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Author’s Note: This was my first attempt at a teen novel. Additionally, I was getting some flack from my fan club (aka, my husband and my little sister) about using too many “big words” in my stories. So if the plot’s a little predictable and the writing’s simpler than my other stories, that’s why. I tried to make this a quick, enjoyable read, not an “Oh My God That Was the Best Novel Ever” book. Anyway, feel free to leave reviews and let me know how I did. Thanks!

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Prologue

My name is Ashley Burcham, and I have a steel rod in my tongue. My hair is black—with a pink stripe on the right side for a splash of color—and my eyes are green. None of those colors are natural.

I am, what my father likes to say, a disaffected youth.

I am, according to my bipolar mother, a perfect angel with an attitude problem. An opinion that might change if she ever finds out about the steel rod in my tongue. Then I will surely lose all angelic status.

In the eyes of my friends, I am a perfectly normal sixteen-year-old girl.

At least, I was.

Before the alien entity invaded my brain.