Quick, Amanda Read Online Free PDF

managed to put a good distance between himself and the
    mine, would the collar still be effective? She held his gaze for a timeless moment, and then she shook her
    head in silent warning. Though many had tried, no one had ever escaped from the mine. Those who were
    not caught were usually found dead in the dark green heart of the jungle, their bodies mauled and
    mangled almost beyond recognition. The ones who were caught were returned to the mine and placed in
    solitary confinement. One month for a first attempt; two months for the second, and so on. Magny said
    few men were foolish enough to try to escape a second time. He moved so fast, she saw only a blur.
    Number Four lunged forward, his hands closing around Dain's throat, and the two men crashed to the
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    ground. The controller, knocked from the overseer's grasp, flew through the air to land inches from
    where she sat. Startled by the speed of Number Four's attack, Ashlynne jumped to her feet, her book
    and the remaining apple tumbling to the ground. The two men scuffled for several moments, rolling over
    and over like playful puppies, only they weren't playing. Number Four drew back his arm and drove his
    fist into Dain's face and the guard went limp. Breathing heavily, Number Four stood up. Fear washed
    through Ashlynne when his eyes met hers. Stark, unreasoning fear. With a cry, she reached down,
    scooped up the controller and pointed it at Number Four, her thumb hovering over the activation panel
    on the top. His blue-gray eyes, as turbulent as a storm-tossed sea, raked over her from head to foot.
    And then he took a step toward her. Fear clogged Ashlynne's throat. Her heart was racing wildly,
    pounding as if she had been running for miles. He didn't look exciting and mysterious now, only savage
    and ferocious and completely untamed. The sun glistened on his sweat-sheened flesh, glinted on the thick
    collar at his throat. "Lady Ashlynne!" She glanced past Number Four to see Dain struggling to his feet.
    Number Four took another menacing step toward her and she tossed the controller to Dain, who caught
    it in mid-air and quickly applied pressure to the top of the control panel. The effect was immediate. A
    hoarse cry erupted from the prisoner's throat as the collar was activated, a harsh rasping cry that seemed
    torn from the very depths of his soul. Caught in the inescapable grasp of the collar's power, Number
    Four dropped heavily to the ground, writhing in an agony she could not begin to imagine, his body
    twisting, thrashing helplessly in a vain attempt to escape the pain that engulfed him. Ashlynne had been
    told the pain was akin to being severely shocked over and over again. She watched in horror as Number
    Four's body convulsed, his muscles bunching, quivering. Sweat oozed from every pore. Once begun,
    there was no way to end the punishment until it had run its course. Moments passed, each one seeming
    an eternity as she watched. Spasms coursed through him, his face was contorted in a harsh mask of
    agony. She bit down on her lower lip, wishing there was a way to end his suffering. She had never seen
    the effects of the collar before; she hoped never to see them again. Gradually, the punishment diminished,
    then ceased. Number Four lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his knees drawn up to his chest, his
    body drenched with perspiration, his eyes tightly closed. His muscles continued to twitch convulsively.
    She flinched as Dain kicked Number Four in the back. "Get up!" the overseer ordered curtly. "You've
    still got work to do." A cruel grin twisted Dain's thick lips as he watched the prisoner struggle to his
    hands and knees. "A month in the hole should cool that temper of yours." Falkon stood up, swaying
    unsteadily. He felt weak, drained. Every muscle in his body ached. "Get back to work." Dain held the
    controller in his right hand. For all the pain it caused, the