Into the Dark (The Conjurors) Read Online Free PDF Page A

luck had changed at last.

Chapter Three
     
     
    The next afternoon, Valerie was ready when Dr. Freeman visited her on his rounds. The yellow-eyed medical assistant was nowhere to be seen.  She was glad – she didn’t want to be distracted from her mission. Whether she was crazy or not, her decision was made. She was going to the Globe, and now she had to do her part.
    That morning she had forged a letter from her “cousin” to show Dr. Freeman. As he checked on the other three patients in her room, she felt like her face was burning – she hated lying, especially to him. He was the kind of person whom she wanted to be when she grew up – patient, smart, and caring. It didn’t feel right to tell him the biggest lie of her life.
        “Well, Ms. Diaz, you’re looking much better. It’s good to see pink in your cheeks again,” he said as he reviewed her chart.
        “I’m feeling a lot better. I have great news! My cousin is coming to visit. I haven’t seen him in a long time. I got his note today,” she said, unfolding the letter she had written.
        Dr. Freeman glanced at the letter over the top of his chart. “I haven’t met him, have I? I didn’t know you had family.” His voice was laced with suspicion.
    Valerie knew that he probably thought this was part of an elaborate schizophrenic episode. But if Thai showed up in person, he would have concrete proof that this was no delusion. “He’s been out of the country for the past few years. But he finished school and now he’s old enough to be my guardian. He’s working on getting temporary custody of me.”
        “That’s wonderful. I look forward to meeting him,” Dr. Freeman said, a little absently. He was already thinking about his next patient, she could tell.
        “One more thing – could he take me on a trip?” He looked at her sharply, and Valerie knew she finally had his attention.
        “You’re a very sick girl. We need to have you under observation.”
        She lowered her voice so the other children in the room couldn’t hear her. “I know I’m not getting any better. Every time I have one of my episodes, it gets worse. I know that you think I could even – die.”
        “Now, listen, no one has ever said that.”
        It was time for Valerie to play her ace card, but she felt incredibly guilty manipulating him this way. “I heard you tell Nurse Beth.”
        Dr. Freeman closed his eyes and raked a hand through his short, curly hair. “I’m so sorry,” he said quietly.
    “In my entire life, I’ve never left Oakland or seen much of anything, really. And Thai is willing to take me to see the world while I still have time left.”
        “I see.”
        “Thai is trying to get temporary custody of me for our trip. Will you at least meet him and then decide if you’ll help us?”
        “I need to think about this,” he said, and she could see the affection and worry on his face. It made her heart squeeze. At least there was one adult in her life who cared what happened to her.
        “Okay. That’s fair. But do you know how long I have? I don’t want to run out of time.”
        Dr. Freeman nodded and then left, deep in thought. She breathed a huge sigh of relief and fell back on her pillows.
     
        That night, Ming and Jeremiah’s soft, rhythmic breathing didn’t relax Valerie as it usually did. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn’t stop thinking about what was coming next for her. Where was this launch site, anyway? She wished she had thought to ask Cyrus. Sleep was impossible.
    She quietly got out of her bed and went to the window. It was raining again, and the glass steamed up from her breath. She looked up, but she couldn’t see the stars tonight. Soon, she’d be looking at that night sky from a whole new perspective – or she’d be dead.
    It was all so exciting, but the enormity of what was happening to her was overwhelming, and Valerie started