Into the Beyond Books 1-3

Lewis needed to question Mr. Gray, but a police cruiser was approaching from down the street. It drove by slowly with its spotlight on, shining back and forth on either side of the road. The manhunt was already underway for Josie. The light stopped on Lewis and Mr. Gray for a moment before the window of the cruiser rolled down.

"Are you coming from the Mays household?" the officer asked.

"Yes, sir," said Lewis. "I've just heard about Josie...."

"Hurry home," said the officer. "If you learn anything about Josie, be sure to call the police. Maybe ask around to any mutual friends as well—anywhere she might have run off to."

Josie didn't run away. "Yes, sir," said Lewis. The cruiser continued on down the street.

"They don't find her," said Mr. Gray.

He immediately peppered Mr. Gray with questions: "What's happened to Josie?? Is she okay? Does Landon have her?"

Mr. Gray put his hands on his hips. "I told you to stay away from her," he said. "No, Landon doesn't have her, but as far as if she's alright, no, probably not, though I can only guess at her fate."

"What do you mean you don't know?! You know everyone's fate!"

"Not everyone's," said Mr. Gray. "I know some of her potential fates, but as for which path she happens to be on at the moment, I cannot say. She is Chosen, like you."

Josie being Chosen explained why a Parca had come to her as a child, but it didn't answer Lewis's more pressing questions. "Well then what is her most likely fate?" he asked.

"You know I can't tell you things like that—it would be breaking the rules."

"Then where is she right now?! You don't have to tell me the future to tell me that!"

Mr. Gray pursed his thin lips. "Most likely the Agares or one of their agents has taken her," he said. "Parcae are not the only ones who visit the mortal plane. Josie has probably been taken for sacrifice. It is difficult for me to even guess at her future. I told you to stay away from her—I told you this because when those whose destinies are not certain interact, the effects are entirely unforeseeable—billions of possible variations. I do not know Josie's future. I am certain, though, that if she was taken by the Agares, it was because of that very reason. If all the Chosen are snipped from the timeline, the future becomes fixed. Right now, that would mean the end of humanity and the entire mortal realm."

"What do we do?" Lewis asked. "We have to save her!"

Mr. Gray shook his tiny head. "There is nothing we can do. She is beyond either of our reaches now. You must stay focused on your own path. The time draws near for you to make your own pinnacle decision. I cannot tell you what it is, but I trust you will make the right choice when the time comes." Mr. Gray gave Lewis one last sideways look as he began to walk away from him. "And you better make the right choice, for your world's sake."

Lewis was frustrated beyond words. He wanted to cry or scream, or kick the stupid creature so hard he flew clear across the street.

"No pressure!" quipped Mr. Gray before vanishing once again into his own realm.