Sinister Hearts (Grim Hearts Trilogy #1)

Prologue

Abright light cast upon me in the abyss of darkness.

Somehow, tranquility and peace overcame me.

The depth of nothingness surrounded me, but my faint heartbeat rang in my ears.

Bump, bump, bump, bump. Darkness took me.

Enthralled me into the breath of death. Then there was you—so bright my eyes couldn’t bear the sight, yet so magnificent I couldn’t stand to look away, as my tears stung from the source of exuberant light.

No fear, no sadness, just pure acceptance.

Before I could walk among you, you spoke to me.

It was the most melodic tune I’d ever heard.

Then there I was, in my mother’s hands. Cradled in her shaky arms, I woke to the smell of urine surrounding me gasping for air.

My mother’s face was in shock. As I lay there looking for any signs that it was real.

Any signs it was real and not a fragment of my imagination.

But it was just a dream, Mama said. It was just a dream. And I let sleep take me once more.