The Turning
A Supernatural Script Inc. Book
Sneak Peek From: The Transition
A Dr. Kelly Murphy Novel 1: The Turning
Copyright © 2013 Erin R. Flynn
E-book ISBN: 978-1-940036-07-6
Original E-book Publication: March 2013
Second Edition: February 2014
Reissue: July 2014
Edited by Jae Ashley
Cover design by Pamela Sinclair, ItGirlDesigns.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. It is fiction so facts and events may not be accurate except to the current world the book takes place in.
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following trademarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Animaniacs
: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Arthur Murray
: Arthur Murray International, Inc.
Baywatch
: The Baywatch Production Company
Ben-Gay
: Johnson & Johnson Corporation
BMW
: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft Corporation
Captain (referencing Captain Morgan)
: Diageo North America, Inc.
Christian Dior
: Christian Dior Couture, S.A.
Clinique
: Clinique Laboratories, Inc.
Coke
: Coca-Cola Company
Cristal
: Champagne Louis Roederer
Disneyland
: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Donna Karan
: Gabrielle Studio, Inc.
Google
: Google, Inc.
GQ: Advance Magazine Publishers, Inc.
Holiday Inn
: Six Continents Hotels, Inc.
Illini
: Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
Learjet
: Learjet, Inc.
Lucky Charms
: General Mills IP Holdings I, LLC
MAC
: Estee Lauder Cosmetics Ltd.
Manolo Blahnik
: Manolo Blahnik, individual
Mercedes
: Daimler AG Corporation
Omega
: Omega S.A.
Packers (Green Bay)
: Green Bay Packers, Inc.
Pergo
: Pergo (Europe) AB
Portillo’s
: Portillo’s Hot Dogs, Inc.
Post-It
: 3M Company
Prada
: Prada, S.A.
Salvation Army
: The Salvation Army Corporation
Staples
: Staples the Office Superstore, LLC
The Carlton Club
: Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
Vera Wang
: V.E.W. LTD.
Victoria’s Secret
: Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management, Inc.
Vicodin
: Abbott Laboratories
This book is actually the first story I ever wrote as Erin or Joyee. It’s been a
long
time in the works and for it to finally be finished, published makes me realize sitting down to write it wasn’t the silly endeavor or waste of time lots said it to be. It was a huge jump from the life I was leading, but I followed my gut and it led me to somewhere much better.
In 2
nd
grade, there was boy who made me swear to dedicate the first book I wrote to him when I told him I was going to grow up to be an author. I doubt he remembers and honestly I forgot until recently and it hit me. Well, let it never be said that I don’t keep a promise, so this is for you, J.J… Even if I didn’t get those season tickets you promised me when you grew up to be a NFL quarterback. If you had I’m sure you would have kept your end of the deal.
I can’t thank Jen enough for her dedication to this project. The book was a disaster… On the bright side I’ve come a long way in the years since I was first published but that meant a lot of work. Also to Sloan for another gorgeous cover that was perfect for the vision I had of the design.
Lastly this book is for all of the single people out there. I see so many dedications authors write, awards and conference speeches to their husbands saying they couldn’t do it without them. And that’s great. I’m happy they have that kind of love and support. I’ve heard or seen too many times
that it just isn’t possible to do this job
or
can’t be done without a supportive spouse
not to raise an eyebrow. So this goes out to all of us who do it on our own, every day, no matter what profession you’re in.
The
hell
it can’t be done on our own. Keep pushing and don’t stop because I won’t.
The decision to go out after my med school finals changed my life and I’m still not sure if it was for the better or worse.
Who wouldn’t think a few drinks were in order after an accomplishment like that? And here, when I didn’t see a line to the restroom I thought how lucky I was—I would get in and out quickly and back to my friends—and it almost seemed an omen that things would be a little calmer in my life.
Silly? Yeah, but stress does that to a person.
I doubt luck had anything to do with what happened to me next. Fate maybe. I might not hate her for where I ended up, but I still wanted to kick the bitch’s ass for sticking her nose where it didn’t belong.
Turning at the noise I heard down the hall, I felt a sharp pain in my neck, and my world went black.
I woke up three days later when my phone vibrated. I reached right into my pocket and pulled it out. I always kept it in the same spot and had answered it so many times in my sleep after exams or late night study sessions that it was second nature to me.
“Hello?” I croaked as I glanced left then right. The hallway was strangely familiar though it wasn’t the one I remembered being in. And then it hit me… It was my hallway! I was sitting outside my apartment leaning against the wall without my purse.
