Who does Levi think he is?! Is he trying to show off? He had help! I made the mistake of not watching him. Not one person could pluck all these fruits off the trees in one day. It's impossible! "Take the baskets into the barn. Then break for lunch," I tell my crew. The guys nod.

I turn around and head back to the house.

As I stomp into the house, I hear Daddy and Alice laughing. I head into the kitchen, and Levi is sitting on the island eating a taco. He smiles when he sees me.

"What's going on?" I ask everyone, trying to hide how upset I am. My eyes go straight to a frying pan sitting on the stove. I would love for it to go flying and hit Levi on the head.

Daddy is looking down at a black cell phone, and Alice is getting ready to feed the crew of forty. "We were talking about our trip into town! Levi took us to buy cell phones. He convinced us that we needed it. We even met Sandy there. She wanted to show me the property we would be leasing. You know, for the bakery."

Wait, what?! When did Levi have time to go shopping and pick fruit? I glare at him. "How long was the outing for?" I am talking to my aunt but staring at Levi. I'm sure he notices the protruding vein on my forehead.

Daddy is playing on the phone when he looks up at me. "A couple of hours. We left at eight."

What?! Impossible! Did he pluck all the fruit in two hours?

"Emery, here you go, hun. I picked up a phone for you too." She hands me a box. "It's an iPhone. It's all the rage." She smiles at me as I stare at the phone box.

"I don't need it." I sigh, looking at Alice. I didn't need or want a phone. "Why should we conform to the masses?"

"Everyone needs a phone," Levi says unamused, jumping off of the island. Why is he eating our food?!

"Can I talk to you? Outside?" I ask him nicely. I feel my left eye twitch.

"Sure! Need my help with something else?" Levi boasts as he takes a bite out of his taco. Levi walks out of the kitchen, and I follow. We head outside.

Levi leans against his car and looks toward me. He takes another bite from his taco.

"You were supposed to work alone! I don't know how you snuck people in to help you pick fruit, but it will never happen again! Do you understand me?!"

Levi chuckles wryly as he takes another bite. I stand there livid. How is he not taking me seriously?

"You think I'm a joke, don't you? The only reason I allowed you on this property was to prove to you that you are nothing but a selfish miscreant! You're always on your phone or showing off! How can anyone stand to be around you? I curse the day I met you!"

I walk up to him seething and slap the taco out of his hand, knowing he doesn't deserve to eat our food! A smile creeps on my face as I turn away. That'll show him!

As I finish my turn to head back towards the barn, Levi is standing in front of me, livid.

"What the hell?!" I yell. I turn toward the car. How did he get in front of me so quickly?

Levi looks mad. "A curse? What does a tiny, insignificant mortal know about curses!" Levi steps towards me, his chest practically in front of my face. Suddenly, red smoke slowly covers the blue in his eyes until it engulfs the entire eyeball. They turn red and then pitch black.

My mouth opens and suddenly closes. I am terrified! What is going on?! What is he?!

"You speak of one being ungrateful, but you have yet to thank your aunt for the phone she bought you! It's so obvious to tell who you are deep inside! You pretend to be tough when inside you are a scared, little girl!"

Levi smirks as he takes several steps towards me, causing me to step back. "I could break you easily and not even touch you!" He looks at me as if I am disgusting to him.

My body trembles as I look around. There are so many on this property right now. Why is no one around? Then I remember everyone is at the big barn getting ready for lunch.

Is he going to kill me?!

Levi then turns and walks towards his car. He looks at me as he gets into the car. His eyes look normal again, but he's still visibly angry.

Turning the car on, Levi spins out and speeds off of the property. A cloud of dirt falls all around me. I stand there, not being able to move. What the hell just happened?!

"Wait a minute! You're telling me that the hottest guy in Ackley worked on your farm? And you smacked a taco out of his hand because he had helped you? Then his eyes turned black? Are you serious?!" Katey asks me in shock.

"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying," I say, looking around to make sure no one hears us.

Katey and I had been best friends since birth. She is the one female every guy drools over, brown hair, green eyes, model tall legs, and the goofiest laugh. She hates it, and I love it!

She had spent her first year away at college and is on summer break. We are at the mall in Des Moines, which is an hour from Ackley. I wanted to buy some clothes and be far away from Leviathan as humanly possible.

