Chapter One - That Darkest Hour

Donna Tompkins, as a young college student named, Donna Jean Amicucci.

We find comfort in the familiar rhythm of our daily routines.

The predictable cadence of waking up, going to work, and returning home gives us a sense of stability and security. But what happens when that routine is abruptly shattered when the ordinary turns unexpectedly into the realm of uncertainty? In the case of Donna Tompkins and her daughter, Justine, a seemingly ordinary morning transforms into a chilling enigma that leaves Donna’s coworkers on edge.

Early on that frigid January morning, several members of the quaint community of Canton, Illinois, go about their usual morning routines – Drake Smith arriving for his shift at the gas station, paperboy on his daily route, David Hanes taking a sip of coffee as he gets lost in his morning thoughts and while his wife Sarah carries on a quiet conversation with him; and Cindy Knous, arriving to clean the Victorian house she has been scheduled to clean. The stage is set for a day like any other—but little did they know, their routines are about to collide with the unsettling unknown.

As Joseph embarks on his route through the frost-covered streets, his eyes are inexplicably drawn to the glow of the porch lamp illuminating the front of the two-story Victorian house—a porch light never on at this hour.

In the face of Donna and Justine’s story, we’re prompted to contemplate the fragility of routine. A shift in consistency and schedule can quickly take on a life of its own, upending our sense of security and stability. It is a stark reminder that life’s defining moments often arise unexpectedly, catching us off guard and challenging our preconceived notions, forcing us to confront the fragility of routine and vulnerability.

Let us remember that beneath the surface of the mundane lies a world of intrigue and unforeseen circumstances.