellan on a secret project. She was the mentor that was involved in the Magellan controversies. What Morgan did not know, however, was that he became involved with an organization called Forked Tongue. The organization offered him unlimited aid for his research in disease elimination.

  In fact, Taira found they controlled two alternative medical institutes that backed Magellan. In return, he had to turn over research findings from a secret project—but that one was off limits. No one but Magellan and Morgan knew all the details of that particular research.

  The project involved an antidote for a rare blood poisoning condition. Magellan refused that demand, so Forked Tongue planned to take Morgan as hostage. According to Taira’s contact, Magellan did not tell Morgan about his dealings with Forked Tongue. He did it to protect her. Knowing Morgan, she knew something was up.

  Avalon’s dream now recalled her, and the rescue team, outside of a grand estate where Morgan stayed. They were positioned just beyond its gates and behind the bushes. Taira got a message to Morgan under the guise of having a “girls lunch” during her holiday in Prague. That was the easiest way to get Morgan past Magellan’s security with no questions asked. When Taira got Morgan to the restaurant, she would spill the beans about the hostage plan.

  What emerged from the estate’s front doors was an overgrown man, a giant. Taira was unfamiliar with him.

  “That’s not Magellan’s security.”

  Max Kelser, a wise-cracking archaeology grad, shook his head. “He has to be Forked Tongue.”

  Avalon held a pair of binoculars up to her eyes. She watched the giant pull up his right sleeve to scratch his forearm. Avalon focused on him.

  His forearm revealed a tattoo. When she saw the tattoo, her breath stopped. Forked Tongue was far more dangerous than what they originally thought.

  She knew this tattoo—the tongue of a snake with cryptic markings. It came from an ancient pre-Babylonian death cult. That symbol confirmed the level of carnage and terror that Forked Tongue would bring. As an ancient language expert and codebreaker, Morgan would surely know what the tattoo symbolized.

  Swooosh!

  A sharp chill stabbed Avalon. It shook her out of this memory. Hands and lips clenched—the hair on the back of her neck stood up—she was back in the Prague alley.

  She’s now running at breakneck speed. The alley was a never ending maze. No way out! Nothing looked familiar to her now.

  She stopped to frantically fumble through her overcoat pocket for her phone. She felt through her second pocket. Nothing! Then she heard laughter. Avalon whipped her head around. Nobody. Something grabbed her shoulder and yanked her backwards. Everything went black.

  She awoke.

  Avalon sat up in her bed. Sweat poured down her brow, her face, and neck. She was nearly hyperventilating. "Okay. I have to calm down,” Avalon said to herself. "They can’t hurt me!”

  She began to recite the 23rd Psalm.

  "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul."

  The phone rang. Avalon jumped. The noise startled her. She picked up the phone and shrieked.

  "Hello! Who is it?!"

  "Avalon. Are you okay?" It was Silas. "Avalon?"

  "Silas. Thank God, it’s you,” Avalon said with shaky breath.

  "What happened, are you okay?”

  "Uh, just a nightmare.”

  "Oh, was it vampires, zombies, or the sort?"

  "No, I’m good. So, what’s up?"

  "I just remembered an experiment I read about a few years back. A geneticist by the name of Dr. Michael Parker conducted research on human DNA, which had a theory matching what our blood sample suggests."

  The fear from the nightmare left. "Brilliant!” Avalon could barely contain her excitement. “Where can we find Dr. Parker?"

  "In Washington, DC."

  "Perfect. I spent a lot of time in DC.”

  "Cool! I’ll book our flights."

  Washington, DC

  Two weeks later, Avalon and Silas were in the middle of The Mall; an expansive pedestrian field surrounded by some of DC's iconic museums and historical landmarks. The Washington Monument was on one side, the Lincoln Memorial on the other, and in between were the amazing Smithsonian Museums and the neoclassical-inspired National Gallery of Art. The warm late May air brought the rush of college students for lunch breaks. They took advantage of the abundant space to throw frisbees, play a little football, or just hangout. Government employees were going back and forth from the nearby Metro stop (DC subway).

  Avalon missed this place. She spent summers here before she went off to Aberdeen for graduate studies. Memories of exploring the National Gallery Of Art and watching sword dancers at the annual Folklife Festival welcomed her back to the Nation’s Capital.

  Silas was thumbing through an Air and Space Museum brochure, which they got from the DC visitor center. Avalon smiled warmly at him.

  “Are you excited to see the Air and Space Museum?”

  Silas tried to contain his excitement. “It’s cool that Dr. Parker set up our meeting there.”

  Avalon laughed, "You’ll love it!"

  There wasn’t a cloud in sight. The sun was golden and the wind lightly brushed his face. Silas felt refreshed. "It's good to take a time out to see the world outside of work.”

  "When was the last time you've been on a real vacation?"

  "Oh, let me see,” Silas thought. “When I was 15 years old."

  Avalon laughed, “15?”

  "Yep. It was a family trip to the Greek Islands. Lots of swimming, great food, and I was just getting interested in girls at the time.”

  Avalon’s grin was mischievous. "What was her name?"

  "Cameron Adapolis. She was a lean girl, loved swimming, and wore these cute wire-rimmed glasses.”

  "Did you too have the same prescription?"

  "No, my eyesight was much worse,” Silas laughed.

  "I’m sure she still remembers you. You’re the type o
f guy a girl would find hard to forget.”

  "Oh, go on!"

  "You have your own swag.”

  “Swag, really?

  “You’re cool to be around.”

  "Why thank you Avalon. You’re a great lady.”

  "Thank you Mr. McGee.”

  They approached the museum steps. School groups were lining up to enter museum. The giggling and jumpy fourth graders made Avalon chuckle. Avalon remembered how fun field trips were.

  This little visit was kind of like a field trip, but with so much at stake. As Avalon observed the kids, she felt a heavy weight. The mission that Avalon and Silas were on could affect their lives forever. The kids playing innocently, waiting to go inside, we’re oblivious to what this mission will bring.

  Avalon pledged to make sure they will never have to know.

  She announced, “Well, here we are. Are you ready?"

  "As ready as I'll ever be,” said Silas.

  The duo climbed up the steps and entered into the museum. The entrance opened up into a grand room of aviation and space history. Silas stood still and looked up. Taking all in the displays of space and aviation artifacts, he became a kid in a candy store. Avalon nudged him.

  "Go ahead and let it out."

  Silas just shook his head. "It’s so cool!

  Avalon glanced at her watch. It’s almost 1:15pm, the meeting time. The two headed upstairs to the food court. The court buzzed with staff members, students, and local workers darting back and forth with food trays. Lunch break was in full swing. Avalon and Silas maneuvered their way past the hungry crowd. They searched in every direction to find the stout and grey-headed Dr. Mitchell Parker.

  Silas spots such a man, “I think that's him.”

  Near the McDonald's station, a man who fitted this exact description sat in a booth. He had a thing for red bow ties. His hands cupped a Starbucks coffee, grande. The young duo approached this very serious gentleman.

  "Dr. Mitchell Parker,” inquired Silas.

  The slightly startled Dr. Parker abruptly looked up and smiled. "Mr. McGee and Ms. Mesa, I presume!" He extended his stubby hand. "Please have a seat."

  Avalon and Silas squeezed in on the same side of the booth.