"Why do you always have to be so tough, Em? Who cares if he had help? It took a load off of you and the guys, and you didn't have to pay him. You always complain about not having enough help." She grabs my arm before we walk inside a store. "Please tell me you at least said thank you." Katey glares at me as she sips her iced coffee.

"Uh, absolutely not! I don't owe him anything. He's weird. He does weird things," I say as I lean into her and begin to whisper. "I think he's a demon or an alien. I've seen these strange-"

Katey's face twists to disgust and confusion. "You've been working in the sun too long. You might need a vacation. You do know that?" She touches my forehead.

"Oh, wait!" She yells as she grabs both of my arms and forces me to face her. "Remember in the first grade! When you swore, there was a monster under your bed! You didn't sleep for a month. You had your parents drive Father Monaghue to the house to bless your entire room," she says, sticking a giggle. "And-"

"I'm serious, Kate! On top of that, I've been seeing this weird, yellow light glowing in the sky. What if that's connected to him?"

Kate shakes her head and laughs as we walk into Sephora. "Yeah, okay! Now I need to speak to your aunt. You're crazy! It must be the town water."

"I'm not crazy!" Of course, she doesn't believe me. I wouldn't believe me.

After a couple of hours and several purchases later, it is time to go back home. Katey decides she wants to grab a pretzel before we leave. We are waiting in line.

"So, did you hear that Trevor is back for good?" Katey asks with a smile on her. "Have you thought about him at all?"

I look at her with disgust. "Are you crazy? Once a cheater, always a cheater."

"Hmm. Probably." She shrugs her shoulder and makes her order.

Trevor Samuels is my ex-boyfriend. We dated for two years and recently had broken up. I found out he was cheating by social media.

He thought that because I didn't have Facebook, I wouldn't find out. The idiot had Katey as a friend. The girl he cheated with uploaded and tagged a photo of her and Trevor kissing. Katey had shown me. I was so happy he went to college in California. I guess college life didn't work out for him.

Once she has her pretzel, Katey and I begin walking back to my truck. We were giggling because we completely forgot where I parked it.

"Why do you drive your dad's truck? You guys aren't poor. You should be driving your own car."

I stop and laugh. "Katey, I am being serious right now."

"No, I'm serious, Emery! With a click of a button, we would've found the car by now."

I sigh. I love how annoying Katey is. However, this isn't the time. It's cloudy, and it's obvious a storm is coming.

We managed to find the truck ten minutes later. I parked it on the other side of the mall. I still don't understand how we forgot.

Katey and I jump into the truck. I place the key into the ignition and turn it.

Nothing happens.

Katey is so busy texting that she doesn't realize I have turned the key three times, and the truck still does not start.

She then looks up and realizes what's happening.

I laugh as I put my head against the steering wheel.

This is great! I am stuck an hour and a half away from home, and there's a violent storm creeping upon us. As soon as I turn to Katey, a drop of rain hits the windshield.

"Great," I whisper out loud.

It then starts to drizzle, and for some reason, Levi's black eyes pop into my head.

I exhale deeply and scratch my head when I hear Katey gasp. I look at her and then follow her gaze out my driver-side window.

Levi is standing there. He looks calm as he gestures for me to roll down the window. I am instantly agitated but scared not to comply.

"Miss Summer and Miss...?"

"Katey!" She yells at Levi. "Katey Manayunk."

He flashes his perfect, white teeth at her as I glare at him.

"Nice to meet you," Levi says to her. He extends an arm which Katey happily grabs. I sit back uncomfortably in my seat.

Levi then looks at me. A grin is creeping upon his face. "I see you're having car trouble. Need a lift?"

I scoff at him. "Absolutely n-"

"Yes!" Katey yells. She grabs her bags from the backseat and jumps out of the truck.

Seriously?! I tell her he's a demon, and in two seconds flat, she's standing next to him. Typical! I sit back and cross my arms. There is seriously something off about this maniac, and I'd rather brave the storm in this jalopy!

Levi turns to Katey. "Katey. I've parked two cars over. The black Porsche. Go and relax while I chat with Miss Summer here."

Katey looks at me and makes her brows jump when Levi turns back to me. I am trying to be tough, but I am genuinely terrified of him! I'm sure he is a monster. One I can't seem to escape! Is he purposely trying to scare me? Did he follow us here?!

