Chapter 1: The Blue Blanket

Elena clutched the tiny baby against her chest as tears streamed silently down her face. The newborn's skin was cold, but she was breathing.

Alive.

Quincy stood beside her, trembling.

"I told you," he whispered. "I heard her crying."

Before Elena could ask another question, footsteps echoed behind them.

Hospital security.

Daniel.

And Margaret.

"There she is!" Margaret shouted, pointing at the child. "She's delirious! That baby was stillborn!"

The guards hesitated.

Elena pulled back the blanket.

The baby's tiny fingers wrapped around hers.

Then...

The infant cried.

The sound froze everyone.

One guard immediately lowered his radio.

"Dead babies don't cry," he muttered.

Margaret's face turned pale.

Daniel looked as though the ground had disappeared beneath him.

"I... I don't understand," he whispered.

Elena stared directly into her husband.

"You knew."

Daniel shook his head violently.

"No... I swear I didn't."

Quincy suddenly stepped forward.

"I saw Grandma carry her away."

Every head turned toward the seven-year-old.

"She gave the baby to a man wearing green hospital clothes."

Silence.

Margaret slowly closed her Bible.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"I do."

Quincy's voice shook.

"I've seen you do it before."

The entire loading dock fell silent.

Even the wind seemed to stop.