Page 94 of One Forbidden Moment

Jillian stayed quiet.He wasn't going to hurt anyone.He was exhausted.Going through the veil, getting spit out, had almost killed him.

"There were scientists.Behavioral specialists.They were building a contained town.A replica of society.A place to study the worst men they could find.Men they believed couldn't be redeemed.Men who were broken and soulless and unable to be free."Copper talked fast, as if he'd waited a long time to tell his story.

Jillian gasped."Who would do that?"

"I was never told who was backing the program."Copper cleared his throat."I came on as one of the specialists who would oversee the men and make sure the program was running the way they planned."

"What happened to the others?"Moe asked.

Copper's face darkened."They died when Everstill changed.There's a dark force that at one time the others could control.But now, no one can control the veil."

Jillian looked at him."You said the veil wasn't supposed to bring anyone through."

"It wasn't."

Copper's gaze moved to Kallie."Everything changed when she arrived."

"Me?"Kallie sidestepped closer to Finn.

Copper nodded."You showed Finn something Everstill wasn't designed to understand.That he was capable of love.That he was worth saving."

Finn pulled Kallie closer."This is bullshit."

"Everstill was built around routine, not punishment," Copper continued."Not redemption.Not forgiveness.Not love."

Copper's gaze shifted to Jillian."It isn't rejecting you."

Moe's hand found hers.She held her breath.

"It's holding you here."

"I don't understand.Why me?"she whispered.

Copper's voice softened."Because you're part of the change now.All of you."

Moe scowled."What makes you think that?"

Copper gazed into the distance."Because Everstill is waking up...and it needs us all."