"There's a storm coming. It's an hour's drive back home. I suggest you put your pride aside and take the ride. What's the worst that can happen?" Levi says with an angelic smirk.

"Are you going to hurt us?" I ask, barely audible.

Levi looks at me, puzzled. "Wouldn't dream of it." He then flashes his teeth at me and leans in a bit closer. "Just don't become obsessed with me. It always happens," he says, making his brows jump.

I look at him in shock. Furiously, I roll the window up and grab my things. Levi opens the door for me. I don't bother thanking him as I walk towards his car.

Once I reach the car, I calm myself down a little. If he is a monster, maybe I shouldn't be nasty towards him. It'll only make things worst.

"So, where are you from?" Katey asks Levi. She is sitting upfront with him. I am staring out of the window as we exit the parking lot.

"All over. But we were living in New York for some time before our move here," Levi says as it begins to pour. I look toward the front. The windshield wipers automatically come on. I have never been in a car that did that. Technology can sometimes be surprising, in a good way.

"Impressive! Isn't he, Emery?" Katey asks as she turns to face me.

I scowl at Katey. She turns around, smiling.

"She has one friendly disposition, doesn't she?" Levi asks Katey as he looks at me through the rearview mirror.

"Yes, Emery does! She's just always been a cautious person, and I don't blame her, though. There are so many bad things that are happening in this world. I wish I were more like her."

I scoff! "Hello?! Can you not talk about me as if I weren't here." I cross my arms over my chest and shake my head.

"So anyway, Levi! Next month is my birthday. I'm having a party before I go back to school. Please stop by! It'll be fun," Katey says as she smiles at him. She then rests her elbow on the armrest and then props her head on her hand.

"Katey!" I yell. Why would she do that?! My blood is boiling. If she invites him to the party, then I am not going to be there!

Levi looks in the rearview mirror at me and smiles. "As long as Emery is there. Sure, why not?"

Katey turns to me, a smile creeping up on her face. "Oh, she will be there. I promise!"

Of course, he wants me there! Another reason to torture me. I don't trust him at all!

A couple of days have passed by, and my aunt is rarely home. She is with Sandy day and night getting the bakery shop set up. They want it up and ready by the end of the month.

Daddy has just come back from seeing the shop. It's about 8 pm, and it's raining. It rained every day for almost three days. I love it because it's so soothing to me.

I am sitting on the porch drinking a glass of lemonade.

"Hey, kiddo," Daddy says as he groans in pain, trying to sit on Mom's old, wooden rocking chair. He loves that thing!

"Hey! How's the shop coming along?" I ask, taking a sip of lemonade.

"It's coming together. Well, sort of, I think! They just installed the lights, so now the walls and everything else can go up. Mrs. Castor was upset because there was a delay, and the wrong lights were delivered. They had to stop construction for two days. Something about the lights being imported from Italy."

I scoff. "Rich people problems."

Daddy looks over at me. Concern spreads through his face. "You've been very tense lately. Do you know that? Is everything alright?"

I am putting the cup to my lips when I stop. "Yeah. Um, it's that time of the month. You know how it is." I lie.

"Oh, okay! I thought it might be about a boy," Daddy says as he carefully watches my reaction. When he sees that I am unbothered, he looks away.

It is! It's Leviathan Castor. He's odd, and I'm almost sure he's a demon. But I will not tell Daddy that. He'd throw me into a looney bin.

"No, Daddy." I force a laugh. "But it's time for bed. I'll see you in the morning."

I stand and hand Daddy the rest of my lemonade. He gladly takes it. I turn to look at the sky one last time when I see the glowing light again. It was a little blurry due to rain and clouds, but it was there. "Daddy, do you see that? In the sky?"

Daddy squints as he looks up. "Where?"

I point. "It's right there. You don't see? It's traveling upward."

"Umm." He stands. "I don't see anything at all."

This is killing me! I have to see what that is.

Almost every night for two weeks, I keep seeing this light. "Can I borrow the truck? I just want to go for a ride." I try and sound as relaxed as possible. I don't want him thinking anything is up.

Daddy furrows his brows. He knows something is up but fishes into his pocket, retrieving his keys. He cautiously hands it to me. "You be careful. Understand me?"

