Bloodline (The Forgotten Origins Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

them there. It suddenly gets a little harder to breath.
    I take a deep breath and sit back in my chair.  Stupid.  I’m being stupid.  We’re all friends and go to the same school.  We ride the bus and eat lunch together.  It would make sense that several of us would come down with the same cold.  But it was literally within hours of each other. A few of them said they were sick before going to bed and the rest had it when they woke up this morning. This was just strange.  Frustrated at my own conflicting thoughts, I shut my computer down.
    It’s not even six yet, but I still want to put on my comfy pajamas.  I’m thinking it’s going to be a popcorn and movie kinda night.  Grabbing a big blanket off the foot of my bed, I decide to give in to it and go all out.
    I stop again at Mom’s door and see that she’s sitting up, the fading light of the day reaching her on the bed.  “Hey Mom, how are you feeling?”
    “Like I’ve been hit by a truck.  A very big truck.”  Searching around on the bed for a moment, she comes up with a remote and turns on the TV.  A horrible coughing fit grabs hold of her and I cringe at the sound.  I can’t remember ever seeing her this way before.  “Alex,” she says, finally able to catch her breath.  “Would you please close the blinds for me?  That light is killing my eyes.”
    Crossing the room silently, I do as she asks and then sit down next to her.  “Are you alright?  Want me to call someone?”
    Smiling, she takes my hand and shakes her head.  “No, it’s just the flu.  I’ve seen this so many times at work, but I guess I’ve never had it full blown before.  I’ll be miserable for awhile, but I’ve always been healthy so I think I’ll be okay.  I promise to let you know if I need a doctor.   Thanks for entertaining your brother. I’m sure he had a good time fishing. “
    Feeling a bit reassured, I try to smile back at her and then remember that I saved her some dinner.  “We managed to catch a few trout today!  I put some in the fridge for you. I can heat it up.”
    Wrinkling up her nose at the thought , she shakes her head.  “I can’t really stomach the idea of eating much more than crackers right now.  Can you get some for me, and maybe a soda and more Advil?”
    I manage to find everything requested and even locate another box of tissue and some cold medicine.  I reposition the pile of pillows behind her and turn on a small nightstand lamp instead of the brighter overhead one. 
    “I’d give you a kiss right now, but you seriously don’t want this,” she says, taking a swallow of medicine.  “In fact, you should go wash your hands.  That’s the best way to avoid getting it.”
    “Get what Mom?”  We both turn to look at Jacob standing in the doorway with Baxter.
    “Oh it’s only a flu bug Jacob.  It isn’t anything to worry about. I’ll be back to normal before you know it!  Now come give me a quick hug before I go back to sleep.”
    He crosses the room hesitantly, as if he’s afraid she’s lying.  Once he gets close enough to see her better in the dim light, he seems more convinced and jumps onto the bed, throwing his arms around her.  “Please get better,” he begs, his voice muffled in her blonde hair.  Looking at me over the top of his head, the love and concern for him in her eyes is obvious.
    Patting him, she then gently pulls his arms from around her neck.  “Of course I’ll get better.  I love you bug.”  Shooing him off the bed, she swats him on the behind.   “Now go wash your hands so you don’t get sick too.”
    Satisfied for the moment, he smiles and dodges beyond her reach.  I realize then that Baxter is absent, which is odd, because he never misses an opportunity to snuggle on a bed.  Looking back I see that he is still in the doorway, quivering.  I give him a questioning look and he whines at me in response.  Before I can call him, Jacob is running through the doorway and Baxter