After the elimination of the formidable stranger in The Elder Effect, Beverly thinks nothing can prevent the happiness she has fought so hard to find, but as she and the others become more comfortable with their ominous gift, she desperately wants to find purpose in what has happened to them. With the ability to tunnel through time and space, she and the others have learned very little of their potential. ________________________________________ With my forehead resting hopelessly in the palms of my hands, I sat on the steps by the front door with Vance as I listened to Johan, Magnus, and Joseph tell the others what they intended to do. Not only did they believe they were going to bring Mitch back, but they were going after him in the flesh. I felt like they were about to go skydiving without parachutes. I wondered if this was Ronan's idea. I doubted that he cared anything for my family at all. Why would he? He just wants his brother back. He's using us. If the looks I shot him could kill, he would have been lying on the floor in front of the couch dead. He won't even look me in the eyes.