The Veils Island: Part Three (special preview)

Lang gave me permission to interview the people on his island. Of course, Lola stayed by my side as a sort of watch dog.

“You’re a Veil too, I take it,” I asked her.

“I am.” She said with a small bob of her head.

I looked down the hallway, concrete walls that were painted a pale blue, while the doors were a stark black. She was touring me around the facility, showing me highlights of Lang's hard work.

“Lang called you his daughter. How come?”

Lola smirked at me. “Are you interviewing me first?”

I shrugged. “Well, I mean...might as well, shouldn't I?”

Lola looked ahead, her smile turned small and the bounce in her step bit by bit vanished. “I was from a very religious family. They got the test to see if anyone was a Veil, granted they called them demons. They’d had a boat accident a few years ago, and their church forced them to get the test.”

She stalled just before a doorway and clasped her hands behind her back. “My sister and I both came back positive and a church tried to have us exorcised.”

My stomach dropped and was replaced by a cold void. “That’s insane.”

Lola scoffed. “You’re telling me. They kept us locked in the basement of that church for years.”

I felt sick to my core.

“Luckily the police got involved.” A grimace appeared on her face. “Then we were sent to that hospital.” She turned and looked at me. “We’re close to the cafeteria if you’re hungry.”

I shook my head.

“It’s at least fun to walk through.” Lola opened the door for me, letting me inside.

“So what happened?” I asked her.

Lola sighed. “I’m here now.”

My throat tightened. “And your sister?”

Her eyes looked down at the floor. “She was on the operating table the last I saw her.” She closed her eyes and took a breath. “Over there we have a sundae bar.”

I could have gotten whiplash from this girl. “If you don’t want to talk about it, just say so!”

“I figure you could put things together, John.” Lola clapped her hand upon my back. “There’s a balcony over here where you dine outside, watch the ocean, whatever you like. I like going out there to have my coffee in the morning.”

“I thought caffeine was bad for Veils,” I murmured. I looked out across the room, it was wide and open, making it feel airy with the scent of fried chicken. Pale blue and yellows brightened the otherwise shadowy corners where there were no windows.

Lola shrugged. “Caffeine isn't good for humans either.”

She pushed me out onto the balcony where there were a few people under the umbrella covered picnic tables. Tall craggy rocks rose up in a giant swoop over us, while sea and sky were endless on the other side.

“I like to watch the sunrise and pray,” she said softly.

Her profile was lovely as she gazed into the sky. Her blue eyes faded into the ocean, looking like a missing part of the waves.

“You still pray?”

“Often,” Lola said brightly. “In my darkest hours, God was still there listening to my suffering, and he sent me an angel.”

“Lang,” I whispered.

Lola’s smile returned in full. “You are good at putting things together.” She then pointed. “Over here is a good friend of my father. I think he’ll be better to talk with than me.”