Featherlight Read Online Free PDF Page A

brief you on the next few days.”
    She turned around without looking back at me. After glaring back at
the two thugs, I followed her.
    She threw over here shoulder at Henry, “You stay here.”
    He started to protest until she gave him a look. She whirled around again
and resumed her stride down the white hallway, and I noticed that she wore a
baggy trench coat like the rest of the men. Not knowing what else to do, I hurried
after her.
    As we walked down the long hallway she said, “You are here on our
earth base. It is located on the Smokey Mountains far away from human
civilization.”  She gave me a warning glance. “I am Nira, head of this base.”
    We came to a locked door, and she typed in a long code. The door swung
open. My mouth almost dropped as we stepped through the doorway. It opened into
a long tunnel above the trees with glass everywhere but the floor. I could see
for miles in every direction. Mist covered the mountains like a deep grey
carpet and the sky pulsed a light blue. Dark rain clouds approached in the
distance. How appropriate. The overall effect was hauntingly beautiful.
     At the end of the tunnel, I could see a large silver mass that looked
like an airplane. Nira started to walk towards it, and I began to get nervous.
    “Adam should have filled you in before you got on the ship, but that
did not work out as planned. I chose him to explain everything because I
thought it might be better coming from one of these ‘humans’ of which you are
so familiar.” She made the word ‘human’ sound like an evil virus.
    “Since we only have a few minutes until departure, I will tell you the
most vital information.” We stopped as we reached the wall at the end of the
tunnel.
    Nira turned to face me and gravely said, “Jacque, our society is not
like yours. It will be extremely tough on you because you were not raised in
our world. After you go through the change, your emotions, instincts, and feelings
will be affected. Thanks to the change, your leukemia will be cured within a
few hours. You can choose to succumb to our ways, or you can choose to fight
your true nature. Remember this: Do not run. That is the worst thing you can
do. Do not show fear. You are strong. Remember who you are.”
     With that, she punched in a button on the wall and walked back the
way we came. I did not hear anything she said past the words ‘your leukemia
will be cured’.
    Was I a fool to hope that she was telling the truth? I wanted so badly
to be rid of my cancer that I felt a fire of hope flare at her words. I needed
to believe her because I was a fighter. I would die within a few days if a
miracle didn’t happen, and that thought terrified me. I was too young to die.

Part IV
    The door beside the button slid open, revealing a man standing inside
the ‘ship’. He beckoned me inside, and, since there was no other choice, I stumbled
onto the ship. When had my life gotten so out of control?
    A small crack by the tunnel end allowed me a glimpse at trees far
below. Oddly, that didn’t make me feel nauseated or fearful. I stepped into a
silver futuristic room with white couches and gray tables. Even though no one
was physically forcing me to board, that one step was anything but willing. My
body was exhausted, and I just wanted to go back home, curl up on my chair, and
read a good book.
    “She’s on board!” the man yelled over the engine as the door to
freedom shut with a finalizing thud.
    Why didn’t I fight Nira to escape? My mom always told me to never get
in the car if threatened, because they would end up killing me anyways. Why
didn’t I listen to her? My mind was distracted by exhaustion and pain, but that
excuse wouldn’t save my life.
    Shiny walls reflected the ceiling lights, making the room bright. A man
stared at me as I swayed slightly. I stared back and he frowned.
    “Sit here.” He pointed to the white couch.
    “I’d prefer to stand,” I told him, not wanting to get the couch dirty and
not