On the Meldon Plain (The Fourline Trilogy Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the bathroom and sat on the edge of Viv’s bed, away from the freshly scrubbed floor.
    “What’s wrong with you?” Cal ran her hand over her hair. “I mean, it’s not like I see you that much since you never come home. But even I can tell you’re a serious mess.”
    Nat pulled the blanket tighter across her shoulders.
    “I’m fine.”
    “You’re not fine .” Cal stood and paced the room. “Viv agrees with me and she lives with you.”
    Nat turned to Viv. Her roommate gave her an apologetic look and said, “Ever since you got back from J-term, you haven’t slept well, you’re constantly distracted, you’ve dropped weight. Every time I try to talk to you about what’s stressing you out, you blow me off or avoid me.”
    “I was busy like this before, Viv. I’m just not feeling . . .” Nat’s voice trailed off. The sharp pain burned deep in her shoulder. She grimaced and looked down, hoping neither Viv nor Cal would notice.
    “And then there’s the money that magically appeared in Mom and Dad’s account,” Cal continued ranting. “I know that money came from you. I don’t know what you did to get it.” She tilted her chin so Nat had to look up to meet her sister’s gaze. “My bet is it has something to do with why you’re a wreck. Mom and Dad can figure out their own problems. They don’t need you trying to fix everything and suffering a nervous breakdown in the process.”
    “Velvet touch, Cal, velvet touch,” Viv said. She pulled Nat’s hand into hers. “Look, can you agree with us that you need help?”
    Nat swallowed and nodded.
    “Good. Will you promise you’ll see someone?”
    “And not next week or next month—tomorrow,” Cal interjected. Viv held up her hand.
    “It’s okay, she’s right,” Nat admitted. “Tomorrow, I promise. I know who I need to see, and I’ll go tomorrow.” A strange sense of relief filled her as she spoke.
    “Good.” Cal flopped onto the air mattress shoved against the desks and pulled the green comforter over her head. Her feet dangled over the edge.
    “Do you need help getting back into the loft?” Viv asked, a look of concern on her face.
    “I think I’ll just stay in the chair, Viv.” Nat pulled her hand away.
    “Okay.” Viv switched on a dim light. “You’re probably not going to sleep, are you?” she asked as she got into her bed.
    “Probably not.” Nat took a long breath to steady her nerves. “Viv?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Thanks.”
    Viv nodded and laid her head on her pillow, falling quickly asleep. After watching her roommate’s sleeping form and hearing her sister’s peaceful breathing, Nat pulled her arm out from beneath the blanket. She touched the vines and tiny spear, feeling a sense of calm even though Viv and Cal had just convinced her to do something she’d promised herself she’d never do.

CHAPTER FIVE
    “You’re kidding me,” Nat said to herself and banged her head against the doorframe. A “Closed” sign hung above a handwritten note on the glass-paned door of the costume shop. “Closed for the season, please contact Barba Gate for inquiries at . . .” An illegible phone number followed.
    Desiccated leaves clustered around the door. She peered through the dirty windows. The shop was dark. A zombie dummy she’d dressed in the window when she’d worked in the costume shop in October lay in pieces on the floor. Her eyes lingered on the broken bits of the mannequin, wishing she’d known then what she knew now. If I’d been honest with Soris, he would’ve known I couldn’t protect him from the Nala.
    She walked past the building’s stucco front, determined to find Barba. She turned the corner of the adjoining warehouse to find the secure door Estos had brought her through so many months ago. Andris’ beat-up truck was parked next to it. Muddy snow covered the broken tailgate.
    She brushed a leaf off the intercom panel next to the metal entrance and pressed a button. “Sister Barba? Professor Gate?” She