When Jena's new boyfriend, Herm, announces that he is traveling the North Shore of Lake Superior to meet Commander Donner, she is skeptical. After all, Herm is convinced that he is an alien from the planet Xylan who has been sent to Earth to search for rare minerals. As far as she is concerned, he is living in a dream world. However, Herm is also a nice guy, the best she's ever known, and she enjoys being with him. So does her eight-year-old daughter, Sylvie. If only it weren't for that alien issue…

Jena is conflicted. Herm's entire trip up north seems like a figment of his imagination. The night before he is scheduled to leave, they argue, but to no avail. He leaves the next morning, and Jena is not so much distraught as she is ready to forget all about him and move on. Six hours later, though, she receives a text. Herm has been put in jail for hitchhiking in a small town north of Duluth. Against her better judgment, Jena travels north to help him, taking Sylvie with her, along with her best friend Kalli.

Unbeknownst to Jena, on the drive north, Herm escapes from jail and goes on the run. Jena is able to find him, and she agrees to take him to his meeting with the commander. It is then she learns the awful truth about Herm's past.

This is a story of the horrors that some people can inflict upon the innocent. It is also a story of how incredibly strong the human spirit is. Ultimately, it is a story of how strong the bonds of love truly can be.

"Eye of the Beholder – A Novella" was published in 2024 by Dark Myth Publications

Chapter Six Excerpt: Rescue Mission

"You what!!?" Jena yelled. Then she remembered she was in a crowded restaurant and whispered loudly. "You escaped? You've got to be kidding me."

Kalli leaned forward. "What's going on?"

Jena held up a hand as she listened. Then she covered the mouthpiece and said to Kalli, "I'm going to kill him!"

Kalli looked around. People nearby were beginning to stare. She shushed her friend. "Quiet down and tell me what happened."

Jena held up a finger and mouthed, just a minute. To Herm she said. "Look, you wait right there in that park. Okay? We're in Hinkley. We're leaving right now." She looked at the clock on the wall. "It's 3 pm. We'll be there by 5:30. You stay there, okay? Don't go wandering off somewhere."

She listened to Herm's response and nodded. "Fine. Go find a hot dog or something to eat, but make sure you're at that park at 5:30, okay? We've got to figure out a plan." She listened and then said. "It's a little late to say you're sorry, but apology accepted." She listened for a minute and said, "Just keep your head down, watch out for the police and be at that park at five-thirty. Okay? Okay, bye."

Jena disconnected a looked at Kalli. "Geez. The shit had hit the fan."

Kalli nodded. "I got that impression." She reached across the table and clasped Jena's arm in a show of solidarity. "I take it he somehow broke out of jail."

Jena nodded. "Yeah, he did." She shook her head. "This is not good. They busted him for not having any identification."

"No ID?"Jena sighed. "I'm afraid so. She looked at Kalli who was obviously waiting for something more, something Jena wasn't willing to give her right then. "It's a long story," she said.

"I'll bet." Kalli waited, but when Jena didn't say anything more, she said, "Well, as I see it, you've got two options. One, we turnaround and head home and forget Herm and all this crap." She waved her hand south toward Minneapolis to illustrate her point.

"No way!" Jena said. "That's unacceptable. I'm pissed at him, but he still needs our help."

"I knew you'd say that." Kalli said and sighed a resigned sigh. "So that leaves us with option two."

"Which is?"

"We go help him." Kalli stuffed the rest of her cinnamon roll in her mouth and chewed.

Jena stood up, leaned across the table, and hugged her friend. "Thank you!"

Just then, Sylvie returned from the restroom and joined them. "Hey what are you guys doing?" she asked.

Jena smiled at her, not wanting to get into the details about Herm. "Just telling each other how much we like these cinnamon rolls," she said.

"In that case," Sylvia said, "I want a hug too because I LOVE these rolls."

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