"Yes, sir! I will." I smile and hug him.

I run to the truck and get in. I turn the vehicle around and head toward the main road.

It suddenly begins lightning and thundering. I scream and swerve when a massive bolt of lightning strikes the right side of the truck. "What the-!"

I regain my composure and continue looking for the light. I spot it quickly to my right. It is still climbing.

The rain comes down heavier and angrier. It is hitting the truck so hard that I can't see anything, even with the wipers on the fast setting. I can't put it on the highest setting because it will get stuck.

Damn this old truck!

As I look towards the sky and back on the road, I suddenly realize how stupid my decision is. I am going to die. All because I am curious.

I look up at the sky again and see the light beginning to fall, the tail end of it on fire. I am getting closer to the golden light when it begins to take shape and color. I swerve as another bolt of lightning hits left to the car. Screaming, I weave side to side once more and ultimately gain control!

When I think it can't get worst, the car window begins to fog.

I turn the defrost button on in the car, but I don't feel any air at all. Not hot nor cold.

"This piece of crap!" I yell at the dashboard, and I smack it. "Why doesn't anything work?!"

With my hand, I clean the window. I look up at the sky at the golden light. I squint and see the object is white, but golden hues surround it. What the hell is that? I swerve a little when I notice I am on the opposite side of the road.

I continue down the road when the falling light is now to my left. I stop the truck and lower the window. The wind and rain begin to dance into the vehicle, followed closely by the sound of rolling thunder.

Putting my hand up, I squint to get a better look. I can't. I roll the window back up and decide to make a left into a clearing.

I speed up as I drive onto the grass and mud. The rain and thunder don't let up. I continue through the clearing, rethinking how stupid this is. I have a death wish!

Continuing, I notice I am approaching a dead end. Well, for the truck, at least. There are a bunch of trees in front of me huddled close to one another.

I look around. The only light source out here is the headlights. Behind me is total darkness.

Rummaging through the glove compartment, I grab a flashlight. I jump out of the truck and run in between the trees.

It is so dark, and within seconds I am drenched. The only sounds I hear are heavy winds and my ragged breathing. Again, not a good idea. How am I going to see the falling light with the trees blocking it?

I look up and see illumination peeking somewhat through the top of the trees. I make a right and continue when I find myself staring at a wall of shrubbery.

"What the hell?" I say as I flash the flashlight from left to right. I see an opening to the left and run towards it. I am about to walk in when I freeze.

Wait! Is this the other side of the Castor maze? I look up and see a ball of fire. The heat from it is immense that I have to duck.

It disappears into the maze, and I hear what sounds like crashing waves. I exhale deeply as I step into the labyrinth, praying and hoping whatever that is, is still intact.

I then realize the storm has let up. I turn back towards the trees and see it is still raining. Hard. The wind is even blowing. Furiously! But from where I stand, nothing. I put my hand out to make sure it was real. The droplets hit my hand, and the wind is so mighty that it's moving my hand around.

It's sort of like when you stick your hand out of the window of a moving car. The wind hits your hand backward, and you try to counteract that force.

I'm stunned! I slowly put my hand to my side and feel no wind or rain from where I stand. How is it even possible? Why isn't it pouring inside the maze? My heart begins to race due to how scared I am.

"One mystery at a time, Emery," I tell myself as I turn and continue into the maze.

Making several lefts and rights, I hit a dead end. I backtrack and continue until I see the opening.

There is a light shining through the opening. I turn the flashlight off, not wanting to tip anything or anyone of my position.

I slowly peek my head around the corner with my eyes closed. The thought of not knowing what I might find terrifies me.

I open my eyes slowly and see nothing. Suddenly, light illuminates the water fountain. Taking a couple of steps forward, I'm suddenly blinded by a figure stepping out of the fountain.

Oh my god! Did that thing fall from the sky?! Is it a UFO?!

My hands go up, trying to shield my eyes when the figure's glowing light starts to dissipate. I can see legs and ahead. I take a step back and see what looks like a man. His back is towards me, and he is panting. What the hell is it? Did this person beat me to go the UFO?

The glowing light slowly disappears into something on its back. My heart continues to race. I squint my eyes, and my mouth falls open.

Wings? Oh, god, it has wings! The bottom half of its white wings are on fire!