FORESIGHT excerpt...

CHAPTER 1 (excerpt):

...The class valedictorian’s voice crackled through the stage speakers, as he rambled on about the wonders of their future and how it was time to spread their wings. But Grace wasn’t really listening. She just wished the ceremony would end, as she had a serious need for a cheeseburger and milkshake. As a matter of fact, she would have been perfectly content to sit at home today and receive her diploma courtesy of the United States mail. Only Phoenix’s determination to see Grace walk across the stage had prompted her appearance at this fiasco.
     Even as Grace tried to make herself focus on the speaker, she found herself distracted. A sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach had nothing to do with the ceremony. It felt vaguely like being watched while asleep, and made her skin crawl.
     Grace scanned the crowd trying to determine the source of her discomfort. Then she saw her.
     Standing in the back of the crowd, behind the rows of people crammed into folding chairs, was a woman so pale she practically glowed. She was radiant, ethereal almost, with white-blonde hair that rolled down her back in delicate waves. Her features were sharp and pointed, giving her beauty a hint of severity. Still, the overall effect was stunning. Scanning the stage with narrowed eyes, she looked downright menacing. Wearing an old-fashioned gown of deep purple, much too formal for a day like today, she folded her hands impatiently across her chest. Their eyes connected for a heartbeat, as her gaze swept over Grace.
     Immediately, Grace looked away, the tiny hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention.
     The pale woman stood under the right field stands flanked on either side by two tall, plain looking men. Both men wore nondescript black slacks with plain white shirts, black jackets, and dark sunglasses. They reminded Grace of CIA agents in a bad cop movie. They just looked—no, not looked—felt wrong. Dangerous.
     It took Grace a moment to realize that the students were lining up to receive their diplomas. She stood and reluctantly took her place in the procession. I know I should have stayed home today, she thought.
     As they walked across the tiny stage toward the pulpit, Grace realized it was almost over. She knew she should be nervous, scared even, but she wasn’t. It was like a huge weight being lifted off her, finally allowing her to breathe. High school had felt like a cage. It wasn’t all bad, but the bad outweighed the good by far. People said these were the best days of your life. God, I hope not.
     Principal Dunn’s voice in the microphone snapped her from her thoughts.
     “Congratulations, Clair Addams!”
     There was a thunderous round of applause and some cheers from the crowd as Clair sauntered up, shook hands, and accepted her diploma. Clair gave her best ‘Miss America’ smile and waved to her throng of adoring fans, who whistled and hollered obnoxiously.
     Grace rolled her eyes. Freakin’ cheerleaders.
     “Congratulations, Grace Archer!”
     As she walked across the stage, a scream rang out from the crowd, making her jump. Grace had not expected a cheering squad like Clair, but that screech was unnerving.
     Everyone turned to see what was causing the commotion.
     Grace glanced up and saw Phoenix was no longer in her chair. One of the dark men had drawn a long knife from beneath his black suit coat. All three strangers now stalked toward the stage like predatory cats about to pounce. The pale woman’s stare drove a shiver up Grace’s spine.
     Why is she looking at me with such hatred and revulsion?
     Grace’s first impulse was to dive off the stage and make a break for it. Unfortunately, that rational thought got stuck somewhere between her brain and her feet….