Melanie's Journey — Michael Cross

Melanie is a gifted young woman who yearns to connect with others-yet has experienced a life filled with loneliness and constant bullying by her peers. Her outlook on society is one of being an outsider, a spectator, and perhaps in reaction to emotional pain...her personality could be described as psychopathic. When Melanie enters a new school for her senior year, she is surprised when immediately befriended by two students, Nicole and Daniel, as well as a charismatic teacher, Mark Lindberg. She begins to cherish her relationship with the mysterious Nicole, and also finds herself drawn to her teacher. Yet she begins to suspect something deeper is behind their fascination with, and joking about, serial killing. Is it mere intellectual curiosity, mixed with dark humor, or could they be involved in the recent wave of killings taking place in the Portland area? The reader accompanies Melanie on her journey of discovery as she evolves from outcast to "destroying angel," and is left with the question-how far will she go to impress, then later protect, the man she allows herself to take a chance on loving?