Into the Woods Read Online Free PDF

snatched it away. “I’m going to do this.”
    “The I.S.?” Robbie said loudly. “Are you crazy? That’s what killed Dad!”
    “It is not. I was there. He said so. Where were you?”
    Feeling the hit, he shifted to the back of the chair. “That’s not fair.”
    “Neither is telling me I can’t do something simply because it scares you,” I accused.
    His brow furrowed, and I grabbed my cup of coffee, sliding it between us. “Is this why you’re so hell bent on those karate classes?” he asked bitterly.
    “It’s not karate,” I said. “And yes, it puts me ahead of everyone else. With my two-year degree, I can be a full runner in four years. Four years, Robbie!”
    “I don’t believe this.” Robbie crossed his arms over his chest. “Mom is actually letting you do this?”
    I stayed silent, ticked.
    Robbie made a derisive noise from deep in his chest. “She doesn’t know,” he accused, and I brought my gaze up. My vision was blurring, but by God, I wasn’t going to wipe my eyes.
    “Rachel,” he coaxed, seeing me teetering in frustration. “Did you even read the contract? They have you forever. No way out. You’re not even twenty yet, and you’re throwing your life away!”
    “I am not!” I shouted, my voice trembling. “What else am I good for? I’ll never be as good as Mom at earth magic. I’ve tried flipping burgers and selling shoes, and I hated it. I hate it!” I almost screamed.
    Robbie stared, clearly taken aback. “Then I’ll help you get a real degree. All you need is the right classes.”
    My jaw clenched. “I took the right classes, and I have a real degree,” I said, angry. “This is what I want to do.”
    “Running around in the dark arresting criminals? Rachel, be honest. You will never have the stamina.” And then his expression blanked. “You’re doing this because of Dad.”
    “No,” I said sullenly, but my eyes had dropped, and it was obvious that was part of it.
    Robbie sighed. He leaned to take my hand across the table, and I jerked out of his reach. “Rachel,” he said softly. “If Dad was here, he’d tell you the same thing. Don’t do it.”
    “If Dad was here, he’d drive me to the I.S. office himself,” I said. “Dad believed in what he did with his life. He didn’t let danger stop him; he just prepared for it better.”
    “Then why did he let himself get killed?” Robbie said, an old pain in his pinched eyes. “He’d tell you to expand on your earth witch degree and find something safe.”
    “Safe!” I barked, shifting back. Damn it, now I’d never convince Mom. I needed her signature on the application, or I’d have to wait until I was nineteen. That meant I’d be twenty-three before I was actually making money at it. I loved my mom, but I had to get out of this house. “If Dad was here, he’d let me,” I muttered, sullen.
    “You think so?” Robbie shot back.
    “I know so.”
    It was silent apart from my foot tapping the chair leg and the ticking of the clock. I folded up the application and snapped it down between us like an accusation. Reaching for my coffee, I took a swig, trying not to grimace at the taste. I don’t care how good it smelled, it tasted awful. I couldn’t believe people actually enjoyed drinking this stuff.
    Robbie stood, startling me as the chair scraped and bumped over the linoleum. “Where are you going?” I asked. Not home for five minutes, and we were arguing already .
    “To get something,” he said, and walked out. I could hear him talking under his breath, and the harsh sound of a zipper as he opened his suitcase. His bedroom door slammed shut and the familiar stomp of his feet in the hall as he came back was loud.
    I knew I was wearing that same unhappy, ugly look he had when he dropped a heavy book on the table in front of me. “Happy solstice,” he said, slumping into his chair.
    I waited, not knowing what to say. “What is it?”
    “A book,” he said shortly. “Open it.”
    I scooted closer