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

about me doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in authority, you know? So it’s up to you to convince them that I’m a good guy and that you’re well enough to travel.” She nodded, and Thai’s forehead wrinkled in thought. “You are well enough, right?”
        “Don’t worry. I’m doing much better.”
        “Good. Now, let’s talk about some ground rules.”
        “Excuse me?”
        “It’s my job to make sure you get to the Globe in one piece. We don’t know each other well, and I want to be certain we’re on the same page in terms of expectations. First of all, what I say goes.”
        She did her best to laugh as disdainfully as possible. “You know I’m fifteen, right? I’m not a little kid who needs my hand held when I cross the street. I’ve been looking out for myself practically my whole life.”
        His eyes narrowed. “You have no idea of the danger that could be lurking out there. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and we’ll get you to the launch site with no problems. But I also know that some pretty insane stuff can happen that you’d never expect. I’m not used to looking after anyone but myself. I need to know that if I tell you to do something, you’ll do it. If anything goes wrong on this trip, listening to me could save your life.”
        “All right, Thai. You’re doing me the favor here, so I’ll play by your rules. Once I’m on the Globe, I’ll be on my own anyway. So consider yourself the boss.”
        Thai didn’t look like he exactly liked being the ‘boss,’ but he nodded. “Good. If you need to get a message to me, tell Cyrus. You work on your doctor, and I’ll talk to child services again. Let’s get you out of this place.”
     
        All afternoon, Valerie wandered the halls, searching for Dr. Freeman to try to persuade him to help her again. After awhile her energy began to fade and she headed back to her room. She paused outside the door, hearing a muffled crying coming from inside. She opened the door and found Jeremiah, the 8-year-old with leukemia who slept in the bed next to hers. She knew that he’d had a round of radiation to treat his cancer that morning. His mother was a single mom who had to work during the day, so she wouldn’t be back for a few hours.
        “Hi, Peanut.” At the sound of her voice Jeremiah covered his face, not wanting to be caught crying. She pretended not to notice as he wiped his tears away with the back of his hand. “I wanted to check to see if everyone liked your Halloween costume. You looked like a real pirate!”
        He smiled. “Yeah, my mom didn’t recognize me for a second. And my brother brought me black stuff to put on my tooth so it looked like it was missing,” he exclaimed. He was tired, but excited to tell her about how much candy he collected and what everyone thought of his costume.
        She listened to his chatter, watching his eyes droop. Right before he fell asleep, she took his hand and held it. He smiled as he drifted to sleep.
        Feeling eyes on her back, Valerie turned around. Dr. Freeman was standing in the doorway watching her, looking a little sad. “I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve gone to check on my patients and found you comforting them. I’ll miss that,” he said.
         “You mean I can go?”
        Quietly, he took a chair and placed it next to hers. “Yes. I met Thai today and then gave my approval to child services.”
        “Thank you so much,” she whispered earnestly.
        “No, don’t thank me. You’re something of a favorite around this hospital, Ms. Diaz. You’ve taken care of a lot of people here, and we’re going to miss you. But it’s time for you to have some experiences that are as exciting as those stories you’re always telling the kids.”
        “Believe me, I will.”
        He stood to leave. “Goodbye, Valerie.”
    Her throat closed up and it took her a moment before she