Julie sat up in bed gasping for air, clutching her blanket to her breasts. What a terrible nightmare. She managed to catch her breath and then looked at the bedside clock. It was eleven in the morning. Such a horrific dream for such a short nap. She held up her left hand and thought she could see the red imprint of fingers along the back slowly fading away. She made a fist and released it, looking at her wedding ring. Her hand was fine. It was just a dream. There was no red handprint now. She must have imagined it.
“Danny,” she whispered to herself. “I must succor my child.” Julie climbed out of bed, her breasts bouncing. The words that escaped her mouth seemed both foreign and completely at home. “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him,” Julie whispered. She only wore her panties and that would never do, so Julie scanned the room. She found one of her husband’s large t-shirts and threw it on, giving her some modesty. “To help Danny is to help Him. And God asks for the aid of the righteous.” On bare feet, Julie padded out of her room and down the long hall. She didn’t know where she was going.