"Denis, time for bed."

The little boy pouted at his mother's words. "Not sleepy, Mama."

"Yes, you are." Penny chided affectionately, shifting the weight of the baby on her hip.

"Just till Papa get home?" Denis pleaded.

"Not tonight, petit prince . Papa might be home late." Penny managed to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

Denis continued pouting, but allowed his mother to lead him to his bedroom, and changed into his pajamas before kneeling down beside his bed to say his prayers.

Penny just focused on her ten-month-old daughter, Coralie. Prayers sounded empty and hollow to her. She kissed the baby on her forehead and lay her in her crib, then turned back to her son, smiling when she saw he was already in bed, and his little eyes were already closing. She gently stroked his dark hair and leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek.

In her own room, she undressed quickly and pulled a thin cotton slip over her head. She slid between the covers on the double bed, knowing that she would probably be the only one sleeping in it once again.

_________________________

"Bouchard." The tall, dark-suited man said to his accomplice, reading the sign on the fence post. "This is the place."

The two men moved like ghosts into the small house, through the kitchen, down the hall, into the bedroom. The sleeping woman in the bed didn't even stir as they approached her.

"She looks harmless." The first man observed as he reached into his pocket. They both knew the young woman was anything but harmless.

"It's almost a shame." The second man said, almost to himself. "She's really quite lovely."

The first man withdrew his blue-gloved hand from his pocket, clutching a thin, cylindrical object. With one press of a button, it began to emit a blue glow and a low, eerie humming sound.

_________________________

The pain was sharp enough to jolt her out of a deep sleep. It started in her head, hot and piercing. It spread over her limbs, an unbearable prickling sensation. What was