But before she came the Voices sounded worse than ever, nearer about me than ever. Why was I such a fool? Why was I so obstinate in resisting my fate? Was I not Their appointed sacrifice? Why not be resigned to the inevitable? Why not ...? They laughed and fluttered close to me with vile murmurings while I prayed against them with all my strength.
“God of love, guard Thy child; God of power, save Thy child,” I prayed.
A harsh, cruel voice broke in to tell me that Roberta Vallis was dead, she died of terror because she had defied Them, as I had defied Them; and, in three days, the Voice said that I, too, would die of terror. Three days remained to me, three nights with my dream and a hideous awakening, unless—
Then Seraphine opened my bedroom door and I sobbed in her arms a long time before I could speak.
“Is—is Roberta dead?” I gasped.
She looked at me strangely and I knew it was true.
“Yes, dear,” she answered gently, and tried to comfort me again, but it was in vain.
“I have only three days to live, Seraphine,” I said solemnly. “Three days and three nights!”
Then I told her what the evil spirit had said, and she listened with grave attention.