A mysterious man has come to Spirit Falls. Does he have something to do with the new diner, or maybe the disappearance of the town's mayor? Sheriff John Darkman needs to find out the answers to both questions. Noah Graham is also curious about the mystery man and the new diner. Then he meets the man, Arik Dalca, who offers him a job as a waiter there. When the mayor reappears and begins to sicken, John and Noah discover the real reason Arik has come to town. Shocked and horrified, they are drawn into what is happening in their town. In the process of trying to stop the horror, Noah begins to fall for Ewan, one of Arik's team members, and John is drawn to Arik himself. Can the four men -- and the town -- survive what is to come?

The Diner

“So what do you want me to do now?”


“Since you know the town better than we do,” Ewan replied before Arik could, “you can help me and Robin find any vacant buildings they might be using as a hiding place.” He stood, looking down at Noah with a grin. “Hopefully it will be one that’s not surrounded by other buildings. We don’t want to burn down half the town.”


“Good point.” Noah stood as well. “Arik, we willstop them, right?”


“Yes, Noah,” Arik replied, “we will.”


Two hours later, after dropping Robin off at the apartment he shared with Ewan, Noah sagged back against the front seat of Ewan’s car with a sigh of relief. “Who knew checking out vacant buildings could be so exhausting? I’m not sure if I’m glad I didn’t actually see a life-sucker in one, or if I wish I had so we’d know we’d found the nest.”


Chapter 21