“Kelly, where the
hell
have you been? I have your purse. You left it the other night when you ditched us. You scared all of us half to death! What did you do? Hook up with some guy on the way to the bathroom?” Nicole blared from my phone.
“Nicole, stop yelling at me! I have no idea what you’re talking about or what happened last night. I just woke up outside my apartment door, dying of thirst and feeling very weird.” The long pause on the other end of the line spoke more to me than anything she could have ever said. “Nicole, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
My shoulders went tight as suddenly everything started moving too fast—not that I understood that because she wasn’t speaking. She wasn’t the type to yell, and she
really
wasn’t the type to ever be at a loss for words.
“What do you mean last night?” Her forced cool tone had me shivering. Something was seriously wrong.
“Last night at the bar, after our finals. I don’t remember what happened. I remember seeing you guys, taking a shot—and then I woke up here.”
Her voice softened, but I didn’t miss the hint of panic. “Kelly, that was three days ago. Where have you been since then?”
“Ha ha, Nicole, three days ago? You are so funny.” I scoffed, thinking it was some prank for getting too drunk at the bar last night and passing out. I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve the prank but I had to commend Nicole on a stellar performance.
“Kelly, I’m not kidding, that was three days ago. None of us have heard from you. I called your parents yesterday, and they filed a police report.”
She was serious. She wouldn’t joke about involving my parents.
“
What
? How can I not remember three days?”
“I don’t know, but the bar was three days ago. Check your phone.”
I did and felt nauseous. “Holy shit, what was in that drink? I don’t remember a thing—Nicole let me call you back. I have to tell my parents to call off the search.” Now it was my turn to panic.
“Call me later, Kelly, we’ll figure this out.” And with that she hung up.
I searched my pockets for my keys, found them, and with utter dismay, opened the door to my apartment. Everything was exactly as I had last seen it. The light from the windows was blinding me, but even as I shielded myself from the light I realized I could see every detail across my apartment without my glasses.
Oh right, I’d have my contacts in from going out. But then wouldn’t they be really dry from three days in my eyes? I found myself reaching up automatically and trying to take them out… No contacts. So really, how was I seeing like I had them in?
Thinking that was incredibly strange, I closed the blinds and went to the kitchen to get something to drink. I grabbed a bottle of water and took a long,
very long
drink. Standing there, I became aware that it didn’t make me any less thirsty so I chugged the whole bottle. My throat was still dry, and I wondered how I could be so dehydrated? I grabbed a pop this time and decided to call my parents.
“Hello?” my mom answered the phone.
“Ma, it’s me, Kelly.”
“Oh my god! Are you all right? What happened to you? Are you hurt?”
“Mom, I’m fine.” I looked down to double check myself and nothing was out of order in my appearance. I didn’t feel pain anywhere. “I don’t know what happened, but I’m not hurt. I’m perfect except for being really, really thirsty.”
“What do you mean you don’t know what happened?” Then my mom yelled in the phone for my dad to pick up.
“Kelly? Kelly, is that really you?” My dad, always the cop, proceeded to grill me with a questions to prove it was me.
“Dad, yes, it’s really me. My sister’s name is Marie and she lives in New York. Your name is Matt, as well as my younger brother, and Mom’s name is Jen. I’m fine, just hazy on what happened.” I kept going, running down our family, knowing if I didn’t just answer him, he’d ask a barrage of more questions.
“Kel, what the hell happened to you?” my mom asked. I could tell she was holding back tears.
I quickly rehashed what I remembered—which took only a minute since there wasn’t much… And that alone was distressing.
“Everything in between the bar and now is a total blank. It’s not hazy details, or fuzzy—I’ve got nothing. Nicole filled me in that I’ve been missing and how long I’ve been gone. Can you guys call the police or whomever you have searching for me and tell them I’m found?”
“Are you going to the hospital? Did you check for bruises? Never mind, we’re coming over,” my dad rattled and then hung up the phone. I wanted to laugh; some things never changed, but it wasn’t a laughing time right now. I sat on my couch with my pop, wondering where I had been.
Checking my phone, I saw I had a lot of missed calls. The pop didn’t seem to help my thirst so I finished that and got a bottle of juice. That wasn’t working either. Thinking it was odd, I yawned and realized I was really tired. I laid down just to close my eyes for a minute, but promptly fell asleep.
The knocking at the door woke me with a start and hearing my parents’ panicked voices made me immediately go to open it. It seemed I was there instantly.
Wow, I must be still out of it because I don’t usually move that fast.
As I opened the door, I could swear I heard something that sounded like two heartbeats. Staring strangely at my parents as they came in, I dismissed it. They must have been very anxious from not knowing where I was and had rapid heartbeats.